Premier League Darts: Michael van Gerwen beats Phil Taylor to win 2016 title
- Published
Michael van Gerwen won his first Premier League title in 2013
Michael van Gerwen beat Phil Taylor at the 02 Arena in London to win his second Premier League title.
World number one Van Gerwen clinched the £200,000 first prize with an 11-3 victory in the final.
The Dutchman, 27, had eased past Adrian Lewis 10-4 to reach the final, while Taylor defeated defending champion Gary Anderson 10-7 in his last-four tie.
Van Gerwen's previous Premier League title came in 2013, when he also beat Englishman Taylor, 55, in the final.
A second success rarely looked in doubt once Van Gerwen had raced into a 6-2 lead in the best-of-21-legs contest.
Taylor, a six-times Premier League champion, struggled to find his best form in the final and, having taken a 2-1 lead, lost 10 of the next 11 legs.
Van Gerwen told Sky Sports: "This feels fantastic for me, I'm over the moon to win this title. It's unbelievable.
"I'm playing stronger in this tournament every year, I've been top of the table four years in a row and I'm really glad I can hold this trophy now for the second time."
Taylor, a 16-times world champion, added: "I'm very proud to get through to the final. He beat me up, he put me under pressure, he's doing phenomenal things.
"I honestly don't know how he does it. His scoring is good, but his finishing is phenomenal and that's where it hurts you."
- Published19 May 2016
- Published13 May 2016
