Daryl Gurney: Victory in Players' Championship final over Michael van Gerwen

Daryl Gurney produced a Super Sunday to win his second TV major by beating Michael van Gerwen 11-9 in the final to win the Players Championship at Minehead.
Daryl GurneyDaryl Gurney
Daryl Gurney

Gurney had breezed through his afternoon quarter final 10-2 against Chris Dobey and was in imperious form in the last four dispatching Dutchman Danny Noppert 11-3 to set up a decider against the World No1.

Gurney hit the bull to clinch the trophy in the last tournament before next month’s world championship and the Londonderry thrower was delighted.

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“I thought halfway through this year my career was over, I was stuck on the practice board practicing hard trying to get back to the best I could be mentally and this weekend I just hang in their and that was the scariest bullseye I have every hit,” said Gurney.

“Credit has to go to Michael van Gerwen he is always gracious in losing, it didn’t really matter who I beat because it was either going to be him or Gary Anderson in the final, the way I played in the semi final thought I’ll need to find a fourth dart to beat one of these boys but my finishing kept me in there, I think there were two or three times I hit 180 to leave a finish and I took it out.”

Gurney is looking forward to the World Championships.

“This is a nice tick in the box, I think I have only beaten Michael on a main stage once and I have put that record to bed in some respect and it is the first time I’ve played in a final, the world’s are a different format here it is leg on leg the world’s is set by set, if you’re winning a competition before the world’s it puts you on good terms but it also puts a big bullseye on your back.”

The first 12 legs of the final went with throw before MVG broke in the 13th leg but Gurney hit straight back.

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The pair exchanged breaks again in legs 17 and 18 before Gurney held to go 10-9 up.

Two 140’s in the final leg helped leave 85 which Superchin checked out on the bull to lift the trophy, pocket £100,000 and virtually seal his place in the 2019 Premier League.