Michael van Gerwen pips Gerwyn Price in Dublin

Defending champion Michael van Gerwen edged out Gerwyn Price after a nailbiting last-leg decider to win Night Four of the Cazoo Premier League in Dublin and move top of the table.

Price – who won in front of a home crowd in Cardiff on Night Two – had impressively dispatched world champion Michael Smith 6-1 in the semi-finals with an average of over 102.

Van Gerwen, beaten by newcomer Chris Dobey on Night One in Belfast, held off a fightback from Jonny Clayton to close out a 6-3 win and reach a second final of this year’s tournament so far.

Price landed a tops-tops 100 checkout to level at 2-2, before making the Dutchman pay for some wayward darts as he won four straight legs and seemingly closed in on victory when 5-2 ahead.

Van Gerwen, though, was not done yet as he took the next against throw and then levelled at 5-5 after the Welshman had missed a chance to secure the match.

Neither man, though, could then clean up in the error-strewn deciding leg and after Price failed to land double one, it was left to Van Gerwen to finally take out eight.

"It was a long night for both of us," three-time world champion Van Gerwen said on Sky Sports.

"Gerwyn was playing phenomenal in the first two rounds, and I was struggling all day, I had to keep fighting. It is not always easy.

"More importantly, though, I won tonight, that gives you confidence and relief, from then on there is more perspective.

"I know I can do a lot better, but to win and be top of the table with not quite your best performance is quite a good thing."

The opening match of the evening at the 3Arena saw a repeat of the 2022 World Championship final, but with Smith coming back to defeat Peter Wright, who remains pointless so far in the tournament.

Wright, who claimed the