Michael van Gerwen defeats Josh Rock in The Players Championship Final 7 to claim the first ranked title of 2023 | Darts News

Michael van Gerwen took dwelling the highest prize of £12,000 as he secured a primary Gamers Championship win since April final yr; the Dutchman beat reigning junior world champion Josh Rock 8-4 within the closing

Michael van Gerwen clinched his first rating title of 2023 by beating Josh Rock 8-4 in Sunday’s Gamers Championship Ultimate 7 in Hildesheim.

World quantity 3 Van Gerwen started the ProTour double-header in Germany by claiming the £12,000 high prize for a primary Gamers Championship win since April final yr.

Aside from the UK Open a fortnight in the past, the place Van Gerwen completed second, he had not made it previous the quarter-finals in a rating occasion this yr.

The 33-year-old – winner of three Cazoo Premier League nights up to now in 2023 – beat world junior champion Rock within the closing to say his first rating triumph of the yr.

“I needed to work very exhausting,” admitted Van Gerwen. “I’ve six gears however I gained it in fourth gear at this time.

“I did not play properly many of the day, however the video games the place I needed to play properly – to beat Dirk [van Duijvenbode 6-4] within the quarterfinals I performed very properly there, and in opposition to Josh within the finals – I did.

“It provides you confidence and offers you pleasure, however I wasn’t excellent at this time. In fact I need to play higher, however I did it each time I wanted to.”

Josh Rock beat Premier League star Dimitri Van den Bergh and Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski within the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.

Van Gerwen beat Jacques Labre, Keegan Brown, Martin Lukeman and Boris Krcmar for the lack of simply seven units to ebook their place within the quarterfinals.

There he produced his highest common of the day at 104.95 in a surprising 6-4 victory over Dutch rival Van Duijvenbode, earlier than beating fellow former youth world champion Bradley Brooks by a margin two units within the semi-finals.

Within the closing, younger defending champion Rock gained the opener earlier than Van Gerwen gained 5 of the following six to go 5-2.

Rock closed the hole to 5-4, however the Dutchman’s 11 and 12-dart legs pushed it additional to 7-4 earlier than wrapping up the title.

Van Gerwen added: “These are lengthy days, very lengthy days. At this level in my life, each match I am going to, I need to win and it will get more durable.

“For those who take a look at flooring tournaments today, there are not any simple video games anymore, so I’ve to combat for each recreation, however total I am proud of my victory and that is actually necessary.

“A number of issues have modified, everybody can play a mean of 100 – that is how good the tour is correct now – that is why it’s important to focus.”

It was additionally runner-up Rock’s finest run in a rating occasion this yr reaching the ultimate, because the Northern Irishman seemed to emulate his 28 Gamers Championship win in 2022.

The teen produced three over ton averages that day – in opposition to Luke Woodhouse, Brendan Dolan and Mario Vandenbogaerde – and beat Premier League star Dimitri Van den Bergh and Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski within the quarter-finals and semi-finals. closing respectively.