Van Gerwen downs Van Duijvenbode to end ranking title drought at PC15

[p]The three-time world champion beat fellow Dutchman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-duijvenbode-dirk/fVUrttSI/"]Dirk van Duijvenbode[/a] 8-5 in the final, averaging 106.57 to claim his first title on the ProTour since April 2025.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-gerwen-michael/SU4UkKsm/"]Van Gerwen[/a]’s run included an outstanding semi-final display against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/schindler-martin/pWemrnqQ/"]Martin Schindler[/a], where he reeled off seven straight legs in a 7-0 victory while posting a 122.34 average - the highest recorded on the ProTour this year.[/p][p]He also produced ton-plus averages against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/greaves-beau/SrVLyn8o/"]Beau Greaves[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-veen-gian/jgT1AT29/"]Gian van Veen[/a], although his day began less emphatically with three successive 6-4 wins over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kalter-dennie-olde/t4duxKMo/"]Dennie Olde Kalter[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lipscombe-adam/WpC3Upg7/"]Adam Lipscombe[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-ross/l8mIsYNm/"]Ross Smith[/a].[/p][embed guid="f95b95e6-d1f6-4a7e-bdc2-c2038e723728" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2054262178195107845?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"For me, it’s more important after a long time that I managed to win a ProTour (title) today. It means a lot," [/b]Van Gerwen said. [/p][p][b]"I believe in my own ability, and I think I’m playing some good darts.[/b][/p][p][b]"The Premier League is waiting around the corner as well, but for me at the moment, the ranking tournaments are really important.[/b][/p][p][b]"I love what I do, and especially when I play like this, I love it even more!"[/b][/p][image alt="Van Gerwen celebrates" id="bb6132c8-0b3c-473b-8519-738b8ac40b0c" credit-line="PDC" guid="b25749b5-a0fb-40e5-b835-cae843a238e7" original-width="2400" original-height="1600" /][p]Van Gerwen appeared to be in complete control of the final after winning the opening three legs, extending a 12-leg winning streak carried over from earlier rounds. [/p][p]Van Duijvenbode responded by taking five of the next seven legs to level at 5-5, but the world number three regained control with successive 11-dart legs before sealing victory on double four.[/p][p][b]"I’m quite proud of Dirk,"[/b] Van Gerwen added. [b]"[/b][b]He’s going through a tough time, probably like me, so to have both of us in the final is good for Dutch darts.[/b][/p][p][b]"We both really needed it also for our form and the rest of the year. To beat him in a fantastic game like this, it’s nice."[/b][/p][p]Van Duijvenbode, chasing a first Players Championship title since 2023, impressed throughout the day with victories over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dobey-chris/dWj1FjDn/"]Chris Dobey[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rock-josh/xKxxNY1P/"]Josh Rock[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bunting-stephen/xANKMtPG/"]Stephen Bunting[/a], recovering from 3-0 down to beat Bunting in the semi-finals.[/p][embed guid="2eb97579-25a6-4d37-90ba-7657989f3c5b" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2054252114130395638?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Greaves, winner of Players Championship 11 last month, reached another quarter-final after big wins against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/heta-damon/GYfQQCI6/"]Damon Heta[/a] and then [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chisnall-dave/vRDFv29c/"]Dave Chisnall[/a]. [/p][h2]Results[/h2][p][b]Last 16[/b][/p][p]Martin Schindler 6-5 Wessel Nijman[/p][p]Ritchie Edhouse 6-2 Keane Barry[/p][p]Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Gian van Veen[/p][p]Beau Greaves 6-3 Dave Chisnall[/p][p]Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Chris Dobey[/p][p]Josh Rock 6-5 Derek Coulson[/p][p]Stephen Bunting 6-3 Andy Boulton[/p][p]Joe Cullen 6-2 Kim Huybrechts[/p][p][b]Quarter-finals[/b][/p][p]Martin Schindler 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse[/p][p]Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Beau Greaves[/p][p]Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Josh Rock[/p][p]Stephen Bunting 6-3 Joe Cullen[/p][p][b]Semi-finals[/b][/p][p]Michael van Gerwen 7-0 Martin Schindler[/p][p]Dirk van Duijvenbode 7-5 Stephen Bunting[/p][p][b]Final[/b][/p][p]Michael van Gerwen 8-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/darts/world/players-championship-15/"]Catch up on PC15 with Flashscore![/a][/h2]