European Darts Grand Prix 2016: MVG reigns in Germany

Last week's winner in Meulheim faced Peter Wright in the final who had made the last two for the 6th time on the European Tour.

The final began with Van Gerwen in ruthless mood. After an opening leg hold, the 27-year-old broke throw after Wright had just landed the first maximum of the final.

After another comfortable hold it was in the fourth leg that the van Gerwen showed his class. a 164 finish looked to all but seal the win for the world number one.

At 5-0 Van Gerwen missed a shot at double 13 to give him a whitewash victory, allowing Wright to land a 101 finish on double 12 to give him hope.

Despite a break in the next leg Wright could not keep up with Van Gerwen who sealed a 6-2 win on tops, finishing with an average of 105.38.

It was the 13th time in succession that the Scot had been beaten by Van Gerwen and he spoke of his admiration for the 'Green Machine' after the match.

"He's magnificent, I started slowly and you just can't do that against him," he told www.pdc.tv

It is the 14th time van Gerwen has won on the European Tour and he described his delight at adding a new trophy to his cabinet:

"I tried everything in my power to win this tournament," he continued. "I will fight for every tournament, I had never won here so I'm delighted to win." 

The day started with Van Gerwen hitting six 180s on his way to a 6-3 win over Steve Beaton.

The world number one struggled on the doubles early in the match, allowing Beaton to break in the first leg.

Van Gerwen then strung together a run of four consecutive legs, which included a 128 checkout to confirm the win.

A 6-3 quarter-final victory over Gerwyn Price followed.

A relatively comfortable victory did include one moment of magic as the number one seed took out a 170 finish to hold in the third leg with Price sat on 60 to break.

He then went on to end Kim Huybrechts' reign as European Darts Grand Prix Champion with a crushing 6-0 win.

The Dutchman averaged 107 as he punished Huybrechts for a series of slack darts throughout the match.

The Belgian, who had survived two match darts from Stephen Bunting in the quarter-finals, had chances early in the match but squandered five darts at doubles in the opening two legs.

MVG was ruthless from there on and cruised in to the final.

His opponent, Wright, began the day with a 6-1 victory over Joe Cullen.

A 102.68 average more than enough to see off Cullen who couldn't keep with the number two seed.

Wright then sealed his place in the semi-finals with a 6-3 win over James Wade.

Wright broke the Englishman in leg five and despite a 161 checkout from Wade later in the match, the world number five sealed the win with a classy 145 checkout.

'Snakebite' followed this by ending Raymond van Barneveld's dream of qualifying for next month's European Championship with a 6-2 win in the semi-finals.

The five time champion of the world needed a run to at least the final to qualify for the tournament in Hasselt in October but Wright was far too strong for his Premier League rival.

The final European Tour event of 2016 takes place in Hildesheim, Germany on October 14-16. 

European Darts Grand Prix 2016: Results

Friday September 16
First Round
Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm BST) 
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Jay Foreman
Robert Owen 5-6 Mark Frost
Joe Murnan 6-2 Dragutin Horvat
Alan Tabern 6-2 Scott Taylor
Robert Allenstein 0-6 Darren Webster
Mick McGowan 6-3 Ronny Huybrechts
James Hubbard 2-6 Max Hopp

Evening Session (6pm-10pm BST) 
Christian Kist 5-6 Brendan Dolan
Tony West 6-2 Jeffrey de Graaf
Gabriel Clemens 1-6 Jonny Clayton
Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Scott Dale
Andy Boulton 4-6 Martin Schindler
Cristo Reyes 6-3 Robert Marijanovic
Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Fabian Herz
Devon Petersen 3-6 James Wilson

Saturday September 17
Second Round
Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm BST)
Terry Jenkins 5-6 Joe Murnan
Alan Norris 6-0 Nathan Aspinall
James Wade 6-4 Mark Frost
Simon Whitlock 5-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Max Hopp
Steve Beaton 6-3 Alan Tabern
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Michael Smith 6-3 Tony West

Evening Session (6pm-10pm BST)
Jelle Klaasen 1-6 Jonny Clayton
Benito van de Pas 6-5 Cristo Reyes
Kim Huybrechts 6-0 Martin Schindler
Mensur Suljovic 6-2 Mick McGowan
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Darren Webster
Peter Wright 6-1 Brendan Dolan
Ian White 3-6 James Wilson
Joe Cullen 6-1 Robbie Green

Sunday September 18
Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm BST)
Third Round
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Steve Beaton
Mensur Suljovic 3-6 Gerwyn Price
Michael Smith 2-6 Stephen Bunting
Kim Huybrechts 6-2 Alan Norris
Peter Wright 6-1 Joe Cullen
James Wade 6-3 Jonny Clayton
Benito van de Pas 6-2 Joe Murnan
James Wilson 3-6 Raymond van Barneveld

Evening Session (6pm-10pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Gerywn Price
Stephen Bunting 5-6 Kim Huybrechts
Peter Wright 6-3 James Wade
Benito Van de Pas 1-6 Raymond van Barneveld

Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Kim Huybrechts
Peter Wright 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld

Final
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Peter Wright