Michael van Gerwencreated history by becoming only the second player ever to achieve TWO nine-dart finishes in the same game on his way to victory in Coral UK Open Qualifier Four at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan on Friday.
The Dutchman recorded the remarkable feat of two nine-darters during his third round win over Ryan Murray in Wigan in a magical ten-minute spell.
The World Champion firstly scored 180, 177 and finished 144 in the fourth leg to complete his first nine-darter, before sealing a 6-2 victory with another perfect leg as he scored 177, 180 and took out 144 once again to complete the historic achievement.
Van Gerwen’s moments of genius make him only the second player in history to hit two nine-darters in one game, with Phil Taylor previously achieving the feat in the 2010 Premier League final against James Wade.
However, the Dutchman wasn’t done there as he then raced through the field in Wigan by destroying Ting Chi Royden Lam, Zoran Lerchbacher, Peter Wright and Kevin Painter to set up a showdown with nemesis Gary Anderson in the final.
Earlier this month, Anderson brought an end to Van Gerwen’s 32-game winning streak as they drew on the opening night of the Betway Premier League, and this game started in an equally cagey manner with little to separate the world’s top two.
Van Gerwen’s dominance quickly came to fruition, however, as he raced into a 5-2 lead – leaving Anderson the steep task of winning all four remaining legs for victory. Despite Anderson pulling back one leg, Van Gerwen comfortably picked up the remaining leg needed to clinch the £10,000 top prize.
“Something clicked after I survived match darts against Adam Hunt and I could feel I might do something special today,” said Van Gerwen.
“I’m very proud to achieve this but I’m also experienced enough to know that it’s only two legs, so it was great to go on and win the tournament too.”
Nevertheless, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the Dutchman, who had survived two missed match darts by two-time Challenge Tour winner Adam Hunt in the second round as he stumbled to an early 6-5 victory.
Two-time World Champion Anderson enjoyed an equally dominant day, beating Paul Rowley 6-4 in his opening match before whitewashing Ryan Harrington 6-0 to reach the last 32.
There he brushed aside Justin Pipe, Rob Cross and mentee Chris Dobey – dropping just six legs in the process – as he reached the semi-finals.
Standing in his way of the final was two-time Challenge Tour winner Ryan Searle, enjoying a sparkling run himself with victories over Jamie Caven, Darren Webster and Dave Chisnall. Anderson proved too strong, however, racing to a 6-1 victory.
Painter’s run to the semi-finals, his first run to the last four since July 2014, also included some very impressive scalps.
The former Players Champion defeated Dean Stewart and Antonio Alcinas to reach his board final, where he edged out Daryl Gurney 6-5.
In the last 32, Painter then saw off Terry Jenkins and five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld and produced a stunning come-from-behind victory against Michael Smith before falling to Van Gerwen in the final four.
Searle’s semi-final appearance was his best since joining the PDC circuit on a full-time basis this year, having secured a PDC Tour Card with his PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour success in 2016, and he will now make his Coral UK Open debut in the ITV4-televised event from March 3-5.
Wright, who won two of the opening three Coral UK Open Qualifiers last weekend, had another good day as he maintained his lead at the top of the UK Open Order of Merit – beating John Part, Nick Fullwell, Ronnie Baxter and Gerwyn Price before losing out to Van Gerwen in the quarter-finals.
It was the second time in as many days that Wright lost out to the Dutchman, following his 7-3 defeat in the Premier League in Nottingham on Thursday.
St Helens pair Dave Chisnall and Michael Smith joined emerging youngster Dobey in the last eight in the first of the weekend’s final three UK Open Qualifiers.
The £60,000 Coral UK Open Qualifiers continue on Saturday with Qualifier Five before the final day of action on Sunday February 12 with Qualifier Six. Live online coverage of each event is available at www.livepdc.tv and a series of bookmakers’ websites, with two live streams available throughout the tournaments.