Champions League of Darts: Michael van Gerwen beats Peter Wright in final
- Published
World number one Michael van Gerwen won four straight legs to fight back from 10-7 down and beat Peter Wright to claim his first Champions League of Darts title in Leicester.
Wright looked set for victory when he won back-to-back legs to move within one of the title himself.
But after Wright missed three shots at double 12 at 10-8, Van Gerwen hit back to win it on double 16.
It means Van Gerwen has won every major PDC title.
The Dutchman, 30, has also beaten Wright in all seven major PDC finals they have contested.
World number seven Wright was finally on course to beat Van Gerwen when he had two opportunities throwing first at 10-7 and 10-9 to win the title. But his power scoring and clinical finishing that had been a feature throughout the weekend deserted him.
A superb start to the final saw Wright checkout on 156 in leg two, only for Van Gerwen to respond with a 154 finish of his own in the next leg.
Both players were averaging more than 108 by the eighth leg, and while the averages fell as the game went on and the tension rose, it still proved to be a classic final.
"I'm really glad I won this one, it was on my bucket list," Van Gerwen told BBC Sport.
"Peter is a phenomenal player, in the Premier League he missed match darts against me, he missed match darts again here, we're going to have many more finals.
"But there can only be one winner and I'm glad it's me."
Earlier, Van Gerwen had to come through another last-leg decider to beat debutant Gerwyn Price in the semi-final.
Welshman Price was 10-9 up and throwing for victory, but Van Gerwen stole the last leg in a match where he averaged 105.54.
Wright's path to the final was much more comfortable as he beat Michael Smith 11-5, having been 7-0 up at one stage.
But the 49-year-old could not turn his superb form over the two days into a second major PDC title as Van Gerwen completed his trophy cabinet.
Results
Final
Michael van Gerwen 11-10 Peter Wright
Semi-finals
Michael Smith 5-11 Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen 11-10 Gerwyn Price
Sunday afternoon session results
Rob Cross 8-10 Peter Wright (B)
Daryl Gurney 6-10 Gerwyn Price (B)
Michael van Gerwen 10-4 Gary Anderson (A)
Michael Smith 10-8 James Wade (A)