World Champion Van Gerwen has previously taken victories in Jena and Hamburg this year, and was victorious once again as he claimed the £25,000 title in dramatic fashion against Smith.

Former World Youth Champion Smith was bidding to follow up last month’s Gibraltar Darts Trophy triumph with his second win of the year, and led Van Gerwen during a thrilling final. The St Helens ace opened up a 2-0 lead, punishing his rival’s miss at tops in the opening leg before breaking with a 13-darter which featured a 180.

Van Gerwen hit back to level, but Smith took out 86 on the bull to lead 3-2 and then brought the Austrian crowd to its feet with a magnificent 170 checkout for a 4-3 advantage. Van Gerwen, though, hit back once more as a 14-darter squared the game before finishing double 18 for a 13-darter to break after Smith missed top for a 117 checkout.

Smith took out 70 in leg ten to force a decider, but Van Gerwen was first to a finish and took out 100 on tops for a 12-darter as he secured his 17th career European Tour win. “This means a lot to me,” said Van Gerwen, who had warmed up for the event with a visit to Rapid Vienna football club on Friday.

“I came here to win and I’m glad I could do that, but I played well, especially today. “Michael is getting back in form, he is a fantastic player and he kept me under pressure. The 170 finish was great and he put me under a lot of pressure, but I was really glad to win.”

Results

Friday June 23rd

First Round
Afternoon Session
92.31 Adrian Gray 3-6 Vincent van der Meer 86.69
89.59 Chris Quantock 6-4 Paul Rowley 86.15
99.91 Jamie Bain 6-1 Christian Kist 92.06
77.10 Lee Bryant 4-6 Zoran Lerchbacher 83.30
83.03 Rene Eidams 6-5 Justin Pipe 89.40
88.23 Ronny Huybrechts 6-5 James Wilson 84.24
91.20 Krzysztof Ratajski 5-6 Kim Viljanen 96.04
79.80 Wayne Jones 3-6 Christian Kallinger 83.21

Evening Session
92.83 John Henderson 6-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode 88.86
82.53 Rowby-John Martin Schindler 83.53
101.86 Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Tony Newell 91.56
87.36 Chris Dobey 6-1 David Pallett 82.05
94.64 Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-6 Jamie Lewis 93.17
90.65 Jonny Clayton 6-1 Roxy-James Rodriguez 80.55
89.69 Rob Cross 6-4 Andy Jenkins 85.58
94.07 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse 82.46

Saturday June 24th

Second Round
Afternoon Session
85.78 Steve West 4-6 Vincent van der Meer 89.24
97.29 Cristo Reyes 6-5 Rene Eidams 91.94
93.44 Michael Smith 6-2 Chris Quantock 76.79
99.54 Mervyn King 6-2 Zoran Lerchbacher 91.31
90.01 Alan Norris 4-6 Jamie Bain 93.04
88.67 Benito van de Pas 6-3 John Henderson 93.72
92.61 Daryl Gurney 6-2 Jonny Clayton 87.98
78.09 Stephen Bunting 0-6 Chris Dobey 89.05

Evening Session
93.44 Ian White 2-6 Martin Schindler 98.92
87.97 Simon Whitlock 6-1 Vincent van der Voort 81.03
90.88 Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 85.95
94.96 Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Christian Kallinger 77.89
97.66 Peter Wright 5-6 Kim Viljanen 85.14
98.42 Joe Cullen 6-3 Jamie Lewis 87.50
94.93 Jelle Klaasen 6-0 Rob Cross 83.26
100.70 Mensur Suljovic 6-1 Ronny Huybrechts 82.03

Sunday June 25th

Third Round
Afternoon Session
96.31 Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Vincent van der Meer 86.73
92.18 Jamie Bain 4-6 Martin Schindler 90.40
90.64 Benito van de Pas 3-6 Daryl Gurney 98.51
99.79 Simon Whitlock 5-6 Cristo Reyes 96.08
91.99 Kim Viljanen 6-2 Chris Dobey 92.18
96.03 Kim Huybrechts 3-6 Joe Cullen 107.45
88.59 Jelle Klaasen 4-6  Michael Smith 89.04
98.89 Mensur Suljovic 4-6 Mervyn King 93.48

Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
101.13 Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Martin Schindler 95.66
87.74 Daryl Gurney 3-6 Cristo Reyes 100.79
97.90 Kim Viljanen 4-6 Joe Cullen 99.94
103.67 Michael Smith 6-3 Mervyn King 89.76

Semi-Finals
115.57 Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Cristo Reyes 95.93
79.67 Joe Cullen 4-6 Michael Smith 97.88

Final
105.16 Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Michael Smith 101.01