The final is finished and the new World Matchplay champion is Gary Anderson.
We have now found the winner of World Matchplay 2018. After an incredibly even match, Gary Anderson won by 21-19.
Thus he writes himself into history books, as the third player who has won the Premier League, The World Championship and World Matchplay. Only Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen have done this before.
However, it was not an easy game for Gary Anderson. In spite of 14 180’s, Gary seemed very unfocused at times and did not always look like a man who could find the level we know him for.
After a very close start, where it was 9-9, Gary Anderson slowly began to pull off and suddenly he was ahead by 14-10. Suljovic, however, found the level again and did not let Gary move further. Nevertheless, Gary arrived at 17-13 and thus he looked like the champion.
Suljovic did not go without a fight and suddenly it was 17-17. Thus, the match should go into a “tie-break” where one must win by two two legs. And here, Suljovic actually got in front by 18-17 and then he was very close to the title, but Gary stepped on the accelerator and got back in front by 19-18. With 121 left, Gary got down on red bull for the last dart. The dart was actually in the red bull, but was so close to the metal that it bounced out again. Suljovic took advantage of that and then it was 19-19. Gary, however, was not shooked by the missed matchdart and with great play, he secured the next two legs and thus victory and the title.
Thus Gary Anderson became the first to lift the World Matchplay Cup under the new name, Phil Taylor Trophy.