Van Gerwen stretches unbeaten TV streak to 43 matches
Friday 17 March 2017 00:10, UK
World No 1 and reigning Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen questioned Phil Taylor's motivation after toppling the six-time winner in Rotterdam.
World champion Van Gerwen was given a hero's welcome as he took to the stage in his homeland, and he overcame a slow start to defeat Phil Taylor 7-4.
Taylor hit finishes of tops, 96 and 73 as he opened up a 3-0 lead, but Van Gerwen clawed his way back level before finishing 82 and 78 to assume command.
Taylor hit back in leg nine, but the Dutchman was not to be denied as he picked up a fourth win of the season to remain second in the table ahead of his double-header in Manchester next week.
'The Green Machine', who averaged 100.50 and finished with 78 per cent on the checkouts, told Sky Sports: "It's always nice to beat him but we didn't play as well as we wanted, maybe because of the pressure, you don't know what's going on in your mind.
"It's always nice to win in front of your home crowd, that's the most important thing and I'm glad I won this game.
"It was hard for me because it was a different kind of pressure. Phil, for some reason, he wasn't concentrated enough and he wasn't motivated, in my opinion, enough. Normally you don't see that so I don't know what's going on with him."
He added: "It's more easier for me to play in the UK because all these people put pressure on me and you want to perform in front of them. But I did the job and won the game. I feel great, my back is fine and I'm pain free again."
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