Gerwyn Price defeated Peter Wright 8-4 in the final of the 2022 Interwetten International Darts Open in Riesa on Sunday to keep his place as world number one.
The final of the year’s first European Tour event saw the world’s top two collide, with the winner taking the world number one spot on the PDC Order of Merit, as well as the title and £25,000 winner’s prize.
A high-quality final saw both players average over 106, but Price’s deadly accuracy on the outer ring saw him miss just one attempt at double to lift the title for a third time in four years in front of 2,000 fans at the Sachsenarena.
“I told Peter he will have to wait another week [to become world number one],” joked Price, who last suffered defeat in a European Tour event in 2020.
“There was a lot of pressure on me in that final with the world number one spot resting on it, so I’m proud of myself tonight.
“I’ve played here four times and won three of them; I thank the crowd immensely for the reception they gave me and the way they supported both players in the final.”
Price continued the form which saw him hit two nine-darters on his way to winning Premier League Night Three in Liverpool ten days ago.
The Welshman saw off Australia’s Damon Heta in Sunday afternoon’s last 16 before victories over Danny Noppert and the returning Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.
Wright remains on the verge of becoming world number one for the first time in his career, but will have to wait at least until next weekend’s Cazoo UK Open.
An impressive weekend from the reigning World Champion saw him come through a last-leg shoot-out with Michael Smith in the quarter-finals, before enjoying a 7-3 success over Jonny Clayton in the semi-finals.
“I’ve got to fight to become world number one, I know it won’t just be given to me,” said Wright.
“Gerwyn showed tonight why he is world number one and a former World Champion; he never gives up, he always fights.
“But I’m after him, and hopefully I can do enough over the next few weeks.”
Sunday saw the International Darts Open reach its climax with last 16 matches in the afternoon action, before the evening saw the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place.
The European Tour continues with the Interwetten German Darts Championship (ET2), which will take place from March 11-13 at Halle 39 in Hildesheim, Germany. Tickets are on sale through PDC Europe.
Interwetten International Darts Open
Schedule of Play
Sunday February 27
Afternoon Session
Third Round
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Joe Cullen
James Wade 6-1 Kim Huybrechts
Danny Noppert 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Damon Heta
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-1 Brian Raman
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Lewy Williams
Peter Wright 6-2 Niko Springer
Michael Smith 6-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 James Wade
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Danny Noppert
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Peter Wright 6-5 Michael Smith
Semi-Finals
Gerwyn Price 7-3 Nathan Aspinall
Peter Wright 7-3 Jonny Clayton
Final
Gerwyn Price 8-4 Peter Wright
