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LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC
Let's play darts

Major upset in Dublin last night as Michael van Gerwen loses Grand Prix crown in thriller

It was Scotland’s Robert Thornton who walked away with the top prize after a superb nine-set battle.

THERE WAS A surprise at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel last night as reigning champion Michael van Gerwen was pipped to the World Grand Prix darts final by Scotland’s Robert Thornton.

The 26-year-old Dutchman, who is the world number one, was aiming to take his third tournament win in four years but Thornton put in a superb display to secure a 5-4 nine-set victory.

He’d been in trouble in his semi-final with Mensur Suljovic but pushed through with a 14-darter and there was something similar here. He showed plenty of determination and resilience as van Gerwen landed a remarkable 18 maximum 180s.

Still, he needed to hit back when Thornton took a 4-3 lead but after opening with a 160 and following with a 145, he finished with a double nine to send it to a deciding set.

Thornton took it 3-1, hitting a ninth 180 in the process and walked away with the top prize of £100,000. It was his second major PDC title and he later branded the win as ‘the best day of my darting career’.

“It’s unbelievable, absolutely awesome”, he said.

“If you’re going to win a tournament, this is the way to do it, and Michael showed why he’s the world number one at the moment. I beat Phil in the UK Open final and he was on top of the pile then, and I’ve beaten Michael tonight. This is so sweet and it goes to show that you should never give in.

Going into the last set I thought to myself that if I could hold my own throw then I could do this. My wife says that I’m a little pitbull with the heart of a lion; I never give in and I keep fighting to the end.

Michael hit me with everything but he missed a few doubles going for finishes, and I just kept battling.”

Michael van Gerwen can win his third World Grand Prix title in Dublin tonight