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The feel of the darts is perfect!
Michael van Gerwen lost to Daryl Gurney 2: 8 on Matchday 16 of the Unibet Darts Premier League. Therefore, it is certain that this year’s playoffs will take place without the dominator of previous years.
Since his debut at the prestigious invitation tournament in 2013, van Gerwen had always reached at least the final. She has won the tournament five times so far, in the last four years in a row. This year, however, the veteran Dominator rarely reached his best form.
MvG never found a phase in their game and only won two stages. Due to the defeat of the Dutch it is clear that the two Scots Gary Anderson and Peter Wright have reached the playoffs (table of the Premier League of Darts Unibet).
Following the victory over Anderson the day before, the three-time world champion had said that no player was as mentally strong as he. But there was absolutely no sign of that in Milton Keynes that night.
Van Gerwen mit Katastrohenstart
Van Gerwen seemed inhibited, his body language not corresponding to that of a champion. He also got off to a disastrous start to the game.
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Gurney, who hadn’t had a chance to be in the top 4 for days, got an immediate break. Van Gerwen missed a total of six chances in the third leg to bring it down to 1: 2. Gurney gratefully accepted the gift, racking it up 3-0 and then even 6-0.
Only then did MvG get their first leg. But that didn’t change things. Van Gerwen surrendered to his fate without much resistance.
For him, it is the continuation of his weak results after the Corona break. At the July World Matchplay, he surprisingly failed in the second round against Simon Whitlock, and since the Premier League restart he has won only four of eight matches.
After puffing out his cheeks after the defeat, he left the stage with his head bowed.
Wright beats compatriot Anderson
Peter Wright appeared on stage with a smile on his face for his last major round match against Michael Smith. Due to van Gerwen’s defeat, it was already clear that he would be part of the grand final on October 22.
So a loose game developed between the world champion and the “Bully Boy”. Obviously determined, Wright tied at 4: 1, a little later at 7: 2. Smith begins a small comeback with three won stages in a row, but at least one point should not be enough for Smith, who had already been eliminated.
Wright eliminated compatriot Anderson from second place in the table with the victory.
Price despite the gala
The world champion had no chance in the first game of the night in 2: 8 against Gerwyn Price. After his second loss in two days, Anderson had to fear for a playoff entry, but Van Gerwen’s loss meant he was through.
However, Price also did not make use of his strong performance, which was particularly evident by his strong three-dart average of 107.7 points.
With an 8-2 win over leader Glen Durrant, Nathan Aspinall made the playoffs perfect in the last game of the main round.
Aspinall reaches the playoffs
“El Asp” earned it with a convincing performance. His highest point was a maximum finish of 170 points to make it 5: 1.
When it became clear after winning the stage at 7-2 after a target shot that he would be in the grand final, the 29-year-old Englishman cheered as if he had won. He immediately apologized several times to Durrant for his gleeful gestures.
A little later he was overwhelmed by the situation following the tearful success on stage.
Meet Wright on October 22. The second duel is Durrant against Anderson.
Summary of the games (the best of 14 games) of matchday 16:
Gerwyn Price – Gary Anderson 8: 3
Michael van Gerwen – Daryl Gurney 2: 8
Peter Wright – Michael Smith 8: 5
Nathan Aspinall – Glen Durrant 8: 2
