Darts: MVG’s Chasing a Hattrick in Premier League Night Six
Author:
Roy Brindley
Michael van Gerwen tasted victory in a Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) European Tour event for the first time since 2019 last weekend.
Michael van Gerwen is congratulated by Michael Smith following his victory in Brighton’s Premier League final. ©Steven Paston/PDC
The Dutchman followed up back-to-back Cazoo Premier League wins in Exeter and Brighton with an 8-5 victory over Rob Cross in Sunday’s Interwetten German Darts Championship final.
“I’ve been working for this for a really long time and it means a lot to me,” said Van Gerwen, after collecting his trophy. His victory returned him to the top three of the PDCs Order of Merit.
“To win a European Tour tournament again feels absolutely phenomenal. I keep fighting and I never give up. I’m not done yet,” said the 32-year-old. “Everyone knows I love to play tournaments in Germany – the crowds have been absolutely fantastic, and it means the world.”
Van Gerwen Is on a Streak
The PDC European Tour returns with the German Darts Grand Prix from April 16-18 in Munich. But, during the coming weeks, darts fans will have weekly installments of the Sky Sports televised Premier League to keep them entertained.
This week’s Premier League action comes from the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham where all eyes will be on the in-form Michael van Gerwen.
The three-time World Champion is 5/2 with former Premier League sponsors, Unibet, to win the three consecutive matches required to take his third successive nightly final. His match-winning streak stands at 11 and his current advantage at the top of the league standings is four-points.
World’s One and Two Are Under an Injury Cloud
There is more than one reason to back the five-time Premier League winner. In addition to his rich vein of form, van Gerwen’s task could be simplified by injuries to two key rivals.
Thursday’s first-round opponent is due to be Gerwyn Price. However, the Welshman withdrew from last week’s Premier League meeting in Brighton and the weekend’s German Darts Championship. He cited a hand injury as the reason for his absence.
Late on Sunday night, from Tenerife, the Welshman took to Instagram to give an update saying that his hand is “still swollen but things getting a little better.” Suffice to say, if Price is forced to skip a second Premier League night, van Gerwen’s task will be made much easier.
Furthermore, Peter Wright could also be absent this week. The reigning World Champion withdrew from Sunday’s German Darts Championship at the quarter-final stage. He had already beaten Krzysztof Ratajski, but a back injury forced him to pull out of a clash with Michael van Gerwen less than an hour before the game was due to start.
Statistically, van Gerwen Has it won
From a betting viewpoint, Thursday’s mini-competition looks fraught with danger. That’s unless you are a van Gerwen supporter. In form, with his confidence returned, the Dutch master is, at the very least, a formidable opponent.
Add to the equation his outstanding Premier League statistics – he has recorded more 180s than anyone, he is the only player in the League with a three-dart average above 100, and his 47 percent check-out average is higher than any rival – and it is very easy to conclude MVG is Thursday night’s most likely winner.
The Dutch player can be backed at odds of 5/2 with the best darts betting sites.
