Michael van Gerwen Completes Career Clean Sweep

Michael van Gerwen Completes Career Clean Sweep

MVG Champions League of Darts

It’s been a surprisingly long time coming but Michael van Gerwen finally added the Champions League of Darts, the last remaining unclaimed title of his career, to his stunning darting CV.

Mighty Mike had to rely on luck as his opponent Peter Wright missed three match darts when leading 10-7 that would have seen Snakebite pick up his second televised career trophy. In the end, Wright fluffed his lines leaving MVG to pick up four legs on the spin to lift the belt following a thrilling 11-10 final result in Leicester on Sunday night.

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The Dutchman got the final underway with a finish from 88 as part of an 11 darter which was immediately stubbed out by Wright’s 156 checkout. Things were deadlocked for three successive sets before Snakebite won four legs in a row.

MVG chalked off the next two to half the deficit only to see Wright, playing as well as he has all year, reestablish a three-leg lead at 8-5. Before long Snakebite, who was runner up in the Champions League one year ago, found himself throwing for the title only for familiar demons to return. Sadly, once he missed his three shots at victory you sensed his chance had passed him by even though he was still far enough ahead at the time.

Sure enough, momentum started to switch the way of the Dutchman, who took the remaining points on offer to cruelly punish Wright and complete his career clean sweep. This year alone, van Gerwen has won the Darts Masters, Darts Premier League, Melbourne Darts Masters, New Zealand Darts Masters and World Grand Prix Darts as well as the World Darts Championship, which although technically counts as last season, was still achieved on New Year’s Day.

MVG will now be favourite for the upcoming, World Series of Darts Finals on November 1, Grand Slam of Darts on November 9, Players Championship Finals on November 22 and of course the 2020 World Darts Championship for which Betway already have him priced at 5/4.

He has also been installed as favourite for this week’s tournament in Gottingen.

European Championship Darts Betting Tips

Play now moves to Germany and the small town of Gottingen for the European Championship. The event will take place in the historic University of Gottingen and gets underway this Thursday. Yes, Michael van Gerwen is favourite at 11/8, but why wouldn’t he be? He has after all recently completed his career clean sweep and had won this particular event for four years in a row until last year when he was eliminated in the second round in a surprising defeat to Steve West.

What that proves, along with early exits in both the UK Open and World Matchplay, is that even MVG doesn’t win all the time. Many eyes will then turn to defending champion James Wade who is a tempting 28/1. Wade beat Simon Whitlock – 2019 price 100/1 – in last year’s final but in truth neither has done much recently to suggest they will be in contention here.

Rob Cross has also been struggling of late and lost all three of his Champions League group matches. Voltage has also been drawn in the same quarter as Mighty Mike so bear that in mind when selecting this 11/1 shot.

At least it can be argued that form can turn in an instant. Just ask Peter Wright. Snakebite had been having a miserable season until just recently. Then, out of nowhere, he set a new record for the highest ever recorded average in a live broadcast darts match with a 123.5 during a 6-0 quarter-final win over Krzysztof Ratajski at the Players Championship 29. This before making it to the final of The Champions League where he really should have won. Can he go one better in Gottingen? Betway’s 9/1 says he can.

One player who could go deep is Gerwyn Price, who has landed in the same side of the draw as Mensur Suljovic (18/1), Nathan Aspinall (22/1) and Krzysztof Ratajski (25/1), none of whom will worry him. The Iceman was the only player other than MVG to average above 100 in the Champions League group stage and made it to the semis where he averaged 102. The Welshman controversially landed the Grand Slam title last year and is 10/1 at Betway to win in Germany too.

QUICK GLANCE AT THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP DARTS

Venue: University of Gottingen, Germany

Dates: Thursday 24 October 2019 – 27 October 2019

Format: Best of 11, 19 & 21

Current Champion: James Wade

Where To Watch: ITV 4

When To Watch: (1145, 1800 GMT)

2019 European Championship Schedule

Thursday October 24

  • Joe Cullen v Mervyn King
  • Dave Chisnall v Dimitri Van den Bergh
  • Glen Durrant v Ricky Evans
  • Adrian Lewis v Simon Whitlock
  • Rob Cross v Darren Webster
  • James Wade v Jonny Clayton
  • Michael van Gerwen v Ross Smith
  • Daryl Gurney v William O’Connor

Friday October 25

  • Jamie Hughes v Jermaine Wattimena
  • Keegan Brown v Stephen Bunting
  • Krzysztof Ratajski v Chris Dobey
  • Nathan Aspinall v Steve Beaton
  • Mensur Suljovic v Vincent van der Voort
  • Ian White v Michael Smith
  • Peter Wright v Jeffrey de Zwaan
  • Gerwyn Price v Ted Evetts
  • Cullen/King v Cross/Webster
  • Gurney/O’Connor v Lewis/Whitlock
  • Chisnall/Van den Bergh v Wade/Clayton
  • Van Gerwen/R Smith v Durrant/Evans

Saturday October 26

  • Suljovic/Van der Voort v Ratajski/Dobey
  • White/M Smith v Brown/Bunting
  • Price/Evetts v Aspinall/Beaton
  • Wright/De Zwaan v Hughes/Wattimena

Sunday October 27

  • Quarter-Finals
  • Semi-Finals
  • Final
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Michael van Gerwen Wins World Grand Prix For Fifth Time

Michael van Gerwen Wins World Grand Prix For Fifth Time

MVG World Grand Prix

Mighty Michael van Gerwen became the first-ever reigning World Grand Prix champion to retain his trophy over the weekend when he beat Dave Chisnall 5-2 in the final at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel. It was also the fifth time overall that the Dutch world number one has come out on top in this unique double-start major since lifting the trophy for the first time in 2012.

Career-wise, this was 30-year-old MVG’s 36th individual PDC major title and shortens his World Championship price to 11/8 with Betway for this December’s tournament at the Ally Pally.

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For Dave Chisnall though, this event must have brought up mixed feelings. On the one hand, he played brilliantly all week to reach the seventh televised final of his career, giving by far his best performance in years along the way. On the other hand, he was ultimately left empty-handed once again.

Chizzy can take pride in his performance, knowing that an average of 93.32, 12 maximums and checkout percentage of 46.43 would likely have been enough had it been against any other opponent than the one he was facing.

Instead, he came up against a bang in-form Michael van Gerwen, who took the first set in just three deciding legs of 16 darts while denying Chizzy a visit to the oche at the same time. After Chizzy took the second, MVG — who had a slightly superior average of 94.87 — came from 2-1 down to take the third before moving ahead despite a pair of Chizzy breaks.

It was Chizzy who took the next leg, despite just missing out on a nine-darter, after which MVG began to edge closer to victory. Chisnall managed to delay the inevitable by taking the match into a decider, which Mighty Mike all but decided with a double-six to win in Dublin once again.

2019 Champions League of Darts Betting Tips

This weekend, players relocate to Leicester’s Morningside Arena for the fourth staging of the Champions League of Darts, which will be held on 19 and 20 October. This new arena is the tournament’s third venue in its short four-year history and becomes the latest to welcome the top eight players in the world, each looking to gain some momentum as they head towards the Darts World Championship at the end of the year.

Forgotten man, Gary Anderson is the defending champion following his crushing 11-4 win over Peter Wright in last year’s final in Brighton. Both players will be back this weekend, although neither look much like winning anytime soon. For those that think otherwise, Gary ‘The Flying Scotsman’ is available for 7/1 with Betway.

As for world number 1 Michael van Gerwen, he will be determined to secure the title that has evaded his clutches since it was created three years ago in 2016. Should he do so, he will complete his collection of darts major events across his career. As for the Champions League, in those previous three years, only Phil Taylor, Mensur Suljovic and Gary Anderson have lifted this relatively new event.

Mighty Mike will need to overcome a tough draw that pits him in Group A that includes the reigning champion Gary Anderson plus James Wade and Michael Smith. You can never rule out MVG, and those backing him to win outright for his first title in this competition can expect a price of 6/5 with Betway.

Gary Anderson has suffered a terrible season, plagued by injury and subsequent poor form. On his day, however, few players can live with Scotsman, and given the flakiness of those around him, 7/1 doesn’t look an unreasonable shot for the two-time World Champion. While Michael ‘Bully Boy’ Smith is still to taste top class tournament success, it must come one day. If you fancy that to be this week then we would advise you jump on Betway’s 14/1, the same price offered on James Wade, which I personally will be backing each way considering 1/3 of the odds offered by Betway on The Machine to make the final.

Group B’s Rob Cross is definitely worth a look at 6/1. He faces Peter Wright, Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney in the group stage and shouldn’t have too many troubles in what some have dubbed the “Group of Death.” Wright, as ever, would prove to be a popular, if unlikely, winner and he still has his believers. If you count yourselves among them: A) Why? and B) You’ll be pleased to know that Betway are offering 7/1 on Snakebite, who this week admitted he is nothing more than an outside chance, despite being ranked third in the world game.

Daryl ‘Superchin’ Gurney represents decent value too at 12s. The Northern Irishman will be shaving his hair off for charity halfway through the tournament, and so long as it doesn’t affect him, he will fancy his chances of getting out of the group. Fellow group mate Gerwyn Price isn’t one to shy away from the big occasion, however, and will fancy himself to do well. At 10/1, The Iceman will tempt some and rightly so.

Also, know this: with MVG’s shortest rival price being 6/1 and 1/3 of the odds offered on a top-two finish, you can back any of the other seven players each way for a profit should they make they at least make the final — and we can’t say fairer than that.

Champions League of Darts Schedule

Group A

  • Michael van Gerwen
  • Gary Anderson
  • Michael Smith
  • James Wade

Group B

  • Rob Cross
  • Peter Wright
  • Daryl Gurney
  • Gerwyn Price

Saturday 19 October

  • Daryl Gurney v Peter Wright
  • Rob Cross v Gerwyn Price
  • Michael Smith v Gary Anderson
  • Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
  • 4x Group Matches (Previous sessions losers and winner face off)

Sunday 20 October

  • 4x Group Matches (Remaining group matches)
  • Semi-Finals
  • Final

QUICK GLANCE AT THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OF DARTS

Venue: Morningside Arena, Leicester
Dates: Saturday 19 October 2019 – 20 October 2019
Format: Best of 19 & 21
Current Champion: Gary Anderson
Where To Watch: BBC 1,2
When To Watch: (1230, 1830 BST)

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Gerwyn Price Defends International Darts Open

Gerwyn Price Defends International Darts Open

Gerwyn Price International Darts Open

The Welsh Iceman, Gerwyn Price has successfully defended his International Darts Open title in Riesa, Germany. Twelve months ago, the former Rugby player overcame Simon ‘The Wizard’ Whitlock to claim his maiden European Tour victory, a feat he has now repeated, this time at the expense of Rob Cross.

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Voltage, the World Matchplay champion, was vanquished 8-6 in a closely-fought final where he averaged 90 to Price’s 93. Cross was hunting what would have been the maiden European Tour title of his career. He had initially opened up a 4-2 advantage after checking out from 148. Instantly though, Price hit back with a 121 to complete a 12-darter. Before long, Price finished the job in style with a 108 checkout. Pinning two 180s each, neither player was in great finishing form. Voltage failed in 10 of his 16 double attempts, while The Iceman misguided eight from 21.

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34-year-old Price’s route to the final saw him take on and dismiss Joe Murnan as well as UK Open winner Nathan Aspinall, both by 6-4 score lines. In the last four he met with Glen Durrant, who was also sent packing, this time in a 7-3 win.

As for Voltage, he thrashed last week’s European Tour winner Joe Cullen 6-0 in the third round before moving on to Richard North, who was dealt with equally brutally, 6-1. Things were a little less comfortable in the semi-finals where a 7-6 score line was enough to move into the final at the expense of Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright.

Price now has a total of seven PDC crowns to his name which includes the Grand Slam of Darts as well as two Players Championship titles. He can now look forward to the final few months of the year in which, following the European Tour event number 13, the Gibraltar Darts Trophy, the Champions League of Darts, European Championship, World Series of Darts Finals, Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals and the World Championship all take place.

2019 Champions League Of Darts

The draw for this year’s Champions League of Darts, which pits the world’s top eight players against each other over two days, has now been made. The event starts on October 19 and takes place at the Morningside Arena in Leicester. The reigning champion here is Gary Anderson, who will open up his defense against Michael ‘Bully Boy’ Smith.

The BBC-televised tournament works by splitting the participants up into two groups of four for a round-robin phase which is held over the opening three sessions of play. This is followed by the top two from each group competing in the semi-finals and final.

With only the world’s best eight competing, there are no easy games, but all the same Group A looks like a particularly frightening prospect. Gary ‘The Flying Scotsman’ Anderson has been handed the same group as World Champion Michael van Gerwen, World Championship finalist Michael Smith and reigning European Champion James Wade.

Former World Grand Prix winner Daryl Gurney will be sharing Group B with 2018 Champions League finalist Peter Wright, World Matchplay champion Rob Cross and Grand Slam of Darts winner Gerwyn Price.

We’ll take a better look at the prices close to the event, but right now, ante-post betting at Betway is worth taking a look at. Michael van Gerwen leads the betting at 11/8 which will surely only draw in as the event gets closer. Rob Cross is currently at 9/2, while Peter Wright is at 6/1 and Gary Anderson 7/1.

Rounding out the odds are Michael Smith, who is priced 10/1, with Daryl Gurney, James Wade and Gerwyn Price all fancied at 12/1.

2019 Paddy Power Champions League of Darts Schedule of Play

Saturday October

  • Daryl Gurney v Peter Wright (Group B)
  • Rob Cross v Gerwyn Price (Group B)
  • Michael Smith v Gary Anderson (Group A)
  • Michael van Gerwen v James Wade (Group A)
  • 4x Group Matches (evening session)

Sunday October 20

  • Remaining group matches (Afternoon Session)
  • Semi-Finals (Evening Session)
  • Final (Evening Session)
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