Gerwyn Price Secures Premier League Victory in Antwerp Against Michael van Gerwen
Welsh darts professional Gerwyn Price delivered a commanding performance to defeat Dutch rival Michael van Gerwen 6-3, claiming victory on night two of the Premier League in Antwerp. This win marks a significant rebound for Price, who suffered a defeat in his opening match in Newcastle just last week.
Price Holds Off Van Gerwen's Challenge in Tense Final
In a closely contested final, Price managed to hold off Van Gerwen despite the Dutchman's impressive checkouts of 167 and 160, which leveled the match at 2-2. Price recovered strongly to build a 5-2 lead, though he spurned two match darts as Van Gerwen fought back to break his throw. Ultimately, Price closed out the victory on tops in the next leg, securing the win.
"I started off really slow and edgy really," Price commented in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. "Losing my first game last week, you want to get off to a good start. I thought I played decent in the second game and thought I played really well in the final as well, but I was up against it."
Price added, "I know I am playing well but you have to do it on the big stage and it doesn't always happen. I think I am playing some of the best stuff I have played but I am just not winning tournaments."
Premier League Standings Shift After Antwerp Results
The victory in Belgium propels Price up into second place in the Premier League table, now trailing early leader Van Gerwen by just three points. Meanwhile, Luke Littler finds himself in fifth position after his early struggles continued in Antwerp.
Semi-Finals Set the Stage for Dramatic Final
In the semi-finals, Van Gerwen had to dig deep to overcome Luke Littler with a 6-4 victory. Price, on the other hand, came through a deciding leg against his Wales World Cup teammate Jonny Clayton. During this match, the referee issued warnings to the crowd against whistling while players were throwing, adding to the tense atmosphere.
Littler had earlier battled back from a deficit to defeat world number two Luke Humphries 6-5 in a thrilling opening match of the evening. However, he found himself trailing 3-4 to Van Gerwen in the semi-final before leveling the score as both players struggled to hold their throw. Van Gerwen then secured a crucial break in the ninth leg after Littler missed three darts at double six, sealing the win with a fourth maximum and a finish on double 16.
Quarter-Finals Feature High-Stakes Drama
Earlier at the AFAS Dome, Humphries had appeared on course to move past his defeat in the World Masters final when he took a 4-1 lead against Littler, who was reportedly affected by a virus. Littler, however, showed resilience to claw his way back to 4-4. In the deciding leg, after both players missed match darts, Littler took out double 15 to complete a remarkable comeback win.
In other quarter-final action:
- Van Gerwen comfortably defeated Josh Rock 6-2, highlighted by a high checkout of 120.
- Clayton recovered from a 4-0 deficit to beat Stephen Bunting 6-4.
- Price edged out World Championship runner-up Gian van Veen in a last-leg decider.
This night in Antwerp showcased the intense competition and unpredictable nature of the Premier League, with Price's victory serving as a testament to his skill and determination on the big stage.
