Dubai: Gary Anderson noticed improvement with age as he came from behind to beat Michael van Gerwen 11-7 to retain his Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters title at Dubai Tennis Stadium on Thursday.
Van Gerwen, who won the first three editions of this event before being denied a fourth straight title by Anderson here last year, had seemed on course to reclaim honours from the Scot after going 3-1 and 5-3 clear.
However, Anderson won six of the next seven legs to lead 9-6 before closing out to beat the World No. 1 Dutchman for his second successive Dubai title.
“Three years ago, if someone went ahead that was it. My head was down and the game was gone. But now even when 7-1 down and it’s first to nine, I’m thinking I can still pinch this. I’m a bit wiser and older,” said World No. 2 Anderson.
“If Michael gets in front he usually steamrolls you. I had to keep the pressure on. I just kept on his tail hoping he’d make a mistake.”
Anderson beat 16-time world champion Phil Taylor 10-3 in Wednesday’s quarter-final before dispatching of compatriot Peter Wright 11-8 in Thursday’s semi.
“When I retire I can look back at playing the likes of Van Gerwen and Taylor and say that I played them and I beat them,” added the 46-year-old. “It’s brilliant for me and it just shows what an old boy can still do.”
Van Gerwen had beaten compatriot Raymond van Barneveld 10-5 in the quarters and Wales’ Gerwyn Price 11-3 in the semis to get into his fifth consecutive Dubai final of the five-year-old event, but his consistency wasn’t rewarded with a record-extending fourth win.
