Dutch Darts Masters 2016: Three in a row for MVG

World number one van Gerwen, who won five European Tour events in 2015, took the £25,000 first prize to open this year's ten-tournament season in style in front of over 4,000 fans at the Evenementenhal.

The Dutch thrower had defeated John Henderson in Saturday's second round before seeing off Justin Pipe, Dave Chisnall and Mervyn King on his way to the final, landing a 170 checkout in his semi-final defeat of King.

However, he saved his best display of the weekend for the final as he stormed past Gurney 6-2 with a 112.26 average.

Van Gerwen kicked off the final with a stunning 152 checkout, with Gurney levelling with a 180 followed by a 116 finish only to see the Dutchman reel off five 180s in three legs to move 4-1 up.

Tops for a 14-darter saw van Gerwen move to the brink of victory, and though Gurney responded with double eight for a 14-dart finish, van Gerwen landed another maximum to set up tops for a 13-darter and the title.

"It feels incredible," said van Gerwen. "It's fantastic for myself and for the home crowd, and in the final I played good darts.

"I hope I can carry this on for the rest of the season but I'm playing well and I'm very pleased with this performance. I want to win as many tournaments as possible and I showed today that I was the best in this tournament."

Gurney's run to a first PDC final earned him £10,000 prize money as he moved into the world's top 32 for the first time, after he impressed with some superb displays throughout the event.

The Northern Irish qualifier began Sunday's action with a 105 average as he knocked out Betway Premier League star Peter Wright, before he bettered that with nine 180s and a 106.84 average in a 6-4 quarter-final win over world number three Adrian Lewis.

Gurney then dropped just one leg against Austrian ace Suljovic in the semi-finals, but found the world number one too strong in the decider.

"I'm happy just to get to the final and I lost to the best player in the world," said Gurney. "I take my hat off to him because he's the best day-in, day-out." 

Dutch Darts Masters 2016 Draw 

Michael van Gerwen (1) v Van den Bergh/Henderson
Justin Pipe (16) v Welge/Lewis
Dave Chisnall (8) v Thomas/Dekker
Robert Thornton (9) v Edhouse/Schindler - Thornton withdrawn
Kim Huybrechts (5) v Evans/Petersen
Gary Anderson (12) v King/Baxter
James Wade (4) v Harrington/Pallett
Benito van de Pas (13) v Webster/Wattimena
Michael Smith (2) v van Duijvenbode/Price
Mensur Suljovic (15) v Green/Rodriguez
Ian White (7) v De Decker/Whitlock
Jelle Klaasen (10) v Painter/Caven
Adrian Lewis (6) v Milford/van Eijden
Terry Jenkins (11) v Lerchbacher/Richardson
Peter Wright (3) v Michael/Bunting
Brendan Dolan (14) v Artut/Gurney

Dutch Darts Masters 2016 Daily Results

• All games are the best of 11 legs

Friday February 12
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm) 
First Round
Zoran Lerchbacher 5-6 James Richardson
Ritchie Edhouse 6-4 Martin Schindler
Paul Milford 5-6 Remco van Eijden
Andree Welge 0-6 Jamie Lewis
Kevin Thomas 6-3 Jan Dekker
Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-6 John Henderson
Mike De Decker 2-6 Simon Whitlock
Robbie Green 4-6 Rowby-John Rodriguez

Evening Session (7pm-11pm) 
First Round
Kevin Painter 6-5 Jamie Caven
Jyhan Artut 5-6 Daryl Gurney
Ryan Harrington 6-4 David Pallett
John Michael 0-6 Stephen Bunting
Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-6 Gerwyn Price
Mervyn King 6-3 Ronnie Baxter
Mark Webster 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Ricky Evans 5-6 Devon Petersen

Saturday February 13
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm) 
Second Round
Justin Pipe (16) 6-5 Jamie Lewis
Terry Jenkins (11) 6-1 James Richardson
Brendan Dolan (14) 4-6 Daryl Gurney
Mensur Suljovic (15) 6-1 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Ian White (7) 4-6 Simon Whitlock
Dave Chisnall (8) 6-3 Kevin Thomas
James Wade (4) 6-3 Ryan Harrington

Evening Session (7pm-11pm) 
Second Round
Jelle Klaasen (10) 6-4 Kevin Painter
Kim Hubrechts (5) 2-6 Devon Petersen
Michael Smith (2) 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Michael van Gerwen (1) 6-3 John Henderson
Gary Anderson (12) 4-6 Mervyn King
Benito van de Pas (13) 6-2 Mark Webster
Adrian Lewis (6) 6-1 Remco van Eijden
Peter Wright (3) 6-4 Stephen Bunting

Sunday February 14
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm) 
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Justin Pipe
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse
Devon Petersen 2-6 Mervyn King
James Wade 1-6 Benito van de Pas
Michael Smith 5-6 Mensur Suljovic
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Jelle Klaasen
Adrian Lewis 6-2 Terry Jenkins
Peter Wright 4-6 Daryl Gurney

Evening Session (7pm-11pm) 
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Dave Chisnall
Mervyn King 6-5 Benito van de Pas
Mensur Suljovic 6-3 Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis 4-6 Daryl Gurney

Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Mervyn King
Mensur Suljovic 1-6 Daryl Gurney

Final
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Daryl Gurney

Dutch Darts Masters Prize Fund

Winner: £25,000
Runner-Up: £10,000
Semi-Final: £5,000
Quarter-Final: £3,500
Third Round: £2,000
Second Round: £1,500
First Round: £1,000