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Bullish van Gerwen hungry for more success

Mighty Michael van Gerwen has issued a chilling vow to his rivals that he’s hungry ‘to win more” after taking the UK Open.

The dynamic Dutchman was back to his devastating best with a powerhouse comeback to defeat Gerwyn Price in the Ladbrokes UK Open final. MVG was rightly in a bullish mood after claiming his 54th TV title, taking it 11-9 after trailing 5-1 at one stage.

Speaking exclusively Phil Lanning for Colossus, van Gerwen said: “People can write me off as much as they want. I showed everyone that’s different. This gives me great confidence. I want to win more.”

“But people don’t have a clue what they talk about. But I have 102 average in the final, I didn’t do too much wrong today. I need to make sure I do this on a more regular basis. I had a really dominant performance three or four years ago. Did I play better than I do now? I don’t think so.”

“This tournament average of 104 is quite impressive. Everyone knows what I am capable of. I can sit here in this interview and say whatever I want in this interview but I showed I was the best.”

Van Gerwen, who faces Price again in the Premier League in Liverpool on Thursday night, praised the Welshman who had him on the rack in the early stages.

He added: “It wasn’t easy at all. When Gerwyn is on his game, he’s a phenomenal player. When he’s just standing there releasing his darts, he’s phenomenal.

“But when you put him under pressure, you can get to him. I told myself I have some opportunities but it was more difficult than I thought. I had to come back from far but I’m glad I could do it.”

“I didn’t think I’d blown it a little bit when I was 5-1 down. But everyone knows that I never give up. If I’m five, six or seven-one down I always give 100 per cent. I feel good about it I was able to do the right things at the right moments.”

“Then he missed a few darts at the doubles, don’t get me wrong, he missed a massive opportunity to have a nice lead. But if you don’t take your chances you are going to get beat and I’m in good form.”

Van Gerwen also was rocked by outsider Jason Lowe on Saturday, taken to a deciding leg. But he was a different beast on Sunday, finding some scintillating form.

He added: “You cannot underestimate anyone. I missed a few darts at my doubles, that doesn’t do your confidence any good. I told myself ‘Come on Mike, if you want to do well in this tournament you must keep putting players under pressure.'”

“That’s exactly what I did most of the weekend. I don’t really look to stats because Gerwyn is a phenomenal player and he will win more tournaments in the future probably. But he has to do a little bit better.”

The Dutchman was also delighted with his perfect leg in the 11-3 demolition of Daryl Gurney in their semi-final, just 24 hours after Jonny Clayton’s nine-darter.

He added: “I took half of Jonny prize money, half of nothing! With all the good games and legs I played, it was only a matter of time it was coming. It felt good but it’s only a leg. My reaction after the leg was good. I kept my head on the game and that was even more important than the nine-darter.”

 

Premier League Night Six, Thursday March 12 – Liverpool

Michael Smith v Peter Wright

Daryl Gurney v Glen Durrant

Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen

Rob Cross v Stephen Bunting

Gary Anderson v Nathan Aspinall

 


 

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