Dutch darts player Michael Van Gerwen may have lost the PDC World Championship final on New Years Day, but he surely won't have to wait too long to get his hands on the trophy.
He was defeated by the greatest man to ever throw a dart, Phil Taylor, by seven sets to four at the Alexandra Palace but at one stage he led 4-2 and had darts to extend that lead further.
Taylor's class and experience ultimately shown through as he fought back to win a 16th world title.
However, in many ways the 2013 PDC World Championship was all about Van Gerwen. Still only 23, MVG finally delivered on the biggest stage of them all having came to life in the previous big events before the World Championship in reaching the Grand Slam final and winning the World Grand Prix in Dublin.
Phil 'The Power' Taylor will be around for a few years yet and stated after winning on New Years Day that he hopes to achieve an incredible 20 world titles by the time he retires. However, Van Gerwen is well placed to go on and be one of the favourites every year for the World Championship now and in the next decade become the undisputed world number one.
For years Van Gerwen was touted as the next big darts player after he burst on the scene and won the World Masters at the age of 17 in 2006, but over the next few years he flattered to deceive and from 2008-2012, he never got past the third round at the PDC World Championship. And somewhat remarkably, his best finish in a major PDC event in those years was a 4th round exit at the UK Open in 2011.
In October 2012, it suddenly clicked for MVG at the oche in Dublin. He defeated former world number 1 Colin Lloyd, two-time world champion Adrian Lewis and top 6 players Andy Hamilton and Wes Newton, before coming from 4-1 down to beat Mervyn King in the final.
He continued his fantastic form the following month at the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts, where he produced one of the finest performances of the darting year when he defeated Taylor 10-5 and averaged over 108 before losing to fellow Dutchman Raymond Van Barneveld in the final.
Van Gerwen's form meant for the first time in 20 years, Taylor wasn't favourite for the World Championship and instead the Dutchman was installed as the favourite at the bookies. After a shaky start, he showed his clinical best in an unbelievable quarter final match with Adrian Lewis. Both men averaged over 100, with each of them pounding the treble 20 like there was no tomorrow before Van Gerwen stepped in to steal the match with three successive legs.
He saved his best for the 6-4 semi final win over James Wade though. Sitting at home watching the match with a fellow darts loving friend, we both cheered for joy when he hit a fast and furious perfect nine darter. And then he almost did it again. This was the moment when MVG mania went through the roof.
And his style of play is what the fans want to see. There can be no doubting that players like Justin Pipe and Mark Walsh have quality in abundance, but their slow play can often turn off fans both at the venue and at home.
Van Gerwen throws unbelievably quick yet hits an absolute barrage of 180s throughout the match, which he regularly celebrates with huge roars of joy. With darts continuing to grow and grow, Van Gerwen is the ultimate arena player and will be a joy to watch as the Premier League tours the country over the first half of the year.
Darts fans are a unique bunch. With the pints flowing and just about everyone in fancy dress, the atmosphere at these events is just getting louder and louder. With Van Gerwen regularly averagig over 100 every three darts and with the ability to hit nine darters in every match he plays, Van Gerwen is the face of the new darting world.
Expect the fans favourite to cement his place at the top of the world just as quick as he throws over the next year.
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