VINTAGE VAN GERWEN WINS SIXTH WORLD SERIES FINALS TITLE

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN clinched a SIXTH World Series of Darts Finals crown after beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. 

World No.3 Van Gerwen ended his two-year wait for a major title and added the silverware to his German Grand Prix success back in April. 

Three-time World Champion Van Gerwen has endured a turbulent few months off the oche after taking a break from the sport this summer.

The Dutchman confirmed in May he had split from his wife of more than 10 years and mother of his two children, Daphne. 

Van Gerwen admits the victory meant even more given what he has been through. 

He said: “I have goosebumps – it’s amazing to hold a trophy again.  

“We all know where I am coming from and the difficulties I have had in the last few months. 

“But to do it in front of your home crowd it means a lot to me. 

“I was also playing some fantastic darts which gives you energy and joy. I am really glad I could perform like this it means the world to me.” 

‘Mighty Mike’ had his daughter by his side, cheering him on throughout the entire tournament. 

He added: “Things have changed for me she said ‘Daddy I want to come with you for the weekend.’ 

“I said ‘no problem you can come with me.’ That’s how it is now sometimes you have to adjust your life.

“It’s a bright future ahead and I have goosebumps.” 

The 36-year-old underlined the effort required to return to form and is now looking to carry that momentum through the remainder of the season. 

He revealed: “I have never been away but I had to graft and dig really deep to do this. This costs a lot of energy but to do this it means a lot to me.  

“I still love what I do, and people need to understand when I am on the stage, I enjoy playing whether it is Holland, England or Germany wherever it means the world to me.

“Sometimes it costs too much energy but now I hope this is the beginning of a lot more.” 

Teen sensation Littler opened with a slick 13-darter and coolly landed a 90 checkout to edge 2-1 in front, before Van Gerwen roared back with back-to-back legs to seize the momentum. 

‘The Nuke’ responded in style with a blistering 11-darter, only for MVG to wrestle control once more as he powered through three successive legs to establish a 6-3 cushion. 

A clinical double 10, 85 and 88 followed for Littler to make it 6-6 in Amsterdam. 

But Van Gerwen showed his champion’s composure, rattling off three more legs on the spin to seize control of the tie at 9-6 in the AFAS Live Arena.

MVG then pinned double five to move a leg away from glory at 10-7, before landing the same target to seal the deal with a sensational 130 outshot. 

Van Gerwen averaged a whopping 106 to dispatch Luke Humphries 10-5 in the quarter-final.  

48-times major winner Van Gerwen averaged an impressive 102 and took out two ton-plus finishes to defeat Josh Rock 11-6 in the last four.