The Five Best Darts Matches of 2020 So Far

Posted: 26.10.20 in Darts Performance Centre Blog category

A look at some of the great games we have had this year, so far!

Darts has been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride in 2020, but it really hasn’t suffered the same level of disruption as most outdoor sports. Sure, if you had tickets for a cancelled event or one that has suddenly moved venue, you’d be pretty downbeat. But the show has gone on with its usual gusto in the last few months.
The disruption hasn’t stopped us from witnessing some thrilling matches in 2020, though. From the best in the world duking it out in finals to 51-year-olds turning back the clock and unremarkable players doing remarkable things – 2020 has had it all. These are our five favourites so far this year:

Gerwyn Price vs Michael Van Gerwen, UK Open Final
The UK Open 2020 should serve as a reminder that Michael Van Gerwen has not had as terrible a year as some would have you believe. The Dutchman demolished Daryl Gurney in the semis, hitting a nonchalant nine-darter that could perhaps be considered up there among the best of all time. The Final against Price, however, was a cracker. Price had his chances when taking an early 5-1 lead – missing 12 doubles in just four legs – but MVG battled back to eventually triumph in a thriller. There were mistakes aplenty, but also enough class to rev up a raucous crowd.
Nathan Aspinall vs Gary Anderson, Premier League Night 6 Liverpool

Another match that feels like a lifetime ago given how the crowd in the Bank Arena, Liverpool, played its part. Anyhow, this one was more about the quality on show rather than the nature of Aspinall’s roaring comeback from 5-1 down to claim a 6-6 draw. Both men seemed pleased with the result, with Anderson’s consistency matched by Aspinall dialling it up towards the end (his average was close to 108). It also served as a reminder of Anderson’s class, with the likeable Scot seemingly putting his injury problems behind him for a night at least.



Michael Van Gerwen vs Simon Whitlock, World Grand Prix Quarter-Final
This is the second of Whitlock’s huge wins over MVG in 2020, the first coming in the World Matchplay in July. Both were impressive performances from Whitlock, but the 3-0 demolition job at the Grand Prix edges it in our eyes. Much has been made of MVG’s poor form – and his finishing was pretty shoddy here – but credit has to go to Whitlock for pulling out one of his best career performances.  The Australian rolled back the years and averaged over 100, winning nine of the 11 legs of the match.
Nathan Aspinall vs Dirk Van Duijvenbode, Belgian Darts Championship Quarter-Final
If the PDC wanted to give Belgium a taste of quality darts for the country’s first-ever hosting of a PDC European Tour event, this supreme showing from the quarter-final was surely among the best. Both Aspinall (103.75) and Van Duijvenbode (102.94) were on song, with the Dutchman narrowly edging the match 6-5. Van Duijvenbode has had something of a journeyman career so far in darts, but he showed his potential when outclassing one of the world’s best.
Daryl Gurney vs Michael Smith, Premier League Night 4 Dublin
Proof that you don’t need high-scoring averages to deliver a thrilling darts match. Both Gurney and Smith were off their games for a lot of this, but they were able to pull out superb shots when it mattered. Indeed, Smith produced a nine-dart finish during the match, but he went off the boil soon after before clawing his way back to a 7-5 victory. Gurney could be seen getting increasingly frustrated with the Dublin crowd, and that might be something he has to work on when darts returns to packed arenas again. Still, he played his role in this slugfest that was punctuated by Smith’s first televised nine-darter.