Three and easy for Mighty Mike

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Lawrence Lustig / PDC

Michael van Gerwen won his third successive Speedy Services UK Open Qualifier as he defeated Michael Smith 6-2 in yesterday’s event in Wigan, as Gary Anderson and Andy Hamilton both hit nine-dart finishes at the Robin Park Tennis Centre.

Van Gerwen followed up last month’s double in Crawley in the year’s opening two of eight UK Open Qualifiers by taking the £6,000 first prize in Qualifier Three.

The Dutch star, who also won the final Players Championship of 2012, continued his amazing spell of form in the ProTour events by winning eight matches on his way to Saturday’s victory.

After wiring double 12 for a nine-dart finish during his first round win over fellow countryman Roland Scholten, van Gerwen then saw off McCoy’s Premier League Darts rival Gary Anderson in a deciding leg in round two.

He also picked up wins over Ian White and Adrian Gray before sweeping aside another Premier League rival, Simon Whitlock, 6-1 and then whitewashed Paul Nicholson to reach the semi-finals, where he averaged almost 107 in a 6-4 win over Peter Wright.

Van Gerwen opened the final with a break of throw against St Helens youngster Smith, who missed three darts at doubles to win the first leg and a further dart, at double nine, in the second as the Dutchman took a 2-0 lead with legs of 14 and 13 darts.

Smith hit a 180 – his third maximum score of the game – in taking leg three, but van Gerwen posted a 171 in a 13-darter to lead 3-1 and added double eight and double three to move to the brink of victory.

Smith took out 64 to keep his hopes alive at 5-2, but van Gerwen opened the next leg with a 180, and after initially missing the bullseye for a 170 checkout returned to seal the win on double four.

“It’s always nice to win a tournament like this and I’m delighted,” said van Gerwen. “I know I’m playing well and I’ve shown everyone again today.

“I was strong from the beginning but I played a lot of good players, like Simon, Gary Anderson and Peter Wright. I’m full of confidence and I’m taking that into my games at the moment.”

Smith, who won a UK Open Qualifier two years ago, was denied his third senior ranking title with his defeat in the final, but still picked up £3,000 for an impressive day’s work.

He took wins over Vernon Sheppard, Andree Welge, Steve Hine and Stuart Kellett in reaching the quarter-finals, where he was superb in defeating Justin Pipe 6-3, and he then saw off Robert Thornton 6-1 to reach the decider.

Thornton, the reigning UK Open champion, sealed a 6-2 quarter-final win over Mervyn King with a fine 154 checkout, and was joined in the semis by colourful Peter Wright, whose victims on the day included Alan Tabern, Mark Walsh, Colin Lloyd and John Part.

Part, last week’s UK Masters champion in Minehead, reached the quarter-finals alongside King, Nicholson and Pipe, while world number three James Wade was amongst the losers in the last 16.

The tournament also saw two nine-dart finishes landed – as well as three others narrowly missed – as Anderson first achieved the feat in his first round win over Josh Payne before Hamilton celebrated his 46th birthday with a perfect leg against Tony West.

The pair shared a £400 bonus which is on offer in each ProTour event, and follow the nine-darters hit by Robert Thornton and Kevin Thomas in the first two Speedy Services UK Open Qualifiers in Crawley three weeks ago.

Today sees Qualifier Four complete the PDC ProTour weekend in Wigan, with 242 players set to compete for the £35,000 prize fund.

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