Michael van Gerwen was the comeback king in Saturday's Player's Championship as he overturned a 4-0 deficit in the final against Peter Wright.
'The Green Machine' won the last Player's event in Niedernhausen, Germany, last Sunday, and dug deep in Barnsley for a second successive title. It represented his third tournament triumph of the year, to go with his European Tour event win in March.
Van Gerwen, 32, went in off the back of a difficult night at the latest Premier League event on Thursday, losing 6-2 to James Wade in the opening match. Afterwards, the three-time world champion lamented the "amateur" conditions, complaining he was disrupted by a cold draught throughout.
And he was facing another early exit on Saturday, 5-3 down to Ryan Meikle in round two before eventually winning 6-5 after surviving two missed match darts. There was also a nerve-jangling last-eight tie with Adrian Lewis, which he again won 6-5.
Having then made it into the semi-finals against Jose de Sousa, 'Mighty Mike' discovered his best form from 6-3 down, to reel off four straight legs for victory.
And yet again, it all seemed to be going wrong against the reigning PDC World Champion in the final, as Wright stormed into a 4-0 lead. Van Gerwen responded in kind though, winning five straight legs and offering 'Snakebite' little by way of chances.
Wright, 52, did then have a shot at bull to notch a 170 finish, but was just off-target and the Dutchman capitalised with an 11-dart leg to open up daylight. He then finished 66 to move 7-4 up, and sealed victory in the next leg with a 64 checkout.
It meant a £12,000 prize for the world No 3, and another high point following a difficult period which saw him have to withdraw from the world championships after catching Covid.
"It was a tough day, I had to work really hard but eventually it paid out and when I got going I think I played some good darts," he told Sky Sports afterwards. "I know Peter, and when he's throwing relaxed he's a phenomenal player and we all know that, but when you put him under pressure and you get your chances, you have to take them.
"That's what I did. I think I can do more but this was enough. In the final and the semi-final I had to wake up a few times! You want to make it a little bit easier for yourself but to win is the most important thing."
And he also implied his latest win showed he was beginning to recapture his pre-2021 form: "This is a third title of this year - I've won more tournaments already than I did all last year altogether, so that's a good thing," he added.
Both finalists will now head to Leeds for night nine of the Premier League on Thursday. Van Gerwen currently tops the table with Jonny Clayton on 17 points, with Wright in third with 16.
