Reigning Champion Michael van Gerwen Returns to Premier League Darts

Reigning champion Michael van Gerwen comes from behind to thrash Rob Cross in Cardiff and return to Premier League Darts. He won eight straight legs to sink world number two Rob Cross and leapfrog his opponent at the top of the Unibet Premier League table.

Van Gerwen lost the first two legs in their top-of-the-table clash in Cardiff and was a double away from falling 3-0 behind before a stirring comeback saw him triumph 8-2.

The Dutchman's cruise to victory included a 12-dart leg and he averaged of 107.87 in returning to the top of the table in style.

Afterwards Van Gerwen told the PDC website: 'It's nice to be back at the top of the table and it's good for my confidence. It's really important to me because I've been top for the last five years and that's why this game was important for me to knock him off the top.'

James Wade protected his third place in the table with an emphatic 8-2 win over Peter Wright in the closing match of the evening. Welshman Gerwyn Price delighted his home fans with an 8-5 win over Michael Smith in a match which saw both men land maximum 170 checkouts.

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Smith managed the finish in the third leg as he edged 2-1 up before Price replied immediately in the next leg to pull level.

Price broke to go 5-4 up in the ninth and he extended that into a 7-4 advantage before eventually wrapping up a victory which keeps him fourth in the table. In the opening match of the night, Mensur Suljovic kept his play-off hopes alive with an 8-5 win over Daryl Gurney.

Van Gerwen averaged 107 and will now return to the top of the table after a polished performance from Mighty Mike. Cross hit double 17 and then doubled his lead to assert his early dominance but from there MVG took over.

‘Voltage’ missed a 125 checkout and Van Gerwen came back to half his deficit. He roared as he made it 2-2 and from there he went 3-2. He went on a rampant roll going 5-2 hitting a 180, 174 and then a 90 checkout to assert his dominance.

From there, Van Gerwen secured a point with a 12 darter and then claimed a massive win to send a real statement.

 

 

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