THE WORLD’S BEST darts players roll into town this week as Dublin’s Citywest Hotel hosts the annual PDC World Grand Prix.
Since the event relocated to Ireland in 2001, world number one Phil Taylor has been devastating in his dominance — winning seven out of a possible 12 titles.
Last year, however, ‘The Power’ suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Robert Thornton, blowing the field wide open.
One the other side of the draw, then 23-year-old Dutchman Michael van Gerwen comfortably saw off Colin Lloyd, Adrian Lewis, Andy Hamilton and Wes Newton en route to the final.
Against Mervyn King in the showcase, Van Gerwen claimed his first PDC title and the £100,000 prize money with a 6-4 victory.
He’s back on our shores ahead of an opening round meeting with John Part on Tuesday and told The Score that a second consecutive victory is in his sights.
It was an amazing achievement for myself to win last year,” the 24-year-old said. “I want to keep it going and I want to win this tournament back-to-back.
“I think I’m ready for it but it’s a difficult first match as John Part is a fantastic player.”
Van Gerwen was introduced to the sport as a child and recalls playing round-robin competitions with his brother and close friends at home. Becoming something of a teen sensation, he soon found himself winning youth tournaments and at 15 was picking up silverware all over Europe.
“When I was young, I’d come out of school and the first thing I would do was play darts everyday for a couple of hours. You also need to have that bit of luck and that’s what happened to me so I got into it at a very young age.”
Having spent a year as an apprentice tiler, he decided to focus on darts and joined the BDO on his 18th birthday — taking it by storm before a move to the PDC. Incredibly, 2007 saw him record wins over compatriot Raymond van Barneveld and Taylor – regarded as the greatest darts player of all-time – during the Masters of Darts tournament.
Van Gerwen was unable to turn his huge potential into silverware right away but he has made a breakthrough over the past 12 months. Victory in Dublin was followed with a first Premier League title after getting the better of Taylor in a brilliant final back in May.
“I’m playing well but I think I can do even better,” he explains. “I’m still young and everyday you learn things.
“It’s also about confidence. If you win games and do well then you fell good. You think no one can beat you and that’s how you go into games.”
Currently ranked number two in the world behind Taylor, he aims to catch the man who completely reshaped the sport but is well aware that it won’t happen overnight.
I hope (to be number one) but there’s a long way to go. Phil is a far in front of me but I’m doing well and I think I can keep going for a couple of years.”
And winning his second World Grand Prix in Dublin would bring him a couple of steps closer to that ultimate goal.
The World Grand Prix Darts Championship from City West in Dublin, starting on Monday 7 October, and the Ladbrokes PDC World Darts Championship in December are live on Sky Sports HD.
