European Darts Matchplay 2018: MVG wins 15th title of 2018 by defeating William O'Connor
MVG won his 15th PDC title of 2018 by defeating William O'Connor 8-2 in the European Darts Matchplay final in Hamburg.
A day after hitting the first nine-dart finish on the European Tour in five years (click here to watch) in a second-round victory over Ryan Joyce, the rampant world number one backed it up in emphatic fashion by winning four more matches to clinch yet another winners' cheque of £25,000.
He beat Robert Thornton 6-1, Ian White 6-4 and Stephen Bunting 7-4 to book his place in the final, where he averaged 105 in a crushing triumph over O'Connor, who was playing in his first European Tour final.
The Dutchman has now triumphed in six of this season's nine European Tour events - taking his career tally to 26 -
while it's also his 15th title overall in 2018, including last month's World Cup of Darts success with Raymond van Barneveld.
Van Gerwen, who now has 109 career singles titles to his name at the age of 29, is on course to break his personal record of winning 26 tournaments in a calendar year that he set in 2016.
"I am delighted to win this trophy and I'm pleased with how I played this weekend," said Van Gerwen, who has lost just two matches on the European Tour in 2018.
"Of course, it’s always hard to win titles like this but you need to have a strong mindset to beat these top players.
"It was a great feeling to hit the nine-darter in front of such a great crowd – it’s been well overdue on the European Tour and I’m glad it was me who hit it."
O'Connor's impressive run to his first ever PDC ranking final saw the Republic of Ireland World Cup of Darts star record impressive victories over Martin Atkins, World Champion Rob Cross, Kim Huybrechts, Mensur Suljovic and Andy Boulton.
The Hamburg event was also a significant one for Boulton, who won through to his first ever European Tour semi-final, and for Bunting, who reached his first semi-final on the continent in almost two years.
European Darts Matchplay results
Friday June 8
First Round (Best of 11 legs)
- Robert Owen 2-6 Boris Koltsov
- Jason Lowe 6-5 Keegan Brown
- Darren Johnson 3-6 Paul Rowley
- William O'Connor 6-1 Martin Atkins
- Maik Langendorf 6-1 Michael Barnard
- Vincent van der Voort 3-6 Justin Pipe
- Martin Schindler 6-1 Mario Robbe
- Robert Marijanovic 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena
- Jamie Bain 1-6 Chris Dobey
- Robert Thornton 6-4 Rene Eidams
- Mike De Decker 2-6 Darius Labanauskas
- Jelle Klaasen 6-3 Dragutin Horvat
- Mark Wilson 1-6 Ryan Joyce
- Cristo Reyes 4-6 Andy Boulton
- Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-6 Max Hopp
- Luke Humphries 6-5 Ronny Huybrechts
CLICK HERE FOR FRIDAY REVIEW
Saturday June 30
Second Round
- Justin Pipe 6-3 Simon Whitlock
- Jason Lowe 6-5 Jonny Clayton
- Gerwyn Price 6-3 Maik Langendorf
- Paul Rowley 6-4 Mervyn King
- Robert Thornton 6-5 James Wilson
- Joe Cullen 6-3 Martin Schindler
- Kim Huybrechts 6-4 Chris Dobey
- Darren Webster 6-3 Luke Humphries
- Steve Beaton 4-6 Andy Boulton
- Ian White 6-2 Max Hopp
- Mensur Suljovic 6-3 Boris Koltsov
- Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Ryan Joyce (Van Gerwen nine-dart finish)
- Daryl Gurney 6-5 Robert Marijanovic
- Rob Cross 4-6 William O'Connor
- Stephen Bunting 6-5 Darius Labanauskas
- Michael Smith 4-6 Jelle Klaasen
CLICK HERE FOR SATURDAY REVIEW
Sunday July 1
Third Round
- Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Robert Thornton
- Ian White 6-2 Darren Webster
- Justin Pipe 6-4 Joe Cullen
- Stephen Bunting 6-5 Daryl Gurney
- Andy Boulton 6-1 Jelle Klaasen
- Gerwyn Price 6-2 Jason Lowe
- Mensur Suljovic 6-2 Paul Rowley
- William O'Connor 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Quarter-Finals
- Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Ian White
- Stephen Bunting 6-3 Justin Pipe
- Andy Boulton 6-5 Gerwyn Price
- William O'Connor 6-3 Mensur Suljovic
Semi-Finals
- Michael van Gerwen 7-4 Stephen Bunting
- William O'Connor 7-3 Andy Boulton
Final
- Michael van Gerwen 8-2 William O'Connor
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