Result: Michael van Gerwen 7-3 Michael Smith
Van Gerwen wins third title in his fourth final
Van Gerwen took initial four-set lead before Smith battled back
Paul Baldwin: Bully Boy blew it then #bbcdarts#MvGvSMITH#LoveTheDarts
Alexander Skulnick: #bbcdarts As I said before, Michael Smith has a habit of bottling it on the big occasion
Image source, Getty ImagesVan Gerwen 4-0 Smith (1-1, fifth set)
Smith with a very needed leg to make it 1-1 in the fifth.
Van Gerwen 4-0 Smith (1-0, fifth set)
No let up on the oche for the Englishman as a double 12 gives Van Gerwen the lead in set five, looking for a 7-0 whitewash.
Van Gerwen 4-0 Smith (3-2, fourth set)
By the way, "Football's coming home," was heard during that fourth set.
It didn't, obviously, but there was an interesting bet made between Van Gerwen and England defender Kieran Trippier earlier in the competition.
Trippier and some Spurs team-mates were at Alexandra Palace on 16 December and they ran into Van Gerwen. England face the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the Nations League in June and the pair bet that their respective countries would win the match.
The winner gets dinner bought for them by the other one. High stakes, well, maybe high steaks.
Van Gerwen 4-0 Smith (3-2, fourth set)
Great drama in that final leg of set four, but it ends up going the way of the first three sets - to Van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen tries to take out 88 but misses at the bull, before Smith misses a chance at double 12. But wait, Van Gerwen is human, he misses double 16 and then double eight to win the set.
Can Smith take advantage? Nope. Three attempts at double 12 all fail to find the bed and Van Gerwen, not willing to give up another chance, punishes those misses by hitting double eight.
He needs seven sets, he has four.
Image source, EPAVan Gerwen 3-0 Smith (2-2, fourth set)
Van Gerwen checks out an 84. Into a deciding leg in set four. It will either be 4-0 or 3-1 very soon.
Van Gerwen 3-0 Smith (1-2, fourth set)
A 60 checkout, 20 D20. That puts Smith back in front in set four.
Van Gerwen 3-0 Smith (1-1, fourth set)
Maximum number six from Smith, with five so far from the Dutchman.
Van Gerwen 3-0 Smith (1-1, fourth set)
Rapid, rapid. Double 10 from Van Gerwen, who pegs it back to 1-1 in legs, while still leading 3-0 in sets.
Van Gerwen 3-0 Smith (0-1, fourth set)
For the first time in a set, Michael Smith takes the opening leg. His first dart at double top misses, his second doesn't.
Van Gerwen then comes back with a 180 at the start of leg two.
Even if Michael Smith could throw these sort of numbers with his three darts, he might not be able to stop Michael van Gerwin in this form.
Image source, Getty ImagesVan Gerwen 3-0 Smith (3-1, third set)
A 14-dart leg, ending on double top and that is 3-0 to Van Gerwen. Already a mountain to climb for Smith.
Image source, Rex FeaturesVan Gerwen 2-0 Smith (2-1, third set)
That has given the Smith fans something to cheer about and "Michael, Michael Smith, Michael Smith" gets a quick airing. But Van Gerwen hits 180 next time out to shut them up.
Van Gerwen 2-0 Smith (2-1, third set)
How he needed that. Smith takes out a 66 checkout, ending on double top.
Image source, Getty ImagesVan Gerwen 2-0 Smith (2-0, third set)
Smith starts the third leg of the third set with a maximum. There is no dream nine-dart finish as dart four is just in single 20.
Image source, EPAVan Gerwen 2-0 Smith (2-0, third set)
The second leg is comfortable for Van Gerwen, with Smith languishing all the way back on 201.
Van Gerwen 2-0 Smith (1-0, third set)
Charles Richardson: You aren’t going to win a @OfficialPDC, external World Championship Final if you miss 10 darts at a double in two sets. The lads in the Central London Darts League do it better than that! Smith needs to regroup - fast. #bbcdarts, external
Ricky Kellow: If you don’t take your chances against mvg he will punish you! #bbcdarts, external
Van Gerwen 2-0 Smith (1-0, third set)
134 checkout, Van Gerwen trims that down to 94 and after two misses, the Dutchman takes the third double top next time out. He again breaks the throw.
Van Gerwen 2-0 Smith (third set)
Smith, just as he did in set two, has the first darts in set three. If he was to lose this set then it would already start to look a huge task.
Van Gerwen 2-0 Smith (3-1, second set)
The 121 for Smith is trimmed down to 72, but disaster as he then misses two attempts at double 12. A double four from Van Gerwen comes soon after, who punches the air as he doubles his overall lead. Two sets to nil to the world number one. Not the start Smith would've been dreaming of.
Image source, PA