The Dutchman has already been victorious in Hildesheim and Graz this year – claiming the Austrian Darts Open title last weekend and collected his 35th European Tour success in style.

Van Gerwen had seen off Daryl Gurney on Saturday, and overcame Cazoo Premier League rival Jonny Clayton in the third round to begin a superb day at the Ostermann-Arena. He then prevailed in a decider against Dirk van Duijvenbode, who was punished for missing match darts in the last two legs of their quarter-final.

Van Gerwen gained revenge over Luke Humphries in the semi-finals for a defeat to the former World Youth Champion in the recent German Darts Grand Prix, averaging over 105 in a 7-2 win. He then held off Van den Bergh’s challenge – in the Belgian’s bid for a first European Tour title – to scoop the £25,000 top prize and claim a third successive Leverkusen win.

An exciting final began as Van den Bergh broke with a 13-darter, but Van Gerwen replied in kind to level and also added an 11-darter as he moved 3-1 up. Van den Bergh hit back to level at three-all and responded to a superb 164 checkout from Van Gerwen to take out 80 in leg eight.

Van Gerwen, though, found another gear to pull clear, hitting six perfect darts in a 12-darter in leg nine and then finding double four to move 6-4 up. Three missed doubles allowed Van den Bergh in to win leg 11, but the Belgian then paid for missing two darts to level the tie as Van Gerwen posted double ten to restore his two-leg lead and double eight to seal the title.

Van den Bergh ended German hopes in the event with a 6-4 third round win over Martin Schindler, and finished six doubles from seven attempts in a brilliant 6-1 quarter-final win over Josh Rock. He was then given a bye into his first European Tour final after James Wade withdrew ahead of their semi-final through illness.

Wade had produced some superb form throughout the weekend, and defeated Jose de Sousa and Ryan Searle on Sunday. Humphries overcame Brendan Dolan in the third round and then averaged almost 108 to see off Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals, before Van Gerwen ended his bid for a second European Tour title.

Northern Irish prospect Rock saw off Scott Williams in the third round to reach his first European Tour quarter-final, ending an impressive weekend.

2022 Interwetten European Darts Open

Sunday May 8th

Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
THIRD ROUND
Gerwyn Price 5-6 Nathan Aspinall
Luke Humphries 6-4 Brendan Dolan
Joe Cullen 3-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Jonny Clayton
Scott Williams 2-6 Josh Rock
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Martin Schindler
Jose De Sousa 4-6 James Wade
Ryan Searle 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1200 BST)
QUARTER-FINALS
Nathan Aspinall 3-6 Luke Humphries
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-6 Michael van Gerwen
Josh Rock 1-6 Dimitri Van den Bergh
James Wade 6-5 Ryan Searle

SEMI-FINALS
Luke Humphries 2-7 Michael van Gerwen
Dimitri Van den Bergh v James Wade (W)

FINAL
Michael van Gerwen v Dimitri Van den Bergh

Sunday’s games played in Draw Bracket order. All games up to and including the quarter-finals are the best of 11 legs, with the semi-finals the best of 13 legs and the final the best of 15 legs.

Prize Fund  
Winner: £25,000
Runner-up: £10,000
Semi-Finalists: £6,500
Quarter-Finalists: £5,000
Last 16 losers: £3,000
Last 32 losers: £2,000
Last 48 losers: £1,000
Total: £140,000 

NB: Seeded players who lose their last 32 match in the event will not be credited with prize money on to the Order of Merit, ProTour Order of Merit or European Tour Order of Merit, however they shall still receive full prize money payment.

Results:
FIRST ROUND
Mickey Mansell 0-6 Luke Woodhouse
Darren Penhall 6-0 Luc Peters
Dennis Nilsson 6-3 Martin Lukeman
Josh Rock 6-0 Connor Scutt
Adam Gawlas 5-6 Scott Williams
Krzysztof Kciuk 6-3 Keane Barry
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Lukas Wenig
Devon Petersen 6-5 Kevin Doets
Stephen Bunting 5-6 Maik Kuivenhoven
Daryl Gurney 6-5 Kevin Burness
Berry van Peer 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
Cameron Menzies 6-3 Ian White
Martin Schindler 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-4 Nico Kurz
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Gabriel Clemens
Karel Sedlacek receives Bye

SECOND ROUND
Krzysztof Ratajski 2-6 Josh Rock
Jose de Sousa 6-5 Dennis Nilsson
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 Maik Kuivenhoven
Brendan Dolan 6-0 Andrew Gilding
Ryan Searle 6-2 Krzsyztof Kciuk
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-1 Cameron Menzies
James Wade 6-1 Berry van Peer
Joe Cullen 6-1 Devon Petersen
Luke Humphries 6-2 Darren Penhall
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Karel Sedlacek
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Luke Woodhouse
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Daryl Gurney
Peter Wright 6-4 Scott Williams
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Rob Cross 4-6 Martin Schindler
Damon Heta 4-6 Dave Chisnall