Van Gerwen wins first Hungarian Darts Trophy title

Image source, PDC Europe

Image caption, Michael van Gerwen has won 12 matches in a row across two competitions

Dutchman Michael van Gerwen beat compatriot Gian van Veen 8-7 to claim the Hungarian Darts Trophy - his first European Tour title for 16 months.

Van Gerwen, 35, won his first ranking tournament of the year at Players Championship 21 on 18 September and backed that up with further success at MVM Dome in Budapest.

He helped make history in the second round on Saturday when both he and Norwegian Dekker hit nine-dart finishes - the first time there has been two in one day in European Tour history.

The world number three trailed 7-6 in the best-of-15 final but a break of throw levelled the score and he made no mistake in the decisive leg.

Van Gerwen, who had never previously gone beyond the quarter-finals at the Hungarian Darts Trophy, started his tournament with routine 6-2 victories against England's Martin Lukeman and Gabriel Clemens of Germany.

He defeated Northern Ireland's Josh Rock 6-4 in the last eight and brushed aside Englishman Ross Smith 7-3 in the semi-finals.

It is Van Gerwen's 37th European Tour title but his first since the Belgian Darts Trophy in May 2023.

"I want to win more and my love for the game is still there," said Van Gerwen.