On Sunday, Michael van Gerwen held off Nathan Aspinall’s spectacular comeback to win his sixth World Grand Prix title at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
Following his Premier League and World Matchplay victories earlier this year, the Dutchman reclaimed the World Grand Prix championship on another unforgettable night.
Van Gerwen won his first PDC televised title at the World Grand Prix a decade ago, and he marked the occasion by taking the £120,000 first prize and hoisting the specially-commissioned new trophy.
It was also his first victory in the double-start format since 2019, as he prevented Aspinall, who was competing in his first major championship since 2020, a second televised ranking crown.
The Stockport thrower had found himself four sets down as Van Gerwen stormed towards the title, but hit back with three straight sets in a gutsy display before the world number three finally sealed glory.
“For me to have this trophy back feels amazing,” said Van Gerwen. “It’s great to have this tournament back in my hands but I had to battle for it really hard.
“When a guy like Nathan puts his relaxed mode on he can play some phenomenal darts but I’m glad I won this one. It was a tough one.
“I wasn’t panicking at all – I think I did all the damage early doors. I think this was great for darts – I was 4-0 up and Nathan never gave up, he kept battling.”
‘The Green Machine’ won the first leg with a 116 finish, then broke and double ten to take the first set.
Both the second and third sets were five-leg affairs, but Van Gerwen was too strong in the deciding leg on both occasions, creating a three-set cushion.
Aspinall led in set four, only for five missed doubles over the next two legs to cost him the set, as the 33-year-old Dutchman pounced and then added double 10 to take a 4-0 lead.
‘The Asp’ fought back from a leg down in set five with three consecutive legs to begin a brave reaction, urged on by a supporting crowd.
Van Gerwen missed six starting doubles in the opening leg of set six, and Aspinall also claimed back-to-back legs as he claimed a second set by a 3-1 scoreline.
Despite a magnificent 12-darter from Van Gerwen, who missed seven beginning doubles in leg four, the comeback continued in set seven, when Aspinall followed two earlier 14-darters with double five to capture a third straight set and pile the pressure on his opponent.
Aspinall missed darts at double top in each of the first two legs of set eight, allowing Van Gerwen to post a brace of double tens and move a leg closer to glory.
But Aspinall wasn’t done, landing tops to keep his hopes alive in leg three and hitting the same bed to tie the set, but in a tense closing leg, he missed two doubles, allowing Van Gerwen to capture his sixth World Grand prix title on double six.
