Michael van Gerwen ended his winless run on the PDC ProTour with an impressive display at the Players Championship 15 in Leicester as he beat compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode 8-5 in Tuesday's final.
Van Gerwen, who is fighting to get into the Premier League Darts playoffs, produced some of his best darts to win his first ProTour title since October 2024.
The 37-year-old says victory "means a lot" and also has an eye on Thursday when he plays Gerwyn Price in the Premier League Darts in Birmingham, live on Your Site, which will be crucial in his hopes to get in the top four and qualify for finals night in London.
"Everyone knows I'm capable, so don't write me off," said Van Gerwen.
"I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I've done that bit, but now it's just when I can, I'm enjoying what I do, so I think that's the next thing forward."
Van Gerwen started off the day with successive 6-4 wins over Dennie Olde Kalte, Adam Lipscombe, Ross Smith and Gian van Veen to set up a quarter-final clash against Beau Greaves.
The pair shared the opening four legs before Van Gerwen romped away and began an incredible run of form that lasted for the rest of the day as he beat Greaves 6-2.
In the semi-finals, Van Gerwen averaged 122.34 - the biggest of the day - in a 7-0 whitewash over Germany's Martin Schindler, who averaged 108.78 himself.
He continued that high level in the final to take an early 3-0 lead but Van Duijvenbode came roaring back to make it 4-4. However, Van Gerwen moved away again by winning a hat-trick of legs from 5-5 to claim a 37th career ProTour title.
"At the beginning of the day I was struggling. I played OK but I could have done more here and there. I missed too many doubles," he said.
"The last three or four games I can't complain. I played some fantastic darts, even against Beau, I destroyed Martin, then the final against Dirk, what a day!"
Van Duijvenbode had beaten Stephen Bunting 7-5 in his semi-final and Josh Rock 6-3 in the quarter-finals as he also returned to good form.
Wessel Nijman, who has won five Players Championships this year, lost 6-5 to Schindler in the last 16, while Jonny Clayton's day ended in the last 32 with a 6-5 defeat to Dave Chisnall.
Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price were among those to not enter the event.
Last 16
Martin Schindler 6-5 Wessel Nijman
Ritchie Edhouse 6-2 Keane Barry
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Gian van Veen
Beau Greaves 6-3 Dave Chisnall
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Chris Dobey
Josh Rock 6-5 Derek Coulson
Stephen Bunting 6-3 Andy Boulton
Joe Cullen 6-2 Kim Huybrechts
Quarter-Finals
Martin Schindler 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Beau Greaves
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Josh Rock
Stephen Bunting 6-3 Joe Cullen
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 7-0 Martin Schindler
Dirk van Duijvenbode 7-5 Stephen Bunting
Final
Michael van Gerwen 8-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Who will win this year's Premier League Darts? Watch the action every single Thursday until finals night in London on May 28 on Your Site. .
