Michael van Gerwen followed a sensational nine-dart finish with a third Ladbrokes UK Open title in a glorious Sunday at the Butlin’s Minehead Resort as he defeated Gerwyn Price 11-9 in the final.
Van Gerwen had endured three months without a tournament win since claiming November’s Players Championship Finals title in Minehead with a comeback defeat of Price.
He had also landed a nine-darter during that event, and repeated the feat with a perfect leg during his 11-3 semi-final romp against Daryl Gurney.
Gurney secured his spot in a second UK Open semi-final with a narrow 10-9 win over Jelle Klaasen in a dramatic last eight contest, with the Dutchman leading 6-4 before losing out in the deciding leg.
Clayton also won through a tight quarter-final, surviving eight missed match darts from Jamie Hughes in their contest, despite the Tipton thrower coming back from 5-1 down to take the game all the way.
Hughes was appearing in his first quarter-final at a PDC televised event, while Klaasen had reached the last eight for the first time in a televised event for over three years in an encouraging return to form.
2019 UK Open finalist Cross and Belgium’s Van den Bergh completed the quarter-final line-up, with the latter having enjoyed his best run in the tournament as he reached the last eight.
2020 Ladbrokes UK Open
Sunday March 8
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 10-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Michael van Gerwen 10-4 Rob Cross
Daryl Gurney 10-9 Jelle Klaasen
Jonny Clayton 10-9 Jamie Hughes
Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Gerwyn Price 11-4 Jonny Clayton
Michael van Gerwen 11-3 Daryl Gurney – Michael van Gerwen hits nine-darter
Final
Michael van Gerwen 11-9 Gerwyn Price
