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World No. 1 Michael van Gerwen seals thrilling Premier League title

Darts

World No. 1 Michael van Gerwen snatched the Premier League title out of Peter Wright's hands at the O2 Arena in London.

The Dutchman, playing his fifth consecutive final, took advantage of Wright missing six match darts in the penultimate leg to hit double four and retain his title with an 11-10 victory.

Wright, having ended retirement-bound Phil Taylor's glittering Premier League career with a 10-9 semifinal win, was cruising to a maiden title after surging into 5-1 and 7-3 leads.

But Van Gerwen, who defeated Gary Anderson 10-7 in the last four, returned from a mid-match interval refreshed and won five of the next six legs to apply pressure that Wright eventually buckled under.

Van Gerwen, now a three-time Premier League winner, told Sky Sports: "It was a great final. I didn't really play well at the beginning of this game, I missed a few chances, and Peter finished well.

"After the break I played really well, I had a great comeback, but Peter started playing well again. Then he missed six darts for the match, I don't know how he did, but for me who cares? A win is a win I always say. This was a really crazy game. It was a fantastic moment for me."

Wright denied 16-time world champion Taylor, who will call it a day at the end of the World Championship later this year, the chance to claim his seventh title by edging a decider in the semis.

But, despite a fast start in the showpiece, the 49-year-old wasted a glorious opportunity to claim the eighth trophy of a year that has seen him take his darts to another level.

The Scot, who also finished second in the table behind Van Gerwen after 15 weeks of the regular season, said: "You cannot have six darts at a double to beat the number one in the world, a double world champion."

"It is something I have got to learn. I will have to get on the practice board and get him next time. I can't believe I missed them darts at a double, but fair play to the champion."

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