Friday 13 March 2015 09:53, UK
Michael van Gerwen moved to the top of the Betway Premier League table with a 7-3 victory over Phil Taylor at Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena.
The top two players in the world were meeting for the first time this year and they both made nervy starts with the opening seven legs going against the darts.
However, Van Gerwen hit a 10-darter to hold his throw in the eighth leg and the Dutchman then rattled off the next two legs, as Taylor struggled with his finishing, to maintain his unbeaten record in the competition this year.
Van Gerwen, fresh from his UK Open success in Minehead, struggled to find his rhythm in the first leg but he edged ahead thanks to a 128 finish.
Taylor, who hit only three of his 15 darts at doubles in the match, broke back after hitting double seven at the third attempt in the second leg.
Van Gerwen appeared to be rushing his darts at doubles a little as well but he was never behind as the remarkable start to the match continued with break after break.
The turning point came in that eighth leg when the Dutchman landed his first 180 of the match on his way to his 10-darter and he also went close to a 170 finish in the following leg as a wayward attempt at double 10 from Taylor summed up his performance.
Van Gerwen then dominated the 10th leg to wrap up his fourth Premier League win in six matches – he had drawn his last two – with an average of 107.61 and end Taylor’s own unbeaten four-match record as well as his hopes of topping the table.
"I couldn't wish any better tonight," said Van Gerwen, who moved above Dave Chisnall at the summit following the St Helens thrower's 7-3 defeat to Stephen Bunting in the opening match of the night.
"We were both struggling in the beginning and we couldn’t hold our own throw because we both wanted to win hard because the winner goes top of the table.
"I knew that and I just had to do the right thing at the right moments. I’m really glad I did in the end.
"Phil missed a couple of doubles and I am really glad to beat the man himself - Phil Taylor."
