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Michael van Gerwen’s super sixth World Grand Prix success marked ten years since his darting dynasty began. It was the tournament that created an at times unstoppable machine and it has tended to convince everyone since then that the three-time world champion is in a class of his own.
His career may have headed into a different direction had he not defeated Mervyn King in the 2012 final to secure his maiden major accolade and rocket into the world’s top ten. That campaign in Dublin ratified his talent and a decade on it has reaffirmed him as the finest thrower on planet darts once again.
For someone whose doubling sometimes develops into his only weakness, his World Grand Prix dominance is quite staggering. His quarter-final demonstrated the reason for that record nonetheless, with Van Gerwen pinning half-a-dozen 160 starts and immediately mounting pressure on his opponent’s shoulders.
His opponents often become as powerless as Chris Dobey did in that previously mentioned quarter-final, the Tyneside thrower laughing post-match and perhaps wondering what more he could have done. It’s testament to Van Gerwen’s timing, ability to prompt pressure and force players into mistakes.
It wasn’t entirely straightforward for the world number three as he was unconvincing at times against both Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting in the first and second rounds. Nevertheless, at no point in those matches did he appear to succumb and his quality was shown when necessary.
He was always the one laying down the benchmark when the latter stages approached. Peter Wright failed to translate his words into reality in the midst of an extremely underwhelming semi-final performance, with Van Gerwen humbling him in straight sets.
His rivals and fellow members of the tremendous trio in Wright and Gerwyn Price seemingly surrendered. Both recorded under-par averages in the low 80s in their respective semi-finals, predominantly down to disastrous doubling, whilst Van Gerwen excelled and ultimately claimed a third televised title of the season.
Nathan Aspinall was the second most proficient performer in the tournament and deservedly reached the final, although that aforementioned weapon in Van Gerwen’s arsenal was the decisive factor. Aspinall received limited chances in the early exchanges, with all of them crucial yet extremely pressurised.
Van Gerwen constructed a healthy four-set advantage and was outwardly coasting to a second successive straight sets victory. Aspinall upped the ante and reeled off three consecutive sets, eventually squandering two attempts at double ten to force a deciding stanza.
The Dutchman blamed that blip on needing to use the bathroom post-match, playing with ‘clenched buttocks’ in his own words. Despite becoming embroiled in an unwanted battle towards the end, Van Gerwen found a way as champions so often succeed in.
Van Gerwen was gracious in the aftermath, praising the former UK Open champion for his remarkable turnaround in recent months after overcoming a potentially career-ending wrist problem, but the eventual champion had done his damage early doors and thoroughly deserved to have his name etched on the silverware for a sixth time.
Van Gerwen was labelled as ‘mediocre’ at the beginning of the week by world champion Wright and told to go back to the practice board. His response: ‘My form has been mediocre but I’ve still won the Premier League and World Matchplay’. Now, the green machine has a hat-trick of sought-after accolades and his second coming is in full force.
