Michael van Gerwen claims inaugural Queensland Darts Masters crown

Michael van Gerwen secured his 17th World Series title at the 2022 Queensland Darts Masters with an 8-5 victory over Gerwyn Price in the final.

The world number three battled back from 4-1 down to once again deny Price in a repeat of last month’s World Matchplay final.

Price had looked in control of the contest with Van Gerwen struggling on the doubles early on, missing 10 consecutive attempts before finding his touch to reel off three legs in a row, including a 140 checkout in leg seven, to level at 4-4.

Price regained the upper-hand at 5-4 before Van Gerwen hit back with finishes of 112 and 77 en route to a 7-5 advantage.

The Dutch star then sealed the deal in style with an 11-darter to make it three televised titles in a row.

The 33-year-old’s latest triumph continues his remarkable return from surgery on his wrist which kept him out of the World Cup of Darts in June.

“I am not on the way back, I am back and they know I am the boss,” said a defiant Van Gerwen.

“I’m a winner, not a loser. Of course, when I lose I am sick, but I’m a winner and I love to win trophies.”

Van Gerwen began the final day of action in Townsville with a 6-1 demolition of New Zealand’s Haupai Puha, before defeating Joe Cullen 7-5 with a 100 per cent on the doubles in a repeat of this year’s Premier League final.

Having dispatched home hero Simon Whitlock 6-3 in the Quarter-Finals, Price then ended the hopes of Queenslander Gordon Mathers in the Semi-Finals with a 7-1 rout which included finishes of 131 and 125.

The Welsh star hit two ton-plus finishes (131 and 125) as he stretched out to a comfortable 6-0 lead.

Cullen saw off top seed Dimitri van den Bergh 6-4 in the Quarter-Finals, with the Belgian looking to join Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson in becoming only the third player in World Series history to win three tournaments in a calendar year.

Mathers had never won a match in a televised tournament before this event, but followed up Friday’s win over Fallon Sherrock with a 6-4 upset of an out of sorts Michael Smith in the Last Eight.

The World Series continues with the New South Wales Darts Masters in Wollongong from August 19-20.

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Queensland Darts Masters 2022 Day Two Results

Saturday August 13

Quarter-Finals
Dimitri van den Bergh 4-6 Joe Cullen
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Haupai Puha
Michael Smith 4-6 Gordon Mathers
Simon Whitlock 3-6 Gerwyn Price

Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 7-5 Joe Cullen
Gerwyn Price 7-1 Gordon Mathers

Final
Michael van Gerwen 8-5 Gerwyn Price