Grand Slam of Darts 2015: MVG overcomes Taylor in final

Van Gerwen's incredible 2015 continued as the world number one followed up his previous Masters, UK Open, World Matchplay and European Championship victories by scooping the £100,000 first prize at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

After trailing 4-1 and 7-3, van Gerwen punished missed doubles from the Stoke legend to win six straight legs and move 9-7 up during an enthralling contest.

Taylor levelled at nine-all, but van Gerwen took the next three to pull into a lead he would never give up as he closed out the win on double 18, hitting 14 180s and maintaining his record of averaging over 100 in all seven wins during the week.

"I had two main targets this year which were the World Matchplay and the Grand Slam of Darts and I've won them both," said van Gerwen. "I'm a very happy man and I'm really pleased because it means a lot to me.

"To beat Phil in the final is a great honour for me and I'm so happy to have won this title. Phil's a fantastic player but he didn't play his best game.

"Phil was playing really good darts at the beginning, and I couldn't find my own speed. It was difficult for me and I wasn't happy, but Phil gave me a finger and I took his hand, and that made me come back in the game.

"When you get in front you don't want to give it away, and I'm really glad that I took my chances.

"I've won every major now and it means a lot to me. I played an absolutely fantastic tournament this week, with good averages, good finishing and the only thing I missed I think was a nine-darter."

Taylor made a perfect start to the game with a 180 on his opening visit, and he also added a 177 as he landed an 11-dart leg to claim the opener before finishing double 16 and 81 to move three legs clear.

Van Gerwen got off the mark in the fourth leg, only for Taylor to take out 131 on double 16 as he restored his cushion, and after the next two were shared the pair traded 11-darts before the Stoke ace finished 106 for a 7-3 lead.

Van Gerwen, though, took out 105 to reply and punished missed doubles from Taylor in four legs out of six as he turned the game around to power into a 9-7 advantage.

A 12-darter saw Taylor hit back and he then levelled on double ten, but van Gerwen broke throw by finishing 121 for a 12-darter and stepped in following four further misses from his rival in the next two legs to establish a 12-9 cushion.

Taylor stepped in to win the next two as he cut the gap to 12-11, but he was unable to break throw as the four more legs went with the throw to leave van Gerwen on the brink of victory at 15-13 before double 18 sealed glory.

Taylor admitted: "I missed too many doubles and it's my own fault, but I'm proud to have reached the final but I'm disappointed that I lost.

"I gave him chances and he took them, and fair play to him - it's set him up now for the rest of the year. He's a phenomenal darts player."

Van Gerwen took home £102,500 as the champion, including a Group Winner Bonus, while Taylor pocketed £52,500 in prize money and Dave Chisnall scooped a £30,000 bonus for his brilliant nine-dart finish last Sunday evening.

Grand Slam of Darts 2015: Daily Results

Group letter in brackets

 Saturday November 7
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Groups E-H First Games
Rowby-John Rodriguez 3-5 Robbie Green (H)
Terry Jenkins 3-5 Jonny Clayton (G)
Robert Thornton 5-4 Geert De Vos (G)
James Wade 5-2 Michel van der Horst (F)
Keegan Brown 3-5 Mark Webster (F)
Gary Anderson 5-0 Larry Butler (E)
Phil Taylor 5-0 Martin Phillips (H)
Raymond van Barneveld 5-0 Andy Boulton (E)

Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Groups A-D First Games
Kim Huybrechts 5-2 Steve West (A)
Jelle Klaasen 5-4 Steve Beaton (B)
Michael Smith 5-3 Wayne Jones (C)
Dave Chisnall 5-3 Mervyn King (D)
Adrian Lewis 5-2 Andy Fordham (C)
Michael van Gerwen 5-0 Mark Oosterhuis (A)
Ian White 2-5 Martin Adams (B)
Peter Wright 5-2 Scott Mitchell (D)

Sunday November 8
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Groups E-H Second Group Games
Raymond van Barneveld 3-5 Gary Anderson (E)
Andy Boulton 4-5 Larry Butler (E)
James Wade 5-1 Mark Webster (F)
Keegan Brown 5-4 Michel van der Horst (F)
Terry Jenkins 5-0 Geert De Vos (G)
Robert Thornton 5-2 Jonny Clayton (G)
Phil Taylor 5-2 Robbie Green (H)
Rowby-John Rodriguez 5-2 Martin Phillips (H)

Evening Session (7.30pm-11.30pm)
Groups A-D Second Group Games
Michael van Gerwen 5-1 Kim Huybrechts (A)
Steve West 5-0 Mark Oosterhuis (A)
Martin Adams 5-4 Jelle Klaasen (B)
Ian White 2-5 Steve Beaton (B)
Adrian Lewis 3-5 Michael Smith (C)
Wayne Jones 3-5 Andy Fordham (C)
Dave Chisnall 5-2 Peter Wright (D)
Scott Mitchell 2-5 Mervyn King (D)

Monday November 9 (7pm-11pm)
Groups E-H Final Games
Jonny Clayton 0-5 Geert De Vos (G)
Robbie Green 5-1 Martin Phillips (H)
Mark Webster 5-3 Michel van der Horst (F)
Gary Anderson 5-1 Andy Boulton (E)
Robert Thornton 5-4 Terry Jenkins (G)
Phil Taylor 5-2 Rowby-John Rodriguez (H)
James Wade 5-2 Keegan Brown (F)
Raymond van Barneveld 5-3 Larry Butler (E)

Tuesday November 10 (7pm-11pm)
Groups A-D Final Games
Dave Chisnall 1-5 Scott Mitchell (D)
Jelle Klaasen 1-5 Ian White (B)
Kim Huybrechts 5-2 Mark Oosterhuis (A)
Adrian Lewis 5-3 Wayne Jones (C)
Michael van Gerwen 5-3 Steve West (A)
Peter Wright 5-3 Mervyn King (D)
Martin Adams 5-4 Steve Beaton (B)
Michael Smith 5-2 Andy Fordham (C)

Wednesday November 11 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Robert Thornton 10-8 Robbie Green
Phil Taylor 10-6 Terry Jenkins
Gary Anderson 6-10 Mark Webster
James Wade 7-10 Raymond van Barneveld

Thursday November 12 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Michael van Gerwen 10-2 Steve Beaton
Martin Adams 9-10 Kim Huybrechts
Michael Smith 10-7 Dave Chisnall
Peter Wright 7-10 Adrian Lewis

Friday November 13 (7pm-10pm)
Quarter-Finals
Mark Webster 12-16 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 16-7 Robert Thornton

Saturday November 14 (7pm-10pm)
Quarter-Finals
Michael Smith 16-11 Adrian Lewis
Michael van Gerwen 16-4 Kim Huybrechts

Sunday November 15
Afternoon Session (1pm-4pm)
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 12-16 Phil Taylor
Michael van Gerwen 16-6 Michael Smith

Evening Session (7pm-9pm)
Phil Taylor 13-16 Michael van Gerwen