FIRST RANKING TITLE OF 2023 FOR VAN GERWEN WITH PC7 SUCCESS

Michael van Gerwen picked up his first ranking title of 2023 by defeating Josh Rock 8-4 in Sunday's Players Championship 7 final in Hildesheim.

World number three Van Gerwen began the ProTour double-header in Germany by scooping the £12,000 top prize for a first Players Championship win since April last year.

The success saw Van Gerwen - the winner of three Cazoo Premier League nights so far in 2023 - claim his first ranking triumph of the year in style.

The UK Open runner-up a fortnight ago, Van Gerwen's display at Halle 39 was his best away from the TV cameras as he swept through the field before seeing off World Youth Champion Rock in the decider.

"I had to work very hard," admitted Van Gerwen. "I have six gears but I won it in fourth gear today.

"I wasn't playing well most of the day, but the games where I had to play well - to beat Dirk in the quarter-finals I played really well there, and against Josh in the final - I did it.

"That gives you confidence and gives you pleasure but I wasn't great today. Of course I want to play better but I did it whenever I had to do, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

"They're long days, very long days," added the 33-year-old. "At this stage in my life, every tournament I compete in I want to win and it gets harder.

"If you look at the floor tournaments nowadays there's no easy games any more so I have to battle for every game, but overall I'm pleased with my win and that's really important.

"A lot has changed - everyone can play a 100+ average and that's how good the tour is at the moment so that's why you need to get focused."

Van Gerwen breezed past Jacques Labre, Keegan Brown, Martin Lukeman and Boris Krcmar for the loss of just seven legs to book his spot in the quarter-finals.

There, he produced his highest average of the day at 104.95 in a superb 6-4 win over Dutch rival Dirk van Duijvenbode, before seeing off former World Youth Champion Bradley Brooks by a two-leg margin in the semi-finals.

The final saw Van Gerwen meet the reigning World Youth Champion in Rock, who took the opening leg before seeing the Dutchman win five of the next six to move 5-2 up.

Rock cut the gap to 5-4, but legs of 11 and 12 darts for Van Gerwen pushed him clear at 7-4 before he closed out the title.

Sunday's action also featured a nine-darter from Northern Irish star Dolan in his second round win over Richard Veenstra.

There was also a perfect leg on Saturday, as Fallon Sherrock made history by becoming the first woman to hit a nine-darter in a PDC event, during Winmau Challenge Tour Event 9, in her 5-3 win over Marco Verhofstad.

Michael van Gerwen picked up his first ranking title of 2023 by defeating Josh Rock 8-4 in Sunday's Players Championship 7 final in Hildesheim.

World number three Van Gerwen began the ProTour double-header in Germany by scooping the £12,000 top prize for a first Players Championship win since April last year.

The success saw Van Gerwen - the winner of three Cazoo Premier League nights so far in 2023 - claim his first ranking triumph of the year in style.

The UK Open runner-up a fortnight ago, Van Gerwen's display at Halle 39 was his best away from the TV cameras as he swept through the field before seeing off World Youth Champion Rock in the decider.

"I had to work very hard," admitted Van Gerwen. "I have six gears but I won it in fourth gear today.

"I wasn't playing well most of the day, but the games where I had to play well - to beat Dirk in the quarter-finals I played really well there, and against Josh in the final - I did it.

"That gives you confidence and gives you pleasure but I wasn't great today. Of course I want to play better but I did it whenever I had to do, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

"They're long days, very long days," added the 33-year-old. "At this stage in my life, every tournament I compete in I want to win and it gets harder.

"If you look at the floor tournaments nowadays there's no easy games any more so I have to battle for every game, but overall I'm pleased with my win and that's really important.

"A lot has changed - everyone can play a 100+ average and that's how good the tour is at the moment so that's why you need to get focused."

Van Gerwen breezed past Jacques Labre, Keegan Brown, Martin Lukeman and Boris Krcmar for the loss of just seven legs to book his spot in the quarter-finals.

There, he produced his highest average of the day at 104.95 in a superb 6-4 win over Dutch rival Dirk van Duijvenbode, before seeing off former World Youth Champion Bradley Brooks by a two-leg margin in the semi-finals.

The final saw Van Gerwen meet the reigning World Youth Champion in Rock, who took the opening leg before seeing the Dutchman win five of the next six to move 5-2 up.

Rock cut the gap to 5-4, but legs of 11 and 12 darts for Van Gerwen pushed him clear at 7-4 before he closed out the title.

Sunday's action also featured a nine-darter from Northern Irish star Dolan in his second round win over Richard Veenstra.

There was also a perfect leg on Saturday, as Fallon Sherrock made history by becoming the first woman to hit a nine-darter in a PDC event, during Winmau Challenge Tour Event 9, in her 5-3 win over Marco Verhofstad.

 

 

2023 Players Championship 7

Sunday March 19, Halle 39, Hildesheim

 

Last 16

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Luke Humphries

Josh Rock 6-4 Mario Vandenbogaerde

Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Cam Crabtree

Mickey Mansell 6-5 Ross Montgomery

Dave Chisnall 6-3 Stephen Bunting

Bradley Brooks 6-4 Callan Rydz

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Jeffrey Sparidaans

Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Boris Krcmar

 

Quarter-Finals

Josh Rock 6-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Mickey Mansell

Bradley Brooks 6-4 Dave Chisnall

Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode

 

Semi-Finals

Josh Rock 7-3 Krzysztof Ratajski

Michael van Gerwen 7-5 Bradley Brooks

 

Final

Michael van Gerwen 8-4 Josh Rock

Sunday March 19, Halle 39, Hildesheim

 

Last 16

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Luke Humphries

Josh Rock 6-4 Mario Vandenbogaerde

Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Cam Crabtree

Mickey Mansell 6-5 Ross Montgomery

Dave Chisnall 6-3 Stephen Bunting

Bradley Brooks 6-4 Callan Rydz

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Jeffrey Sparidaans

Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Boris Krcmar

 

Quarter-Finals

Josh Rock 6-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Mickey Mansell

Bradley Brooks 6-4 Dave Chisnall

Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode

 

Semi-Finals

Josh Rock 7-3 Krzysztof Ratajski

Michael van Gerwen 7-5 Bradley Brooks

 

Final

Michael van Gerwen 8-4 Josh Rock

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