Gerwyn Price returned to winning ways on the European Tour after beating Dirk van Duijvenbode in the Final of the 2023 European Darts Open in Leverkusen. The Iceman bagged his 7th Euro Tour title at the Ostermann Arena.
The World Number 4 survived match darts in the Final against the Aubergenius but hit a fantastic ton plus match-saving checkout of 108, finding double tops after throwing a treble and single 17 with his first two arrows before going on to claim the title 8-7.
The Markham player produced some sensational arrows throughout his 2 days in Germany, starting his campaign with another deciding leg ( 6-5) win over Krzysztof Ratajski. Price averaged an impressive 109.03 to defeat The Polish Eagle and it wasn’t even his best of the competition.
Gerwyn’s best darts came in his Last 16 matchup with World No. 1 and reigning World Champion Michael Smith. He claimed g a 6-2-win scoring 110.49. Bully Boy only had 3 darts at double in the game, with the Iceman including the highest checkout of 136 in the 5th leg to lead 4-1, as well as finishes of 87, 99 and 104.
Price’s win earned him a Quarter Final against the Premier League leader Michael van Gerwen, with Mighty Mike coming through a 6-4 winner against compatriot Raymond van Barneveld having averaged 108.22 in his previous match.
The 38-year-old found another ton-plus average in beating the defending European Darts Open champion, scoring 106.28 and hitting 3 180s in a 6-4 win over the former 3-time World Champion.
The Red Dragon thrower checked out at almost 55% missing just 5 darts at the double, crucially breaking throw in the 5th leg before proceeding to hold his darts for the remainder of the encounter.
Price then produced his fourth consecutive ton-plus average in beating Danny Noppert 7-4 in Leverkusen, finishing yet again at a rate above 50% including a Shanghai 120 finish, to win the first leg against The Freeze and set the tone of the Semi-Final.
The Dutchman, the 2022 UK Open Champion, has made a solid start to 2023 himself, already claiming a title in the shape of Players Championship 2, but struggled to deal with the rampant Welshman who included 5 180s
Gezzy faced a Dutch international for the 3rd time on Sunday, with Dirk van Duijvenbode coming through the other half of the draw, beating the likes of Josh Rock and, coming from way behind, Rob Cross to reach his first Euro Tour Final.
The Titan broke in the 13th leg to go within 1 of the title, before missing two darts for the win. Price broke with his highest checkout of the Final (108) before producing a 12-dart leg to win the European Darts Open trophy and claim the £30,000 top prize.
The Champion will return to competitive action on Thursday as the Premier League heads to Berlin for Night 9. The resurgent Welsh star is up against Red Dragon stablemate Peter Wright in the last Quarter Final.
European Darts Open 2023 Results:
Last 16:
Danny Noppert (11) 6-1 Dave Chisnall (6)
Damon Heta (3) 6-4 Ryan Meikle
Gerwyn Price (10) 6-2 Michael Smith (7)
Michael van Gerwen (2) 6-2 Dimitri van den Bergh (15)
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-3 Stephen Bunting
Rob Cross (4) 6-1 William O’Connor
Dirk van Duijvenbode (8) 6-5 Ross Smith
Josh Rock (16) 6-5 Brendan Dolan
Quarter Finals:
Danny Noppert (11) 6-4 Damon Heta (3)
Gerwyn Price (10) 6-4 Michael van Gerwen (2)
Rob Cross (4) 6-5 Ricardo Pietreczko
Dirk van Duijvenbode (8) 6-3 Josh Rock (16)
Semi Finals:
Gerwyn Price (10) 7-4 Danny Noppert (11)
Dirk van Duijvenbode (8) 7-6 Rob Cross (4)
Final:
Gerwyn Price (10) 8-7 Dirk van Duijvenbode (8)
—–ENDS—–
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