Van Gerwen wins 'phenomenal' 3rd PDC world darts title

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Michael Van Gerwen won his third PDC World Darts Championship on Tuesday after beating outsider Michael Smith 7-3 in an underwhelming final at Alexandra Palace in London.

The world number one played way below the standard that has made him the best player on the planet but his more accurate finishing on the last "double" dart saw him race into a four-set lead.

"Sounds good, doesn't it?" Three-time world champion said the Dutchman who has moved clear of Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson in the list of world champions but still a long way back from 16-time winner Phil Taylor.

"It's the best feeling I can have, I worked so long for this. To win this trophy is phenomenal, it's the most important thing for me."

Englishman Smith hit an unexpected 124 checkout in the final leg of the fifth set to start a mini-comeback that saw him also win set six 3-0 and pull the deficit back to 4-2.

Michael van Gerwen throws during the final match against Michael Smith at the 2019 World Darts Championship, January 01, 2019. /VCG Photo

However, Van Gerwen played his best darts of the match to win set seven and extend his lead to three, before breaking Smith's throw in the final leg of the following set to make a third world crown all but inevitable.

Smith broke back straight in set nine to make it 6-3 but left it too late to mount a comeback and pre-tournament favorite Van Gerwen bagged the title in the following set.

After the final, the 10 names for the 2019 Premier League Darts were confirmed. Van Gerwen and Smith will each form part of the Premier League line-up, with the former's title defense starting next month.

The full list of players for 2019 Premier League Darts:

Michael van Gerwen

Rob Cross

Peter Wright

Gary Anderson

Daryl Gurney

Gerwyn Price

Mensur Suljovic

James Wade

Michael Smith

Raymond van Barneveld

Source(s): AFP