Seventh Heaven For Price

Gerwyn Price scooped his seventh PDC European Tour title by continuing his brilliant form to win the Interwetten European Darts Open in Leverkusen on Sunday, seeing off 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 past two weeks, and swept aside the field at the Ostermann Arena in an outstanding weekend of darts.

The Welshman had opened his challenge with a 109 average against Krzysztof Ratajski on Saturday, before bettering that display with a 110 mean score in a 6-2 defeat of World Champion Michael Smith in Sunday afternoon’s third round.

He then proved too strong for Michael van Gerwen with another stellar display to claim a 6-4 quarter-final win – claiming a third straight victory over the Dutch superstar.

Price averaged over 100 for a fourth straight game as he dispatched Danny Noppert 7-4 in the semi-finals, before seeing off another Dutchman in Van Duijvenbode to claim the title.

The final, though, proved Price’s toughest test as he was forced to hit back from 3-1 and 7-6 down – surviving two missed match darts before taking glory.

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

Three straight legs from Price saw him edge back ahead, and the pair were then locked at five-all when the world number four fired in seven perfect darts in an 11-darter to move 6-5 up.

Back-to-back 13-darters saw Van Duijvenbode surge back in front, only for him 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, and fired in a fourth 180 of the tie to pull clear before securing 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!”

The PDC European Tour continues from March 31-April 2 with the Interwetten International Darts Open in Riesa, which will see 48 players competing in the year’s third £175,000 tournament.

Coverage will be broadcast through Viaplay, DAZN and PDCTV throughout the weekend.