Michael van Gerwen has denied Joe Cullen the 2022 Premier League crown, capitalising on one missed match dart from his opponent to claim an 11-10 victory in Berlin.
At the end of last month, Van Gerwen revealed that he would undergo surgery on his throwing arm on June 14 after developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
However, the Dutchman was able to play through the pain barrier to win a sixth Premier League trophy, inflicting heartbreak on Cullen who was millimetres from having the biggest night of his career.
In the semi-finals, the Bradford thrower blitzed defending champion and regular season winner Jonny Clayton, posting a 10-4 win against the Welshman.
Van Gerwen replicated that scoreline in the second last-four showdown with James Wade, surging clear after the first six legs had been shared.
Those respective performances set up a mouthwatering final between two players looking to win for different reasons, and they proceeded to put on one of the most memorable showpieces in the tournament's history.
While Cullen took the first leg, Van Gerwen led 6-4 at the break, but it was the Englishman who reeled off three successive legs to establish a lead and leave him four holds of throw away from the title.
The pair continued to trade blows and after Van Gerwen landed a superb 92 checkout on double 18 to move 10-9 in front, Cullen replied with a break of his own in the 20th leg.
With the darts, Cullen had the advantage but after missing double 16 for a 68 checkout, Van Gerwen returned to take out double 14 at the first time of asking, ending the match with a 99.1 average in comparison to Cullen's 99.36.
The 33-year-old wins his first Premier League since 2019, while Cullen is left to settle for a runners-up spot, his first in a tournament which is deemed to be a major.
Darren Plant
