Red Dragons pundit and betting voice reviews the Grand Prix
"I won’t be betting against him any time soon!!!”
Sunday night saw world number 1 Michael van Gerwen assert his continued dominance in darts with a convincing win over a much improved James Wade. The victory marks his second Grand Prix title, denying The Machine of what would have been his third.
I’ll be honest; I had my money on ‘Wadey’, as he’s known seemingly only to Wayne Mardle. I got 11/5, though I hear in the minutes preceding the match they were even more generous.
This is a man who, in the same tournament, had already hit a 9-darter, had already beaten Phil Taylor and had shown the character needed to come back from a 3-1 deficit against Gary Anderson in his semifinal. The fact he was still the obvious underdog is a testament to MvG’s quality.
The double 10 must have been bigger on Sunday night, because Wade couldn’t miss it. As the commentary team observed, if success on his favourite double was a barometer for his form, we were in for a hell of a competition.
And they were absolutely right. The world number 6 led consistently until Mighty Mike stole the 5th set in a deciding leg that Wade had three darts to clinch.
Some would have written Wade off at that point, but he showed some of that character we saw in his semifinal and took the 6th set with relative ease.
At 3 sets all and with Wade 2-0 up on legs, I was a happy man. I was day dreaming about the amount of pints I could buy with my winnings. It would have been £16, so about 2 these days…
Wade strode up to the oche a confident and determined man, with a mere 16 to take out for the 7th set. His doubles had arguably been the best part of his game so far, surely it was in the bag?
Of course, he missed all three. Each one felt like a dart in my side. Mighty Mike, prowling behind him like a lion in the Serengeti, had 54 to take out. 2 darts later, he had pulled a leg back.
From that moment, Wade failed to register another leg on the scoreboard.
When you’ve whittled a tournament down to its best two players, there is usually very little to distinguish them in terms of quality. The averages are usually similar and it’s rare the double percentages are worlds apart as well.
This match echoed that trend. The averages were just over 1% apart in Michael’s favour. Wade was actually better on the finishing, and indeed, the world number 1 only won 2 more legs then the Machine in total.
But it is in the pivotal moments that players truly distinguish themselves as champions, and like a beige coloured pea, MvG rose to the surface of the boiling pot that is the Grand Prix stage.
He simply does not afford his opponent the same chances that others do. Had Wade been facing a lesser player, he may well have had another shot at that 16 in the 7th set. He would have almost certainly still had a chance at taking the match.
But he was playing the world number 1, who, despite not being in the electrifying form we’re used to seeing him in, showed us all why he’s the best in the world at the moment. Because he can hold his nerve.
MvG is quickly filling that Phil Taylor mold. As time goes on, he seems more and more capable of wedding that incredible scoring and consistent finishing with the mindset needed to be a 16 times world champion. He’s still got some way to go, but after such a mature performance in Ireland, I won’t be betting against him any time soon.
Sunday night saw world number 1 Michael van Gerwen assert his continued dominance in darts with a convincing win over a much improved James Wade. The victory marks his second Grand Prix title, denying The Machine of what would have been his third.
I’ll be honest; I had my money on ‘Wadey’, as he’s known seemingly only to Wayne Mardle. I got 11/5, though I hear in the minutes preceding the match they were even more generous.
This is a man who, in the same tournament, had already hit a 9-darter, had already beaten Phil Taylor and had shown the character needed to come back from a 3-1 deficit against Gary Anderson in his semifinal. The fact he was still the obvious underdog is a testament to MvG’s quality.
The double 10 must have been bigger on Sunday night, because Wade couldn’t miss it. As the commentary team observed, if success on his favourite double was a barometer for his form, we were in for a hell of a competition.
And they were absolutely right. The world number 6 led consistently until Mighty Mike stole the 5th set in a deciding leg that Wade had three darts to clinch.
Some would have written Wade off at that point, but he showed some of that character we saw in his semifinal and took the 6th set with relative ease.
At 3 sets all and with Wade 2-0 up on legs, I was a happy man. I was day dreaming about the amount of pints I could buy with my winnings. It would have been £16, so about 2 these days…
Wade strode up to the oche a confident and determined man, with a mere 16 to take out for the 7th set. His doubles had arguably been the best part of his game so far, surely it was in the bag?
Of course, he missed all three. Each one felt like a dart in my side. Mighty Mike, prowling behind him like a lion in the Serengeti, had 54 to take out. 2 darts later, he had pulled a leg back.
From that moment, Wade failed to register another leg on the scoreboard.
When you’ve whittled a tournament down to its best two players, there is usually very little to distinguish them in terms of quality. The averages are usually similar and it’s rare the double percentages are worlds apart as well.
This match echoed that trend. The averages were just over 1% apart in Michael’s favour. Wade was actually better on the finishing, and indeed, the world number 1 only won 2 more legs then the Machine in total.
But it is in the pivotal moments that players truly distinguish themselves as champions, and like a beige coloured pea, MvG rose to the surface of the boiling pot that is the Grand Prix stage.
He simply does not afford his opponent the same chances that others do. Had Wade been facing a lesser player, he may well have had another shot at that 16 in the 7th set. He would have almost certainly still had a chance at taking the match.
But he was playing the world number 1, who, despite not being in the electrifying form we’re used to seeing him in, showed us all why he’s the best in the world at the moment. Because he can hold his nerve.
MvG is quickly filling that Phil Taylor mold. As time goes on, he seems more and more capable of wedding that incredible scoring and consistent finishing with the mindset needed to be a 16 times world champion. He’s still got some way to go, but after such a mature performance in Ireland, I won’t be betting against him any time soon.