World Grand Prix 2016: MVG dismantles Anderson in final

'Mighty Mike' defeated the reigning world champion Anderson 5-2 in a one-sided encounter to seal a hat-trick of wins on The Emerald Isle.

Van Gerwen added the World Grand Prix to his UK Open, World Matchplay and Premier League crowns this year in front of a sold out Citywest Hotel.

The flying Dutchman averaged 102.93 to see off Anderson with another majestic display of darts.

Van Gerwen made a blistering start to the match, only requiring 43 darts in total to win the opening set.

By the time Anderson was getting started on the opening double, van Gerwen was already in full flow. An 11-dart leg and 101 checkout helped him break before taking out double six to seal a two-set lead.

Anderson fell further behind before clawing his way back in the fourth set thanks to his first break of the match and then a neat 75 finish.

'The Flying Scotsman' was forced to land a 108 just to hold throw in the second leg of the fifth set and with the Borders thrower unable to get going in the deciding leg, van Gerwen found double 10 to move one set away from victory.

Anderson walked the sixth set with the help of a superb 107 checkout, but it was all over in the blink of an eye as van Gerwen finished with a flourish. A crushing 160 ensured victory and the 21st title of 2016.

"It's an amazing win and I'm so happy I've won this tournament again," said the 27-year-old. "Everything has been great for me in this tournament and I also played fantastic darts.

"After three or four sets I was averaging about 108 and I think if you play like that you deserve to win this trophy. I put him under pressure from the beginning and that worked.

"He pushed me until the end and I had to fight really hard. Gary never gives up but I played fantastic tonight.

"A lot of people have played well against me this week but my confidence is sky high. I had a tournament average of 100 and not many people do that in this format."

Anderson said: "I've done well here this week and I'm happy to have reached the final, but Michael's something else. It's four years since he first won here and it's absolutely astonishing what he's done since.

"My starting wasn't good enough and I couldn't get off and if you give Michael a head start you've got no chance - he's hard enough to play in a straight start, never mind in double start.

"I've started to come good and I'm going to look forward to the next few months." 

World Grand Prix 2016: Daily Results

Sunday October 2 (7pm)
First Round
Best of three sets
Kyle Anderson 2-1 Cristo Reyes
Ian White 1-2 Kim Huybrechts
James Wade (6) 1-2 Terry Jenkins
Gerwyn Price 0-2 Benito van de Pas
Adrian Lewis (3) 2-1 Jelle Klaasen
Robert Thornton (7) 1-2 Stephen Bunting
Gary Anderson (2) 2-0 Jamie Caven
Mervyn King 0-2 Raymond van Barneveld

Monday October 3 (7pm)
First Round
Best of three sets
Dave Chisnall 2-1 Robbie Green
Mick McGowan 1-2 James Wilson
Mensur Suljovic 1-2 Daryl Gurney
Michael Smith 1-2 Alan Norris
Joe Cullen 1-2 Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor 1-2 Steve West
Michael van Gerwen 2-1 Steve Beaton
Peter Wright 0-2 Brendan Dolan

Tuesday October 4 (7pm)
Second Round
Best of five sets
Terry Jenkins 1-3 Benito van de Pas
Stephen Bunting 0-3 Kim Huybrechts
Gary Anderson 3-1 Kyle Anderson
Adrian Lewis 0-3 Raymond van Barneveld

Wednesday October 5 (7pm)
Second Round x4
Best of five sets
Alan Norris 2-3 Simon Whitlock
Brendan Dolan 1-3 Dave Chisnall
Steve West 0-3 Daryl Gurney
Michael van Gerwen 3-0 James Wilson

Thursday October 6 (7pm)
Quarter-Finals
Best of five sets
Dave Chisnall 3-1 Daryl Gurney
Benito van de Pas 0-3 Raymond van Barneveld
Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Simon Whitlock
Gary Anderson 3-1 Kim Huybrechts

Friday October 7 (7pm)
Semi-Finals
Best of seven sets
Dave Chisnall 2-4 Michael van Gerwen
Raymond van Barneveld 1-4 Gary Anderson

Saturday October 8 (8.30pm)
Final
Best of nine sets
Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Gary Anderson

Preceded by Irish Matchplay Final (best of 11 legs)
Mick McGowan 6-5 Radek Szaganski