Dimitri Van den Bergh opened the Queensland Darts Masters tournament with a 180 on his first visit against Koha Kokiri. He then finished off the leg with a 164 check out. He then opened with a 140 against the throw and after three more visits of 100 or over double 36 gave Van den Bergh a second leg. On throw in leg three he opened with a pair of tons before a 140 set him up nicely and three darts later he was 3-0 ahead. Kokiri won the fourth leg with a 64 check out. He then opened with a 136 and 134 and with an 89 Kokiri was within a leg of his opponent at 3-2. Both players struggled for big scores in the next leg but it was the Dutchman who took it to lead 4-2. The next leg saw Van den Bergh secure another 180 and soon he was leading 5-2. Visits of 140 and 180, followed by a 137, gave Van den Bergh the darts for the match and, despite a maximum from Kokiri on his fourth visit, Van den Bergh was able to convert and take the match 6-2.
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6 (93.24) defeated Koha Kokiri 2 (85.93)
Match 2 Joe Cullen v Dave Marland
Joe Cullen put on one of his best performances in a while as he averaged 108.65 and converted over 50% doubles to defeat Dave Marland 6-0. He started the match with a ton and then threw two 180s before missing a chance at an 11 darter and having to be satisfied with a 13 dart finish. He then hit 180, 121 and 100 before cleaning up over two visits to win in 14 darts, leaving Marland requiring 76. Back on throw Cullen hit 180, 131 and 140 and cleaned up in 10 darts by throwing the bull whilst chasing 50. The fourth leg could have been more even but at the end of the leg Cullen moved from 236 to completing the leg in two visits, including his highest check out of the match in 102. He then had visits of 180 and 140 in the middle of the next leg and threw double 16 to move a leg away from the match. He then opened with 134 and backed it up with his sixth 180 of the match (in six legs!) Marland threw 100 and 140 but did not get a chance at the 71 remaining as Cullen threw 65 to win the match in 15 darts.
Joe Cullen 6 (108.65) Dave Marland 0 (78.52)
Match 3 Haupai Puha v Jonny Clayton
In the first upset of the night Haupai Puha continued his fine form from the Australian Open as he defeated Jonny Clayton 6-2. The opening leg went Puha’s way in 13 darts as Clayton threw 131 to set up 36 only for Puha (having already collected visits of 180 and 140) to throw double 8 to lead 1-0. He then piled on the pressure with an outstanding 11 dart leg with visits of 140, 140 and 180 and then a double 16 to hold throw. Clayton started the next leg slowly but still had a shot at 100 after Puha missed out on 111. Clayton left tops but Puha denied him another throw at it by taking out the 60 he required for a 3-0 lead. Clayton then opened with visits of 140, 99 and 180 but the remaining 82 did not go in six darts and Puha 16 and double 16 to take out the leg. Both players secured a great run in the next leg with Clayton going 137, 100, 140 and 92 as Puha responded with 140, 140 and 100. A double 16 with his 14th dart finally saw Clayton on the score board. Against the throw Clayton then threw 140, 140, and 100 before securing the leg with his 15th dart (Puha being left on 20 having unsuccessfully attempted a 106 check out in the previous visit.) Clayton then had the chance to move to within a leg of his opponent on throw and opened with an 86 and a 180. Puha seemed well out of the leg but Clayton spurned six darts trying to checking out 10 and a 52 check out moved Puha one leg away from the match. Despite three ton visits and a check out attempt of 160 from Clayton it was Puha who won the eighth leg with a double 18 from his 16th dart handing Puha his first World Series of Darts win from six attempts.
Haupai Puha 6 (94.75) Jonny Clayton 2 (87.15)
Match 4 GG Mathers v Fallen Sherrock
GG Mathers secured his first World Series of Darts win with a 6-3 victory over Fallen Sherrock. He opened the night with a 121 before a 120 left him needing just double 12. His 16th dart was a 12 and then a double 6 saw him lead 1-0. In the next leg he threw a 140 and with Sherrock unable to convert 113, leaving double 18, Mathers threw the required double 20 with last dart in hand on his next visit. The third leg saw Mathers throw 121, 100 and 140 to leave 38 at the end of the leg and on his sixth visit to the oche double 19 gave him a 3-0 lead. Sherrock held throw in the fourth leg despite a maximum from her opponent. She checked out 160 to move back to within two legs of Mathers. The Queenslander returned the gap to three legs in the next leg as he moved from 338 to check out in three visits, checking out double 12 with his 18th dart. Sherrock then held throw thanks in main to visits of 180 and 140 before checking out double 2 with her 18th dart. She then had opportunities to convert 120 over two visits but left 10 as Mathers missed a shot at 52 only to be able to return to the oche and throw double 14 for a 5-2 lead. Sherrock nearly checked out 140 on her next visit, leaving 8. It would take her another three visits to secure that score as Mathers missed match darts when attempting to secure 85 over two visits. Mathers then opened the tenth leg with 134 and backed it up with the same on his third visit, 99 being scored in between, to take a big lead in the leg. The remaining 134, however, was harder to come by, indeed so hard Sherrock had an outside shot at 128 but in the end it was a double 5 that saw Mathers take the match six legs to three.
GG Mathers 6 (79.64) Fallon Sherrock 3 (73.42)
Match 5 Simon Whitlock v James Wade
Simon Whitlock repeated the pain he inflicted on James Wade in the World Cup by winning their opening round match and consigning Wade to his third loss in his last three opening round matches in Australia. In the first leg he opened his throw with visits of 140 and 180 and completed the leg with a double 4. Wade then threw a maximum of his own on his third visit in the second leg but left 20 when trying to convert 54 and Whitlock pounced to check out 49 with a 17 and double 16 in two darts. Whitlock then held throw, although after a start of 180 and two 140s he would have been disappointed to take three visits to secure 51. In leg four Wade opened with a maximum before Whitlock responded with a 140. He secured the same number on his fourth visit and tops with his 13th dart to move the scoreline to a very familiar one (4-0 - see the World Cup semi final result between the two.) Things picked up for Wade in the fifth leg as he threw 100, 137 and 140 before converting 124 against the Whitlock throw. He then opened with a 140 on throw in the next leg and secured a double 10 with his 17th dart to halve the deficit in the match to 4-2. Visits of 180 and a 140 when chasing 164 were not enough for Wade in the seventh leg as Whitlock got back to winning ways by checking out 78. Against the throw Whitlock then collected 140 and two 133’s in four visits to the oche to leave him needing tops, which he threw with his 13th dart to take the match 6-2.
Simon Whitlock 6 (96.13) James Wade 2 (91.97)
Match 6 Michael van Gerwen v Bailey Marsh
Bailey Marsh became the talk of the town as he took Michael van Gerwen to a deciding leg in their match. The 20 year old started strong with a break of throw in the opening leg, having secured scores of 140, 100 and 140 in his opening three visits. Despite missing the bull he was able to return to the oche after van Gerwen left 54 chasing 150 and Marsh secured the 25 at his fifth visit. The Dutchman came back in the next leg as a 180 left him needing 16 for the win, a check out he collected with last dart in hand on his next visit (Marsh unable to convert 143 previous to that.) Marsh then broke a second time as van Gerwen failed to put away 137 in three visits, and Marsh moved from 256 to the win in the same period of the leg. MvG then threw 140, 135 and 142 from his opening four legs to set up another break. He missed double 8 for the leg and had to watch as Marsh attempted a 71. His opponent left 26 and that gave van Gerwen a chance to tie the match at 2-2, an opportunity he gratefully took. Leg 5 saw van Gerwen open with a 140 but Marsh responded with a 134 and consistent throwing over the next three visits saw Marsh set up a 72 check out which he took out to secure another break of throw (the fifth in the match in succession.) In the sixth leg for the first time in the match a player held throw as Marsh checked out 60 to lead 4-2. The seventh leg saw both players throw some excellent darts, including a maximum from Marsh but a 72 check out from van Gerwen saw him hold throw. He then pounced on a slower start from Marsh as a 134 visit left him requiring 40 which he took on his next visit to take the break and move the match back to parity. Visits of 96, 95 and 149 gave the Dutchman the lead in the next leg, setting up an attempt at the big fish, 170. He missed it and then took three more visits to win the leg. Marsh having had two visits to collect 116 himself. On throw, and having to win to get a deciding leg, Marsh threw 140 in his first visit only to watch his opponent do the same. Marsh threw another on his third visit to the oche but things got nervous for him as he left 9 chasing 36 and had to stand behind van Gerwen as he attempted to throw a 126 for the match. Van Gerwen left double 19 and Marsh threw 1 double four to move the match to five all. Van Gerwen then upped the ante as he opened with visits of 140 and 180 on throw. Marsh responded with 140 and 100 on his third and fourth visits as his opponent edged towards a check out. 140 had become 80 before 20 was left by MvG to take the match. In the interim Marsh had left 56 trying to secure 111 for the match. Van Gerwen threw double 10 with his next dart in hand to take the match 6-5.
Michael van Gerwen 6 (85.97) v Bailey Marsh 5 (84.84)
Match 7 Gerwyn Price v Damon Heta
Damon Heta opened his match with Gerwyn Price slowly and Price piled on the pressure with visits of 140 and 168 from two of his opening three legs. He struggled to complete the leg though, and that let Heta have a shot at 96 (he left 6) before a double 2 was finally Price’s escape clause from the leg. A 140 on his second visit then gave Heta an early lead in leg 2 only for a 150 visit to leave Price requiring 40. Heta put some pressure on it as a 104 left him needing 44 but tops next dart in hand was enough for Price to double his leg lead at 2-0. Price then opened with 100 and 140 but more consistent scoring through the middle of the leg was enough for Heta to leave 16 for the third leg and with Price unable to convert 100, leaving 20, Heta secured the double 8 required with his 16th dart. Heta then threw 180 and 133 in consecutive legs before a double 16 with his 13th dart gave him the break to move the match to two legs all. There were some brilliant darts thrown from both players in the next leg, the first six visits being 134, 134 and 133 from Heta, and 140, 100 and 140 from Price. Heta failed to check out 100 and Price could not attain 121 before Heta threw double 20 to take a lead for the first time in the match at 3-2. Heta then took his fourth leg in succession despite Price starting with a maximum. In fact, Price would hit a second maximum with 99 in between to leave 42. In the meantime Heat threw 134, 174 and 57 to leave 136. Price was unable to check out the small number (leaving 20) whilst Heta checked out the big number, completing it with tops. Heta started slowly in the seventh leg but picked up through the middle of the leg. Price had edged ahead enough to get a shot at 170, missing the bull. With Heta unable to take out 98 (leaving tops) Price pounced to move the match back to 4-3. He then double downed on that break of throw with a 180 start on his own throw. Heta responded with a 171 and scores of 134 (Price) and 140 (Heta) in their third visits set both players up for check outs. As Heta stood behind him requiring 95, Price stepped up to the oche and closed out a 128 check out attempt with a double 10 to move the match back to even terms at 4-4. Heta then opened with another 171 and follow up scores of 136 and 105 at his third and fourth visits set up the leg. It took him five darts but eventually Heta checked out the 32 to take the lead once more at 5-4. A 180 from Heta had left him requiring 80 in the tenth leg but Price checked out with Shanghai (120) to hold throw and take the match to a deciding leg. Price then threw two 180s in succession to set up an attempt at a nine darter against the Heta throw. Two more perfect darts and Price had a shot at repeating the Phil Taylor effort of a nine darter on TV in the World Series in Australia, but failed to collect it. Heta was too far back to stop him from returning to the oche and with his 11th dart the world’s number one darts player had secured the match 6-5.
Gerwyn Price 6 (98.6) Damon Heta 5 (98.06)
Match 8 Michael Smith v Joe Comito
Michael Smith closed out the night with a comprehensive performance against Joe Comito. Smith opened with a 100 on throw and secured a maximum at his third visit before throwing 18 and double 20 with his 13th and 14th darts to lead 1-0. He then threw 180, 139 and 105 against the throw and checked out 77 to secure an 11 dart leg. His third maximum in three legs helped him take a 3-0 lead before a 124 check out had him four nil up. Leg five saw another 180 come Smith’s way and a double 20 had him a leg away from the match, taking out the 50 required just after Comito had thrown a 140 to leave 66. Against the throw in leg six, Smith opened with a 140 which he then collected again on his third visit. He missed the bull for the match on his fourth visit (trying to check out 150) but was far enough ahead to get another shot at the match. He took the match out with his 15th dart of the sixth leg, winning 6-0.
Michael Smith 6 (104.86) Joe Comito 0 (66.83)
Quarter Final 1 Joe Cullen v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Dimitri Van den Bergh started first and it was he who got the first 180 at his third visit. Joe Cullen, however, checked out 101 to take the first leg. Van den Bergh then opened the second leg against the throw with a 180 but Cullen responded with a 140. Later in the leg Van den Bergh moved from 206 to 32 in one visit but another Cullen check out of 74 had him two up. Van Den Bergh then secured another 180 start before Cullen matched it in leg 3. Cullen threw 140 to leave 181 before Van den Bergh left 24 after a visit of 174. Double 12 then got Van den Bergh his first leg of the match. A 180 at the second time of asking from Cullen provoked a Van den Bergh response with a 134 only for Cullen to throw 140. A maximum left the Belgian on 87 as Cullen left 14 from a 122 check out. With Van den Bergh not pouncing at his next visit, Cullen jumped on it to lead 3-1. Cullen had visits of 140 and 134 in the next leg but a 16 and double 16 to Van den Bergh got him back within a leg. On throw in the next leg Cullen took a good lead with a 140 visit second time around and, despite a 180 leaving the Belgian needing 82, Cullen checked out 16 to lead 4-2. Van Den Bergh opened with a 140 and then scored the same two visits later in the seventh leg and then had a shot at 170, scoring 123 to leave 47. He missed that next score but Cullen was unable to check out 129 after missing the bull and Van den Bergh hit double four with his next dart to move the match to 4-3. Van den Bergh had another shot at 170 in the next leg but left 40, this time paying the price as Cullen threw a 116 finish to take the leg. Van den Bergh moved to 219 with visits after his first of 100, 140 and then moved to 68 with a 171 visit before cleaning up 48 to move back within a leg. Culllen opened with a 140 in the tenth leg which was matched by the Belgian. Cullen left 32 after chasing 130 and a double 16 with his 13th dart of the leg meant Cullen secured the match 6-4.
Joe Cullen 6 (102.74) Dimitri Van den Bergh 4 (102.27)
Quarter Final 2 Michael van Gerwen v Haupai Puha
Michael Van Gerwen opened his quarter final match on throw and delivered consistent darts to take the first leg with a double 18. On throw Puha stayed in the match with a visit of 171 leaving him on 171. Both players then scrambled but chasing 61 Puha threw 25 and double 18 to move the match to 1-1. A 140 to go to requiring 81 was followed by visits of 69, 9 and 1 from Van Gerwen in the next leg. Given the opportunity Puha missed double 16 and double 8 for the leg until Van Gerwen, with a shake of the head, finally threw a double one for the leg. Van Gerwen threw three successive 140s opening the next leg, leaving 40 after his next visit. As Puha missed out on a 167 check out tops from van Gerwen gave him a break of throw and a 3-1 lead. The next leg saw both players move to 280 before a 140 halved the score for the Dutchman. With Puha on 183 van Gerwen moved to 80 before Puha left 43. Two darts later and van Gerwen was 4-1 up. Puha then opened with a 137 but a 140 on his second visit gave van Gerwen the slightest of leads. MvG left himself on 104 as Puha left 97 chasing 161. Three darts later and van Gerwen was one leg away from the match. On throw he secured 81 as Puha secured a ton visit on his opening visit to the oche in the leg. 125 two visits later left the Dutchman on 255 and 99 had him chase a check out of 156. He missed out on that big target and instead Puha lined up at the oche to check out 86. He left 32 and MvG checked out 111 to win the match 6-1.
Michael van Gerwen 6 (91.76) v Haupai Puha 1 (86.51)
Quarter Final 3 Michael Smith v GG Mathers
Michael Smith opened the match with a 140 start on throw and backed it up with a ton. After a slower start Mathers responded with two visits of 100 and a 134 before finally checking out a double 16 with his 16th dart to lead 1-0. He then opened the next leg with a 140 but Smith upped the ante by scoring a maximum. Mathers secured a ton as Smith threw 125. A visit of 105 two visits later and Mathers left 20 which he took after Smith was unable to check out 90 and had left tops. Smith opened with 140 in leg three only for Mathers to open with his own maximum. Smith then responded with a 180 for himself but was unable to convert the 124 required over two visits and Mathers came from nowhere to secure 215 in two visits, including a 115 check out with treble 20, 15 and double 20. At 3-0 Smith had to respond and despite a 140 from Mathers it was Smith who took the leg with a 56 check out. He then opened with a 134 in leg five but Mathers responded with a 140. The Queenslander was unable to check out a 56 and Smith pounced with a double 18 to move within a leg of parity at 3-2. Mathers missed tops for a 160 check out in the next leg but came back to throw the remaining 20 with his 18th dart to lead 4-2. Neither player started well in the following leg but a 140 from his second visit gave Smith a good lead. Mathers stayed in the leg and had a shot at 50 but missed and with last dart in hand Smith moved across and threw the double 8 required to move within a leg of being level with his opponent. Mathers opened the next leg with 140 and 180 but then missed the double 16 and left double 8. Smith was then unable to secure the check out and Mathers threw the double 8 with next dart (13th of the leg) to lead 5-3. 140 from Smith and 133 had him well ahead after three visits and he held his nerve to move back to within a leg of the lead. The next leg saw Mathers score 100, 121 and 100 with Smith throwing 100 and 180. Smith missed the bull for a 164 finish. He left 30 but could not get it in two visits. Meanwhile Mathers spurned chances at a check out as well until he finally threw double 10 to hold throw for a famous 6-4 win.
GG Mathers 4 (85.6) Michael Smith 6 (85.83)
Quarter Final 4 Gerwyn Price v Simon Whitlock
A slow start to the match saw Gerwyn Price miss a dart at double 6 for the opening leg and Simon Whitlock pounced by securing 35 points with 3, 8 and double 12 to lead 1-0. Price then missed a double five for the second leg but Whitlock missed double 18 for a check out of his own and Price threw 1 and double 2 to break straight back. Price opened with a 137 in leg 3 before Whitlock hit a ton in response and threw 140 on his next visit before Price hit maximum to leave 124. Price then had three darts at tops for the leg but missed the target. Whitlock had a bounce out and could only leave 36. He would have a shot at It Price was unable to put away 20 at the first attempt but with Whitlock presenting him another chance he finally put it away to lead the match 2-1. Whitlock opened the next leg with a 140, a tally Price matched on his second visit. Whitlock was unable to put away 170 and could not clean up at the second attempt leaving Price requiring tops with his 15th dart. Whitlock missed again but so did Price. A double 5 finally gave Whitlock the leg and moved the match to 2-2. Price opened the next leg with a 131 as Whitlock scored 100. Both players struggled mid leg until the Wizard hit a 140 to leave 84. Whitlock then missed tops for the break but came back to the oche and threw double 10 with his next dart to lead 3-2. The next leg opened with 100, 140 and 180 from Whitlock whilst Price threw 140 on his first visit. With Price needing 167 Whitlock left tops but he did not get a chance at it as the world number one took the chance to draw level once more with a 167 check out. Leg seven saw consistent darts from Price as he threw four successive 96 scores. Whitlock was on 160 as Price threw a 117 to take a 4-3 lead. Leg eight saw Price take the darts mid leg and a maximum moved him to 127. Whitlock threw a maximum to leave 60 but Price got tops darts with last dart in hand on his next visit to lead 5-3. Price stayed well in front in the next leg with visits of 100, 100 and 135. He moved to 68 with a 98 and with Whitlock well behind tops was enough with his 15th dart in the leg to give Price a 6-3 win.
Gerwyn Price 6 (86.93) Simon Whitlock 3 (92.96)
Semi Final 1 Michael van Gerwen v Joe Cullen
Joe Cullen opened the first semi final with a visit of 137 but van Gerwen responded with a 112. Both players threw tons on their second visit. Eventually it was a 78 check out from Cullen that gave him a 1-0 lead. Van Gerwen started his throw perfectly with a 180 start and then followed it up with a ton. Cullen had thrown 121 and 140 with his first two visits and then piled the pressure on with a 180 of his own. He then missed two darts for the leg and a 65 from van Gerwen was enough to leave the match at 1-1. An 82 check out in the next leg (after Cullen had left 24 trying to check out 158) gave van Gerwen a 2-1 match lead. MvG then opened with 140 in the fourth leg and scored the same third visit in before checking out 80 to lead 3-1. Cullen then held throw in 14 darts thanks to visits of 140, 100 and 145 left him needing 36 and with an 18 and double 9 he moved the match back to only a one leg deficit at 3-2. He then broke the van Gerwen throw thanks to an opening of 134, a maximum to leave 39, and a 7 and double 16 to finish the leg. Cullen started slowly in the next leg and MvG pounced with a 134 but Cullen responded with a 139 and a treble 20, treble 19 and double 14 saw him check out 145 to lead 4-3 (on throw) at the first break. Van Gerwen collected a 125 on his second visit of the eighth leg in response to a ton from Cullen but after that it took both players time to get back into the match after the break. Van Gerwen eventually took the leg with a check out of 100 to move the match to 4-4. On throw Cullen got a ton on his second visit in leg nine but van Gerwen put pressure on the Cullen throw with a 139 visit on his third time at the oche and a follow up ton. A 127 check out (20, treble 19 and the bull) put van Gerwen back out in front at 5-4. Cullen threw two successive 140s to open the next leg with van Gerwen throwing the same in between and a 180 at his third visit. With his opponent needing 56 Cullen really needed to take down 139 but he could only leave 50 and MvG took the check out with 16 and double 20 from his next two darts to move a leg away from the match at 6-4. Cullen secured a 180 at his second visit of the next leg and scored 134 two visits later to leave 81. A maximum from van Gerwen was not enough as Cullen checked out with treble 19, 12 and double 6. Both players scored 140s in their opening visits of leg 12 but slowed through the middle of the leg until Cullen scored 140 to leave 118. With van Gerwen unable to take out the big fish Cullen had a shot at his check out but left 72. Van Gerwen needed 80 and he made the most of the chance and took it out with last dart in hand to win 7-5 and qualify for the final.
Michael van Gerwen 7 (92.98) Joe Cullen 5 (96.84)
Semi Final 2 Gerwyn Price v Gordon Mathers
In the opening leg of the second semi final GG Mathers opened with a 96 and scored 137 three visits later. A 140 from Gerwyn Price left him needing 80. Mathers found himself on 20 after chasing 89. He would not get another dart at that target though as Price secured the leg with last dart in hand on his next visit. Mathers then opened with 122 but Price threw 100 and 115 in response before 134 left him needing 152. Two visits later and he was 2-0 up. A 140 start and then 130 and 131 visits at the conclusion of the leg then gave Price a third leg, with Mathers standing behind him needing 80. Mathers opened the fourth leg with 140 which was matched by Price. The Welshman then scored the same before Mathers threw another 140 himself on his third visit of the leg. A 125 check out from Price had him up by four nil. Mathers opened with 100 and 134 visits in the fifth leg before Price threw 119. Mathers threw 100 next to leave 167 as Price moved to 82 with a 124 visit. Mathers failed to convert over two legs and Price punished him, checking out to lead the match 5-0. The sixth leg saw Price open against the throw with a 139 and a 123 before 99 left him requiring 140. A 76 check out two visits later saw him lead 6-0. After opening with 100 and 140 Mathers threw another 140 on his fourth visit to leave 49. He secured his first leg with a 49 check out to break the Price throw and move the match to 6-1 at the first break. Price cleaned up the match immediately after the break. He threw consecutive 180s but left 94 attempting to check out 141. Mathers threw a 171 after a ton visit and moved his score to 94 but with a 25, treble 19 and double 6 check out Price prevented Mathers from revisiting the oche as he won the match 7-1 over Mathers.
Gerwyn Price 7 (98.38) Gordon Mathers 1 (91.79)
Final Michael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price
In the final Gerwyn Price opened on throw with a ton but two visits in van Gerwen threw 140 to get back into the leg. With MvG on 62 Price checked out 103 to hold throw and lead 1-0. MvG then opened with 180 on throw and scored 100 on his next visit. Price did the same in the reverse order. With his 14th dart of the leg van Gerwen secured his first leg with a double 18. Price then held throw in the third leg with a 140 three visits in and an 82 check out being the highlights. The fourth leg saw van Gerwen open up with a 140. He left 80 after four visits but spurned multiple chances, as did his opponent, until finally Price secured 20 to lead 3-1. A 180 visit from each player mid the fifth leg was followed by a 140 from van Gerwen. He missed tops on his next visit and Price pounced once again to lead 4-1. The Dutchman then held throw in the sixth leg with a 180 third visit to the oche and a 66 check out. He then threw 100, 140, 121 and checked out 140 in the next leg. Price had 140 and 134 visits for himself, and required 52 when MvG checked out the big score. Despite being unsettled Price opened with 134 in the next leg with the two players exchanging 140’s mid leg. MvG then checked out 80 after Price was unable to put the big fish away. With the scoreline tied at four all van Gerwen opened the next leg with a 140 and a 121 before another 140 two visits later left him needing 40. Price had thrown a 137 to leave Shanghai and demonstrated his prowess by throwing the 120 to go back into the lead at 5-4. Van Gerwen opened the next leg with 100 and backed it up with a 134 before setting up 112 with a ton. He checked out 112 to move the match to 5-5. Against the throw van Gerwen scored 180 at his opening visit of the 11th leg and a 145 two visits later left him needing 77. He completed the 77 points with a treble 19 and double 10 to take a 6-5 lead. The next leg started more calmly but 132 and 140 visits at his third and fourth visits left van Gerwen requiring 87. He took that out in his fifth visit to the oche to lead 7-5 and move a leg away from the title. In leg 13 Price threw 99 and 180 with van Gerwen throwing 140 and 180 as responses. Van Gerwen won the match thanks to a visit of 123 and a check out of 58, finishing with an 18 and tops.
Michael van Gerwen 8 (99.87 ) Gerwyn Price 5 (89.17)