Michael van Gerwen roared back to form by clinching his first ProTour title since October 2024, storming through the Players Championship 15 in Leicester with a brilliant display. The 37-year-old Dutchman defeated compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode 8-5 in Tuesday’s final, ending a 19-month winless streak on the PDC circuit.
Van Gerwen, who is battling for a spot in the Premier League Darts playoffs, showcased vintage form throughout the day. He opened with consecutive 6-4 wins over Dennie Olde Kalte, Adam Lipscombe, Ross Smith, and Gian van Veen, setting up a quarter-final clash with Beau Greaves. After sharing the first four legs, Van Gerwen surged ahead to win 6-2.
The highlight came in the semi-finals, where he whitewashed Germany’s Martin Schindler 7-0 with an astonishing average of 122.34—the highest of the event—despite Schindler averaging 108.78 himself. Van Gerwen carried that momentum into the final, racing to a 3-0 lead before Van Duijvenbode leveled at 4-4. However, the three-time world champion pulled away again, winning three straight legs from 5-5 to secure his 37th career ProTour title.
“Everyone knows I’m capable, so don’t write me off,” Van Gerwen said after the match. “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I’ve done that bit, but now it’s just when I can, I’m enjoying what I do, so I think that’s the next thing forward.”
Reflecting on his performance, he added: “At the beginning of the day I was struggling. I played OK but I could have done more here and there. The last three or four games I can’t complain. I played some fantastic darts, even against Beau, I destroyed Martin, then the final against Dirk, what a day!”
Van Duijvenbode also impressed, beating Stephen Bunting 7-5 in the semi-finals and Josh Rock 6-3 in the quarter-finals. Wessel Nijman, who has won five Players Championships this year, exited in the last 16 after a 6-5 loss to Schindler, while Jonny Clayton fell 6-5 to Dave Chisnall in the last 32. Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price did not enter the event.
The victory gives Van Gerwen a massive confidence boost ahead of Thursday’s Premier League Darts clash against Price in Birmingham, which is crucial for his playoff hopes. “I’m capable of playing at this level,” he said. “It means a lot to win again.”
## Players Championship 15 – Selected Results, Leicester
**Last 16**
– Martin Schindler 6-5 Wessel Nijman
– Ritchie Edhouse 6-2 Keane Barry
– Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Gian van Veen
– Beau Greaves 6-3 Dave Chisnall
– Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Chris Dobey
– Josh Rock 6-5 Derek Coulson
– Stephen Bunting 6-3 Andy Boulton
– Joe Cullen 6-2 Kim Huybrechts
**Quarter-Finals**
– Martin Schindler 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse
– Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Beau Greaves
– Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Josh Rock
– Stephen Bunting 6-3 Joe Cullen
**Semi-Finals**
– Michael van Gerwen 7-0 Martin Schindler
– Dirk van Duijvenbode 7-5 Stephen Bunting
**Final**
– Michael van Gerwen 8-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode