Michael van Gerwen put in a stellar show to topple Dave Chisnall at Gamers Championship 21 as Luke Littler fell brief in his makes an attempt to land back-to-back titles.
Dutch star Van Gerwen averaged simply shy of 107 as he powered previous Chisnall in an 8-4 victory to choose up his first rating title of 2024 in Wigan.
Littler, who has received an astonishing 33 per cent of the occasions he is entered this yr, noticed his rampant 15-match profitable run come to an finish as Maik Kuivenhoven pulled off a shock 6-3 victory within the final 16 to finish his hopes of touchdown back-to-back titles.
“Crucial factor is I all the time hold believing in my very own means,” stated Van Gerwen. “I am happy with my efficiency and happy with my new darts.
“I’ve underperformed at these occasions – I did not play properly sufficient. However to be again on this tour and to truly win one feels good.
“I need to win, I need to carry out, and I need to do the appropriate factor for myself. There’s much more to achieve and to struggle for.”
After opening his problem with a hard-fought 6-4 success towards Lee Cocks, Van Gerwen averaged 99 in sweeping apart Ryan Meikle and Karel Sedlacek. This was adopted by successive 6-3 wins towards James Wade and Gian van Veen, whereas he dispatched one other fellow Dutchman within the semi-finals, operating out an emphatic 7-2 winner towards Kuivenhoven.
Chisnall – a semi-finalist on Tuesday – went one step higher 24 hours later, celebrating spectacular 6-1 victories towards Jose de Sousa and Jonny Clayton earlier within the afternoon.
The 44-year-old proved too sturdy for his St Helens counterpart Stephen Bunting within the final eight, earlier than surviving 4 match darts in his semi-final win over Ritchie Edhouse, who rallied from 6-2 right down to stage.
Edhouse claimed a number of main scalps on the Robin Park Tennis Centre, dumping out former Lakeside champions Jelle Klaasen and Christian Kist to ignite his title problem. He additionally whitewashed Austrian veteran Mensur Suljovic and fought again from 5-2 right down to deny Damon Heta within the quarter-finals, solely to lose out to Chisnall in a dramatic finale.
The 2024 PDC ProTour season continues with Gamers Championship 22-23 in Leicester on September 24-25.
What’s subsequent on Sky Sports activities?
The 2024 BoyleSports World Grand Prix is subsequent on the Sky Sports activities darting calendar.
The annual £600,000 match will happen on the Mattioli Area in Leicester from October 7-13, as 32 of the world’s prime stars compete for the coveted title which was received by Luke Humphries.
Humphries celebrated his maiden TV rating title with victory over Gerwyn Worth in final yr’s match, and the world No 1 will return to defend his title later this yr.
Six-time champion Michael van Gerwen can also be set to star, with teenage celebrity Luke Littler poised to make his double-start debut within the East Midlands.
In a change to final yr’s format, Saturday’s semi-finals on October 12 will likely be contested over the very best of 9 units, with the ultimate set to be performed over the very best of 11 units on Sunday, October 13.
Stream Sky Sports activities reside with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instantaneous entry to reside motion from the Premier League and EFL, plus darts, cricket, tennis, golf and a lot extra.