Mighty Mike turns off The Power! Van Gerwen launches stunning comeback to beat Taylor to win Premier League title



Michael van Gerwen was delighted with his stunning comeback against Phil Taylor as he claimed Premier League glory, a success he hailed as his ‘biggest title ever’.

The Dutchman fell 5-2 down in the final but recovered to avenge his World Championship defeat at the hands of The Power at Ally Pally in January with a 10-8 win on Thursday night.

And, despite his 5-3 deficit at the interval, Van Gerwen said: ‘After the break I felt great for some reason. Maybe Phil took seem pressure off me because he played so well in the beginning of the game.

Premier class: Michael van Gerwen celebrates with the Premier League trophy

Comeback complete: Van Gerwen came from behind to beat Phil Taylor

‘I was 5-2 down and I was very happy with the break because after that I played some good darts at the right moments. After the break I enjoyed myself because I played my own game.’

Van Gerwen added: ‘He (Phil) doesn’t like losing finals and he doesn’t lose often but I think it was my turn. He missed shots but he also hit a great 160. Phil is the greatest player ever. There’s never going to be somebody like Phil.’

Taylor, meanwhile, promised to come back stronger from this defeat and set his sights on beating Van Gerwen the next time they meet.

He said: ‘I’m annoyed at myself for missing doubles but Michael is brilliant.

Not going his way: Phil Taylor saw his lead slip away as he lost the final

‘Me and Michael are going to have a lot of battles. He is my next adversary, my next Raymond van Barneveld. What I’ve got to do now is get ready for the next one because Phil has got to reinvent himself and beat Michael - that’s my aim and he’s my target.

‘All my career I have had people come along and beat me and knock me off my pedestal. Michael has knocked me off my pedestal but I’ve got to get back up and knock him off now.

‘Michael has got the biggest target on his back because I think every dart player in the world is after him but the worst one is me. I’m after him, I’m going to reinvent myself and make myself better.’

Taylor started the evening by continuing his long unbeaten record against Van Barneveld thanks to an 8-4 victory in the first semi-final with an average of 104.68.

Flying arrows: Van Gerwen on his way to the title while Taylor (below) let his lead slip away

And the World Championship final rematch was sealed when Van Gerwen beat Wade by the same scoreline in the second semi-final.

After a short break, Taylor and Van Gerwen returned to the stage in front of the 10,000 fans gathered at the O2 Arena in a final that, in the words of The Power, everybody wanted.

Van Gerwen settled well with a 13-dart leg to hold his opening throw, but Taylor soon made his experience tell.

Taylor held his opening throw before pouncing on missed chances for the Dutchman to win leg three and claim an early break.

The next three legs all went with throw before Taylor broke again with a 180 followed by an 81 checkout to move into a commanding 5-2 lead.

Friends again: Taylor beat Raymond Van Barneveld in the semi-final

Van Gerwen responded with a break back in the next leg as he finished off a 25 checkout in two darts to trail 5-3 at the interval.

And whatever happened during the break certainly helped the Dutchman as he surged back to win the next three legs and edge his nose in front at 6-5.

Taylor’s back was against the wall as the momentum shifted. He needed to respond, fast.

He had the throw in the next leg but a missed 68 checkout let Van Gerwen in to finish off 65 on double top and edge closer to the title at 7-5.

Van Gerwen then had a golden opportunity to move 8-5 ahead and in sight of victory, but a miss on double 15 let Taylor in to hit double top and trail by just one at 7-6.

Dejected: James Wade was beaten by Van Gerwen in the semi-final

And the 16-time world champion struck what looked to be a crucial blow in the next leg.

Van Gerwen was in control and decided to set up a double-16 finish, even though Taylor was left with an unlikely shot at a 160 checkout. It was a risky strategy from Van Gerwen and, in the end, it was the wrong strategy.

Taylor hit the 160 and The O2 erupted as the momentum seemed to shift towards ‘The Power’ once more. He had withstood everything Van Gerwen threw at him in an inspired few legs.

But Van Gerwen wasn’t done yet. He hit double top to move 8-7 ahead before pouncing on a missed 74 checkout from Taylor and, almost in the blink of an eye, Van Gerwen was 9-7 ahead and just one leg from glory.

However, there was one more twist to come. Van Gerwen missed two darts at double eight to win the title, and Taylor stepped in to take the leg and keep the final alive at 9-8.