3 Jan 2017

MVG wins World Darts title

11:52 am on 3 January 2017

World number one Michael Van Gerwen of the Netherlands won his second World Darts Championship title with a 7-3 win over holder Gary Anderson at London's Alexandra Palace.

World Darts champion Michael van Gerwen.

World Darts champion Michael van Gerwen. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The 27-year-old Van Gerwen never looked in any real danger against Scotland's Anderson during a contest that included 42 maximums of 180 - a world record for a single darts match.

An intruder who climbed on to the stage in the ninth set seemed to briefly break Van Gerwen's concentration but the Dutchman ended a three-year wait for a second world title by hitting the bullseye to seal a comfortable victory.

"I feel absolutely over the moon. I had to find my A game," 'Mighty Mike' Van Gerwen told Sky Sports. "My average of 108 says it all - it was incredible for everyone."

2015 World Darts Champion, Gary Anderson

2015 World Darts Champion, Gary Anderson Photo: Photosport

World number two Anderson was aiming to match Eric Bristow (1984-86) and Phil Taylor (1995-2002 & 2004-06) by becoming only the third man to win three successive world championship titles.

"It's well deserved for Michael with the year he's had, but I've had a good three years," said Anderson. "At 2-2 I just started to drop and got punished."

-Reuters