Snakebite Takes the Positives from Grand Slam Final
By Phil Lanning
PETER WRIGHT admitted he will “take the positives” from a gutsy defeat to Michael van Gerwen in the Grand Slam final.
The mean, green winning machine reeled off yet another victory 16-12 over Snakebite in Wolverhampton last night to pick up the £112,500 winning cheque.
It was MVG’s eighth final win over Wright but the Scot made him work hard until the Dutchman’s traditional late match surge.
Wright, who earlier had beaten Gary Anderson in an epic semi-final, said: “I was struggling throughout the whole match but the best player won on the day, hats off to the three-times champion.
"I had my chance and didn't take it, and that's why he is No1 in the world. Neither of us played our top game in the final and I was struggling throughout the match, but the best player won on the day.
"I had plenty of chances and didn't play well in the final. I struggled through the whole game, I wasn't good enough and I'm disappointed with the way I played - but I got to the final.
"I played some really nice games this week, and I can take positives from this."
Van Gerwen said: “It’s always nice to win especially in a game like that. All the pressure comes on your shoulders and that makes a difference.
“I think I had a fantastic tournament. After 10-10 I had a little turbo, it wasn’t my biggest turbo but I think we were both trying too hard not to lose to each other."
There was hardly a width of a flight between the world’s top two in a proper heavyweight slugfest.
MVG just shaded the early exchanges, breaking throw to go 3-2 up. It was then a sheer battle of nerve.
But Wright was showing real guts to keep pace with the dominant Dutchman and a sensational 156 kill put him 9-8 in front.
However, van Gerwen hit back with 114 finish to level it up and Snakebite forced in front again with a terrific 149. It was soon 10-10 and then MVG hit the turbo button with a slick 68, 146 and 100 checkouts to give himself a three-leg cushion.
Wright showed real mettle to keep fighting but the Dutchman just had too much firepower and wrapped it up with double 16 for his Grand Slam hat-trick of successive wins.
[caption id="attachment_26718" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
MvG claims his 3rd successive Grand Slam of Darts Trophy.[/caption]
Wright, who earlier had beaten Gary Anderson in an epic semi-final, said: “I was struggling throughout the whole match but the best player won on the day, hats off to the three-times champion.
"I had my chance and didn't take it, and that's why he is No1 in the world. Neither of us played our top game in the final and I was struggling throughout the match, but the best player won on the day.
"I had plenty of chances and didn't play well in the final. I struggled through the whole game, I wasn't good enough and I'm disappointed with the way I played - but I got to the final.
"I played some really nice games this week, and I can take positives from this."
Van Gerwen said: “It’s always nice to win especially in a game like that. All the pressure comes on your shoulders and that makes a difference.
“I think I had a fantastic tournament. After 10-10 I had a little turbo, it wasn’t my biggest turbo but I think we were both trying too hard not to lose to each other."
There was hardly a width of a flight between the world’s top two in a proper heavyweight slugfest.
MVG just shaded the early exchanges, breaking throw to go 3-2 up. It was then a sheer battle of nerve.
But Wright was showing real guts to keep pace with the dominant Dutchman and a sensational 156 kill put him 9-8 in front.
However, van Gerwen hit back with 114 finish to level it up and Snakebite forced in front again with a terrific 149. It was soon 10-10 and then MVG hit the turbo button with a slick 68, 146 and 100 checkouts to give himself a three-leg cushion.
Wright showed real mettle to keep fighting but the Dutchman just had too much firepower and wrapped it up with double 16 for his Grand Slam hat-trick of successive wins.
[caption id="attachment_26718" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] MvG claims his 3rd successive Grand Slam of Darts Trophy.[/caption]