Price wins second consecutive European Tour title

Gerwyn Price has won his second consecutive European Tour title after victory in in the International Darts Open on Sunday.

Price, from Markham, beat Michael van Gerwen 8-4 in the final in Riesa, Germany – the fourth time in a row Price has beaten his Dutch rival.

It was also the second year in a row Price, 38, has won the International Darts Open and taken home the £30,000 prize.

Price got his competition underway with a last leg win over Belgium’s Mike De Decker, before seeing off Rob Cross 6-4 in the quarter-finals.

Price then beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 7-2 in the semi-finals to set up another clash with van Gerwen, who was top seed for the event.

The first leg of the match was won by Price after he converted a tops-tops 134 finish to break throw, building a 4-1 lead after punishing a host of missed doubles from Van Gerwen.

The Iceman extended his lead to 6-1, but Van Gerwen responded with back-to-back legs to keep his slender hopes alive.

However, he was unable to make further inroads as Price produced a brace of 14-dart holds to triumph with a 105.6 average and clinch his eighth European Tour title.

The win means Price has now won four of the last five editions of the International Darts Open – while denying Van Gerwen a record-extending 36th European Tour title.

“I think I am half-German now!” joked Price. “I’ve been getting great support over the last couple of months and it is showing on the board. I know I’m playing well and I’m putting players under pressure.

“Michael wasn’t at his best today. He missed a couple of doubles and those crucial doubles have got to go in if you want to win tournaments.

“Thankfully I’ve been scoring well and those crucial doubles have been going in, because on another day it could have been a different story.”

Price added: “I am sure it was a great game for the crowd. Michael is a great player and he will come back, so I’m happy to win this one.”

Van Gerwen said: “Gezzy is in good form and when he’s in this form he is going to punish you.

“When you make too many mistakes against a player of Gerwyn’s calibre, you are going to regret it, and that is what happened tonight.”

The PDC European Tour continues from April 8 with the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich, which will see 48 players competing for the £175,000 prize.