ONE NIGHT TO PROVE I’M A No.1
Top dog MVG ready for his O2 challenge
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has vowed to win the Premier League and not let 15 weeks of hard graft go to waste.
The Dutch destroyer goes into tonight’s showpiece occasion at London’s O2 determined to cement his position as top dog.
For the fifth successive year van Gerwen topped the regular-season standings.
But in 2014 and 2015 the world No.1 failed to convert that superiority on the big night and crashed to defeat.
Van Gerwen almost did it for a third time a year ago when Peter Wright missed match darts to sink him in the Final and he’s determined there will be no slips this time.
He said: “It’s true that it’s hard to win it again on one night having won the league over 15 weeks. That is maybe not the best thing about the Premier League.
“I always think if you do a competition, the winner is actually the winner.
“But it’s one more night and you need to make sure you’re focused or they’ll eat you up. You can’t take anything for granted.
“But, of course, I want to show people I’m the No.1 and you also have to believe in that otherwise you are gone. You have to believe in the hunger. If you don’t have the hunger you cannot perform well.”
Van Gerwen believes Scots ace Gary Anderson is his biggest threat and reckons the pair could meet in the Final.
He said: “Gary is always my biggest threat – we are the best two players in the world.
“Look at all the tournaments we’ve won, it shows that with the ability we have got.
“Of course, anyone can beat anyone on the day but Gary is the threat in my mind. Most of the important games I win over Gary so I also hope I can continue that good form.
“He always tries that little bit extra against me and he doesn’t want to lose. So I have to do a bit extra.”
If the big two are to clash, Anderson must beat Michael Smith in the first semi-final and van Gerwen needs to overcome Rob Cross.
MVG said: “I look forward to it, four phenomenal players. Let the best man win.”