Cazoo Premier League darts, Belfast. 2 Feb 2023 Semi Final 1: Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Michael van Gerwen. Picture: Michael Cooper
Nine-dart star Michael van Gerwen celebrated a record-extending fifth Jack’s World Series of Darts Finals title on Sunday evening, defeating Nathan Aspinall 11-4 to prevail on a memorable night in Amsterdam.
Van Gerwen raised the roof at AFAS Live with a sensational nine-darter in the semi-finals against Luke Humphries, and he capped off a terrific day of action by claiming the £75,000 top prize with victory against Aspinall.
The three-time World Champion was in imperious form throughout the third day of action in Amsterdam, and secured his fourth televised crown of 2023 to maintain his remarkable record at this event.
Previously the tournament’s champion in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019, Van Gerwen delighted his home crowd with the triumph, having also celebrated his quarter-final win over Dimitri Van den Bergh on Sunday afternoon on stage with children Zoe and Michael.
“The most important thing for me is to win another title on stage,” insisted Van Gerwen, who won World Series events in New York and Poland earlier this year to seal his spot in the season-ending finals.
“You always want to perform well, and to do it in front of your home crowd, it gives you such a good feeling.
“I think the biggest challenge for me was the pressure of playing in front of the home crowd, but they have been absolutely fantastic this weekend.
“Even Luke Humphries after our semi-final said that the crowd were phenomenal, and you can only be proud of that.”
Van Gerwen had sealed his spot in Sunday’s showpiece after winning through thrilling encounters against Dimitri Van den Bergh and Humphries earlier on Finals Day.
The Dutch superstar weathered an early storm in his quarter-final clash against Van den Bergh, recovering from 5-3 down to prevail with a 103 average and nine maximums.
Van Gerwen then came through an extraordinary contest against Humphries, which saw him land the first nine-darter in the history of the World Series of Darts Finals.
The 34-year-old produced the moment of magic in leg two, and after surviving three match darts in the penultimate leg, sealed the deal with a magnificent 12-dart break in the decider.
In the final, Aspinall capitalised on an early reprieve to stay in touch at the first interval, landing a brilliant double-double 86 finish after Van Gerwen missed two darts at tops for a 4-1 lead.
However, Van Gerwen made amends by winning four of the next five legs to stretch his advantage to 7-3, firing in a brace of 14-darters and a spectacular 160 checkout to underline his dominance.
The procession continued as Van Gerwen extended his winning run to five straight legs, and despite Aspinall stopping the rot in leg 14, the home hero wrapped up victory with a clinical two-dart 63 combination.
World Matchplay champion Aspinall, meanwhile, won through hard-fought encounters against Keegan Brown and Peter Wright to reach a third televised final in as many months, only to be blown away by a relentless Van Gerwen.
The Stockport star defied a sluggish start to see off Brown, averaging 107 in a terrific five-leg burst midway through the match, before wrapping up a 10-5 victory with a 97 average and four maximums.
Aspinall then fended off a spirited fightback from two-time finalist Wright to close out a dramatic 11-9 success, defying 120, 141 and 167 finishes from the Scot to prevail in an edgy finale.
“I just said to Michael, I don’t know how he does it,” admitted Aspinall, who was unable to add a maiden World Series Finals crown to his World Matchplay exploits.
“Full credit to Michael. This guy has so much energy, and his will to win is exceptional.
“I’m very happy to participate in another final with Michael. In my era he’s the best, and it’s an honour to share the stage with him.
“Even though I’ve lost, I’m so glad he’s won in front of his home crowd, because he deserves it.”
Earlier in the day, Wright fought back from 6-3 down to overcome Raymond van Barneveld in the last eight, reeling off seven consecutive legs to deny the Dutch legend a fairy-tale triumph on home soil.
Humphries also impressed in his run to the semi-finals, dispatching top seed Rob Cross 10-2, having averaged almost 107 in his second-round win over Krzysztof Ratajski.
2023 Jack’s World Series of Darts Finals
Sunday September 17
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Luke Humphries 10-2 Rob Cross
Michael van Gerwen 10-8 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Nathan Aspinall 10-5 Keegan Brown
Peter Wright 10-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 11-10 Luke Humphries – Michael van Gerwen hits nine-dart finish
Nathan Aspinall 11-9 Peter Wright
Final
Michael van Gerwen 11-4 Nathan Aspinall
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