MVG CLAIMS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 7 TITLE
After a successful phase in the Premier League, Michael van Gerwen has claimed his first success on the 2023 PDC Pro Tour, beating Northern Ireland youngster Josh Rock 8-4 in the Final of Players Championship 7.
Brendan Dolan achieved the first 9 dart leg of the Players Championship events this year, beating recent Q School qualifier Richard Veenstra 6-4 in the Second Round. The History Maker went on to reach the Last 32 where he lost to Runner Up Josh Rock, with the youngster averaging 101.13 in a 6-2 win.
Van Gerwen opened his account on Sunday in Hildesheim, dropping just one leg from his opening 2 wins against French international Jacques Labre in the First Round, and Keegan Brown in the Last 64.
The reigning Players Championship Finals winner followed up with wins over Martin Lukeman and Boris Krcmar to reach yet another Quarter Final on the Pro Tour.
The Green Machine was pushed all the way against former World Youth Champion Bradley Brooks in the Semi Finals, coming from 4-2 down to beat the youngster 7-5 in Germany to reach his first Pro Tour Final of the year against Josh Rock, with Rocky producing 3 ton plus averages on route to the Event 7 Final.
Van Gerwen produced an 11 darter in the 7th and 10th leg of the Final to put daylight between himself and the 21 year from Northern Ireland, moving 6-4 ahead. Mighty Mike took the remaining 2 legs to prevail as the winner of Players Championship 7 in Hildesheim, averaging 98.29 over 12 legs played.
Recent Team 360 signing Cam Crabtree enjoyed a strong run to the Last 16 this weekend despite not having a tour card, beating World Cup of Darts winner Damon Heta 6-4 in the Third Round, having claimed success against Ritchie Edhouse and Lukas Wenig earlier in the day.
Players Championship 8 takes place on Monday Live on PDCTV in a Pro Tour double header in Germany, with Tour Card holders looking to put together good runs and move higher in the Players Championship Order of Merit.
By Harry Masterson
Players Championship 7 Results:
Last 16:
Dimitri van den Bergh 6-4 Luke Humphries
Josh Rock 6-4 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Cam Crabtree
Micky Mansell 6-5 Ross Montgomery
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Stephen Bunting
Bradley Brooks 6-4 Callan Rydz
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Jeffrey Sparidaans
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Boris Krcmar
Quarter Finals:
Josh Rock 6-3 Dimitri van den Bergh
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Micky Mansell
Bradley Brooks 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Semi Finals:
Josh Rock 7-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Michael van Gerwen 7-5 Bradley Brooks
Final:
Michael van Gerwen 8-4 Josh Rock