Michael van Gerwen was not exactly sympathetic after coming from behind to beat Peter Wright in the final of the Champions League of Darts, saying that Snakebite ‘bottles it every time he plays him.’
The world number one looked on course to lose in the Champions League final for the second time in four years as Wright took a 10-7 lead in a race to 11.
The Scot had three clear darts at double 12 to win the title in the 18th leg, but sent two outside the target and the final one inside, after trying to take a moment to compose himself.
Wright has enjoyed some success over MVG in the past, but has now lost eight major televised finals to the Dutchman, without claiming one for himself.
While the world champion was gracious in victory on stage, describing Wright as a ‘phenomenal player’ he was less so later on, when he was asked if he had a mental edge over Snakebite.
‘I think so,’ Van Gerwen told Live Darts. ‘I think he bottles it every time he plays me, I think he’s a bit scared of me, is it because of my looks or my ability?’
‘I thought the game would be over [when Wright had darts for the match], but then after those two darts at double 12 were a mile away, he turned around and I saw the fear in his eyes.
‘I thought he’s never going to hit that last double because he was turning around, acting really nervous.
‘I thought that if you want to have chances in this game you have to get in now and don’t make any mistakes and that’s exactly what I did. I think after that I was the better player.’
While seemingly a harsh assessment, Van Gerwen would say it is a fair one as he wins the Champions League for the first time, the only major tournament in the PDC he had not previously won.
MVG is the top player in the world and he knows it: ‘I’ve got a lot of potential above them [other players]. Peter Wright, every time I play them they get nervous, I just need to make sure I do my own thing in the right moments and put them under pressure.
‘I keep fighting, I never give up, you need to show your balls.’
Mighty Mike also reminded everyone just how long he has been at the top in his speech on stage: ‘I’m not number one in the world for nothing, I have been for six-and-a-half years, try and get my crown off me.’
With a host of big tournaments coming up ahead of the World Championship in December, Van Gerwen was asked if he could pick up every TV title between now and then.
‘Why not?’ Van Gerwen asked. ‘If someone can do it, I think it’s me.’
That will be put to the test next weekend when MVG will go to the European Championship as the clear favourite to lift the trophy.
MORE: Michael van Gerwen picks up Champions League of Darts belt after epic comeback against Peter Wright
