Price finishes as runner-up as Van Gerwen earns record Premier League win

Markham’s Gerwyn Price has fallen short in the Premier League Darts play-offs, losing to Michael van Gerwen in the final on Thursday May 25.

Competing at London’s O2 Arena, Price fell to an 11-5 defeat at the hands of the Dutchman, who won a record seventh Premier League title in the process.

Van Gerwen had beaten reigning world champion Michael Smith 10-8 in the semi-finals earlier in the evening, while Price came out on top in an all-Welsh clash with Jonny Clayton, winning 10-2.

The title win saw Van Gerwen come away with the £275,000 top prize, while Price earned himself £125,000 as runner up.

“I couldn’t find anything, but that’s how it goes sometimes,” reflected Price, who was featuring in his first Premier League final.

“I felt like this is one that got away, because I’m playing some of the best darts I’ve ever played.

“I was missing some targets by such a long way, I wasn’t even close. I’m not sure what happened, but congratulations to Michael.”

Meanwhile, Van Gerwen admitted it “feels amazing” to win and said: “We all know Gerwyn Price is in fantastic form. Michael Smith had won three of the last four weeks and I had been questioned about my form, and today it motivated me.

“You always have to peak at the right moments, and when you’re at The O2 competing against Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price, you have to perform at your A-game.”

Price went into the play-offs having won the league stage of the competition.

He topped the table after reaching nine finals over 16 nights – claiming wins in Cardiff, Nottingham, Newcastle and Brighton along the way.

He sealed top spot in the league phase after reaching the final last week in Aberdeen.