Michael van Gerwen edges out Gerwyn Price in thriller to claim Players Championship glory

Michael van Gerwen defeated Gerwyn Price 11-9 to clinch his fifth largest Players Championship Finals name in a stunning finale in Butlins Minehead Resort on Sunday.
The Welshman was not able to repeat the feat, although seed Price defeated Van Gerwen for the first time in 20 attempts to keeping his Grand Slam crown past weekend.
Van Gerwen displayed some fragility but he made the goods in regards to claim the top prize and secure a remarkable 50th individual PDC televised title.
The Dutchman was defeated in last years closing by Daryl Gurney and Price threatened an unlikely comeback because he eyed a second consecutive major victory, even thoughMighty Mike kept his cool to collaborate using a 97.92 ordinary.
The competition began in extraordinary conditions, until Van Gerwen eventually attracted blood on double two as the pair missed an astounding 17 darts.
The Dutchman dropped his lead through double 12 and Price appeared visibly frustrated.
The Grand Slam champion converted crucial 64 and 70 mixtures on throw to reduce the arrears at the interval, afterwards MVG had missed two darts for a 4-1 cushion.
Van Gerwen was discovering the red piece with unrelenting precision but Prices reputable tops kept him in a gripping semester.
The Welshman made a classy 104 kill to decrease the gap to 4-3, just for Van Gerwen to restore his buffer thanks of a 64 outshot.
The world retained his benefit as the group traded after the double trouble of Van Gerwen resurfaced, although the pendulum swung refined retains of throw.
The world champion was wayward until he fluffed three darts at double at the leg, as he eyed double 12 for a 141 complete.
He had been punished on both occasions as Cost capitalised on his reprieve andThe Iceman then sank twice secure the lead for the very first time and then to enroll his third leg.
Van Gerwen recovered the scope to par proceedings via double 16 but a Price appeared in his third highest en route to a 11-dart hold along with a slender 8-7 edge, roared on by the partisan 5,000 audience.
Nonetheless, the next and last break appeared to quash Prices momentum and Van Gerwen reeled off three legs in 14 and 15, 14 darts to proceed to the cusp of victory.
The Welshman kept his hopes alive with a refined 13-darter on tops before an finale ensued.
Price wired shirts to get a voucher that would have forced a decider, though he had been given another chance to split later Van Gerwen spurned two darts at double 10 for the name.
In spite of this, the world No 3 was unable to capitalise, squandering three more to force a shootout.
Van Gerwen missed 31 darts at twice as it mattered most, nailing dual in hand with his dart to spark scenes of party, but he kept his cool.
It was tough, particularly now. I had to work really hard. Gerwyn is a very respected participant at the PDC and to conquer him always feels great, reflected the Dutchman.
I couldnt put him away. I had been better in this match. He is a phenomenal player and you have to play your absolute best to beat him.
Its the perfect prep for Van Gerwen before the next months World Championship, where he will be bidding to land a fourth name.
Van Gerwen, that landed an sublime nine-darter contrary to Adrian Lewis en route to reaching the eight – withdrew Sundays action with another Minehead assembly of 2019 against Mervyn King.
King stunned MVG during this years UK Open but as Van Gerwen won a scrappy affair 10-6, using the apparently unhappy Dutchman launching a scathing attack on the finalists mindset in his post-match interview, there was no repeat.
The world No 1 then faced Ian White in the previous four, onceThe Diamond eventually conquer his hoodoo that was quarter-final to reach his first PDC televised semi-final courtesy of a dramatic 10-9 victory against World Cup finalist William OConnor.
White threw everything at Van Gerwen in a high-tech tussle however, the Dutchman came out on top, defying a close 103 average by the Stoke celebrity to wrap up an 11-8 victory using a 103.61 average and finishes of 112, 123 and 130.
Cost fell short of winning a third major PDC crown but the Welshman increase continues, with featured in three finals in the space of four occasions.
He boasted a championship common in excess of 100 heading in the final along with illustrates his performances have entirely altered the publics perception .
In my point of view Michael likely dominated this match. He had been the better player now although I received my mind in front. The better man won, although I wish I could have got this to some last-leg decider to drive him all the way.
Im just happy to be here playing the likes of Michael. Six or seven years ago I was playing Rugby, today Im playing the best players on the planet.
Fresh from retaining his Grand Slam crown , only seven legs had dropped on the way to this quarter-finals, beating Mickey Mansell 6-3, whitewashing Keegan Brown.
He confronted a resurgent Stephen Bunting in the previous eight – who had been boasting a tournament average in excess of 100 howeverThe Bullet was blown away by the Welshman, who dropped 108.75 and transformed 63% of his doubles to close out a 10-3 victory.
He faced the conqueror Chris Dobey of Raymond van Barneveld in the semi-finals andHollywood raced to an early 3-0 lead due to a clinical mix finishing. But, Cost fought back superbly having a blistering mid-game spike to prevail 11-8 using a 100.24 average.
2019 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals
Sunday November 24
Afternoon Session (1245 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 10-3 Stephen Bunting
Chris Dobey 10-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Michael van Gerwen 10-6 Mervyn King
Ian White 10-9 William OConnor
Best of 19 legs
Day (1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Gerwyn Price 11-8 Chris Dobey
Michael van Gerwen 11-8 Ian White
Best of 21 legs
Closing
Michael van Gerwen 11-9 Gerwyn Price
Best of 21 legs
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