Winmau MvG Diamond Edition Dartboard

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In the other Group H tie, Damon Heta defeated Ricardo Pietreczko in similar fashion, producing a 150 skin-saver in the penultimate leg, before surviving a match dart from the German newcomer in a dramatic decider. Grand Slam of Darts results Van Gerwen replied with another leg but the deficit was too much to recover as Price finally finished things off to claim his eighth Euro Tour title. All United Kingdom deliveries will be sent using Royal Mail with the exception of heavy items such as dartboards, these will be shipped using a reputable delivery service such as DPD or DHL.

Of course, not everyone warms to Van Gerwen. Mervyn King, one of his middle-aged opponents, suggested that the wild celebrations were “disrespectful”. Van Gerwen, now looking like a bulldog which has swallowed that pesky old wasp, shrugs. “Maybe. But I don’t care what people think. I just need to be me. 100%. They are always looking for excuses. So I don’t worry about them. I just love the Ally Pally atmosphere. Everyone’s in a good mood because it’s Christmas and New Year. I love playing for the big crowds and, yeah, I like to celebrate when I win. I don’t see the problem.” I remember that first time against Phil in 2008. I had a chance to beat him but before you can know how to win the worlds you have to learn how to lose it.” Taylor remains his fiercest rival. “Definitely,” Van Gerwen says. “He’s always my main rival. But we both have a long way to go before this next final. They say the most difficult one to win is the first world title and I really hope it is because I’d like to become a three-time world champion in the next four or five years. But the aim now is to win the first round on Thursday, go to the horse racing at Ascot on Friday and home to Holland on Saturday.” This really is a frightening standard from van Gerwen as scores of 120, 97, 140, 128 leave him 16, which he takes out at the first attempt for a 13 darter. He's averaging just a shade under 100 right now.

International Open results

I think it’s going to be wide open this year. You can’t really say an outsider [will win it], but I don’t think it will be one of the favourites. Maybe it could be an old 52-year-old, you never know!” World number one Smith and Welsh star Price will take centre stage on Monday night, with Smith up against Newcastle’s Callan Rydz, while Price faces 2021 semi-finalist Danny Noppert. Van Gerwen was, then, still working as a part-time tiler in Holland. One of the internet’s typically overblown stories claims he tiled Dennis Berkgamp’s bathroom. “That’s not true,” Van Gerwen says. “I did the tiling at a house across the road from Bergkamp. But, sure, it was a very posh area. I was 18 and working two days a week. It’s different today. I own two houses and, well, I’m married to Daphne. We’ve been together seven years. She was only 14 when we met, and I was nearly 18. They had a music evening and she was with her parents. I asked if I could watch a movie with her. Life has changed since then because darts has got really big.”

I think I am half-German now!” joked Price, who has won four of the last five editions of the International Darts Open. The Asp looks as though he's carved out a pressure-free dart at a double to break MVG until the Dutchman throws a 180 to leave himself 30 - but nevertheless he pins double 16 with his first attempt for a classy and nerveless 13 darter. Van Gerwen was left less than impressed by the turn of events, which follows on from his Dutch compatriot Vincent van der Voort having also tested positive and being forced into isolation. “Of course our health is the most important thing, but you are here to win the tournament,” Van Gerwen told the Dutch media outlet AD Sportwereld. “I never saw this coming. Vincent and I have been almost nowhere. We didn’t even go to the breakfast room [at the hotel], because we thought it was too busy there.MVG takes five darts to get away and fails to record a 100+ score in his next four visits as Aspinall breaks with a 17-darter to force a deciding leg in this set. He now has the darts! Good evening and welcome to our live blog of the Boylesports World Grand Prix final, as Michael van Gerwen bids to win this double-start major for the sixth time in his seventh final and Nathan Aspinall chases his first having never reached this stage before. It is phenomenal - Peter Wright's a two-time World Champion. He is a big inspiration for me, hence the [colourful] attire. It might seem mildly disturbing to hear a darts player talking about his “brand” but there is nothing contrived about Van Gerwen’s blistering talent or explosive celebrations. “It’s just me,” he says with a final shrug. “The Bulldog has gone. It’s 100% Mighty Mike.”

Van Gerwen was also full of praise for Aspinall's return from a serious wrist injury which kept him sidelined for six weeks at the start of 2022. Three-time Grand Slam champion Gerwyn Price swept aside Nathan Rafferty 5-1 in his Group D opener, in a contest which saw the pair trade spectacular 164 and 167 combination finishes. Price, the new world number one, missed five doubles in the 21st leg and the Premier League of Darts champion Van Gerwen capitalised to break throw and then levelled the match for the first time at 12-12. Looking ahead to facing Smith, he said: "I've stayed in the UK to get myself prepared and now I'm looking forward to Thursday night.The pair have been involved in some memorable big-stage ties over the last 12 months, although Van Gerwen is in determined mood ahead of their latest showdown on Tuesday night.