VINTAGE VAN GERWEN WINS GERMAN GRAND PRIX

By Aaron Nijjar

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN claimed his 38th Euro Tour title as he won the German Grand Prix.

Three-time World champ Van Gerwen defeated Gian van Veen 8-5 in the final.

Van Veen recovered from a slow start to level at 2-2, producing a superb 12-darter followed by a tidy 76 finish on tops.

That kicked off a run of eight straight holds of throw between the two Dutchmen.

‘The Green Machine’ eventually broke the deadlock with a 13-darter to edge 7-5 in front before sealing the win on double 16 to end Van Veen’s spirited challenge and wrap up a memorable campaign.

Van Gerwen revealed the victory has given him confidence to secure a playoff spot in the Premier League as he currently sits fifth in the table.

He said: “It’s probably going to give me the confidence because I’m in a tough position in the Premier League.

“I’ve made it tough for myself but everyone that knows me knows I will never give up. I always keep battling, I always keep fighting, that is what you need.”

‘Mighty Mike’ admitted he will cherish the triumph in Munich as he ended his trophy drought in 2025.

He added: “It definitely means a lot to me.

“We all know where I’m coming from. I’ve been battling my own battles lately.

“The last few weeks I’m playing poorly, I didn’t do what I could and I know I’ve got it in me but you want to show it week after week.

“With the pressure on me all the time, sometimes I get annoyed with that but I also put pressure on myself.

“To win this tournament means the world to me.

“If you look at my tournament average and the way I played all tournament I think it was great.

“Of course in the final there’s pressure on my shoulders but to do it and win it here in Munich, people don’t have a clue. It means the world.

“I needed this. I really needed this.”

World No. 3 Van Gerwen hit a nine-darter and averaged 104 to dispatch Ryan Searle 6-1 in the last 16.

Seven-time Premier League winner Van Gerwen then produced a finishing masterclass as he smashed in six out of six doubles to beat Ryan Joyce 6-4 in the quarter-final.

MVG overcame Josh Rock 7-2 in the semi-final as he thumped in five 180s and averaged over a ton yet again to reach his 50th Euro Tour final.

Elsewhere, Luke Littler was dumped out 7-4 in the last four by Van Veen who averaged a whopping 110 to defuse ‘The Nuke’.

World Youth Champion Van Veen took out two ton plus checkouts including a brilliant 128 to end Littler’s unbeaten run on the Euro Tour this year.

Image by Taylor Lanning.