Price stars to win seventh Euro Tour Title

Gerwyn Price won his seventh PDC European Tour title on Sunday, taking the Interwetten European Darts Open in Leverkusen, defeating Dirk van Duijvenbode 8-7 in a dramatic final.

Price has won back-to-back Cazoo Premier League nights in Nottingham and Newcastle in the last two weeks, and he dominated the pitch at the Ostermann Arena over the weekend.

The Welshman began his challenge with a 109 average against Krzysztof Ratajski on Saturday, before improving on that performance with a 110 average in a 6-2 victory over World Champion Michael Smith in the third round on Sunday afternoon.

He then proved too strong for Michael van Gerwen, winning 6-4 in the quarter-finals and claiming his third straight victory over the Dutch superstar.

Price averaged over 100 for the fourth time in a row as he defeated Danny Noppert 7-4 in the semi-finals before defeating another Dutchman, Van Duijvenbode, to win the title.

Price’s toughest test came in the final, when he had to come back from 3-1 and 7-6 deficits, surviving two missed match darts to win.

Van Duijvenbode levelled after Price missed the bull to take a 2-0 lead, broke in leg three, and then took out 81 on the bull to seize command.

Price edged back ahead with three straight legs, and the pair were tied at five-all when the world number four fired seven perfect darts in an 11-darter to move 6-5 ahead.

Van Duijvenbode surged back in front with back-to-back 13-darters, only to miss double 18 and double eight to claim his first European Tour title in leg 14.

Price took out 108 to force a deciding leg, then fired in the tie’s fourth 180 to pull ahead before clinching the title with a 12-darter.

 

“I’m happy to get the win,” said Price, who draws level with Peter Wright on seven European Tour wins.

 “I played brilliant darts all weekend apart from the final. It was a slow game – I had to dig in and grind out the win, and without this crowd behind me it’s really difficult.

 “This weekend the crowd have been fantastic. I’m back in Germany next weekend so hopefully they’ll support me again!”

Van Duijvenbode had come back from 6-2 down to defeat Rob Cross in an equally dramatic semi-final, surviving four missed match darts.

On Sunday, the Dutch star defeated European Champion Ross Smith and World Youth Champion Josh Rock on his way to the final.

He was denied a third ranking title of the year, despite having won two Players Championship events, as he narrowly missed out on his first European Tour victory.

Van Duijvenbode had come back from 6-2 down to defeat Rob Cross in an equally dramatic semi-final, surviving four missed match darts.

On Sunday, the Dutch star defeated European Champion Ross Smith and World Youth Champion Josh Rock on his way to the final.

He was denied a third ranking title of the year, despite having won two Players Championship events, as he narrowly missed out on his first European Tour victory.

Reflecting on the final, Van Duijvenbode admitted: “I didn’t play my best game but I should have won anyway.

 “It is what it is. I don’t think it should be that close, I could have [had] some bigger distance [between us] at the beginning, and in the end there’s no holding him back.

 “That’s just the class he has. He’s never afraid, he takes out the 108.”

2023 Interwetten European Darts Open

Sunday March 26

Third Round

Afternoon Session

Danny Noppert 6-1 Dave Chisnall

Damon Heta 6-4 Ryan Meikle

Gerwyn Price 6-2 Michael Smith

Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Ricardo Pietreczko 6-3 Stephen Bunting

Rob Cross 6-1 William O’Connor

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Ross Smith

Josh Rock 6-5 Brendan Dolan

 

Evening Session

Quarter-Finals

Danny Noppert 6-4 Damon Heta

Gerwyn Price 6-4 Michael van Gerwen

Rob Cross 6-5 Ricardo Pietreczko

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Josh Rock

 

Semi-Finals

Gerwyn Price 7-4 Danny Noppert

Dirk van Duijvenbode 7-6 Rob Cross

 

Final

Gerwyn Price 8-7 Dirk van Duijvenbode