Michael van Gerwen cannot hide his anger after his defeat in the final of the Premier League tournament in Sheffield. The Dutchman gave up a 4-2 lead in legs against Gerwyn Price on Thursday and lost 6-5 to the Welshman.

“It was hard work all the time,” Van Gerwen said to viaplay† “You know what it is, I already have to avoid 5-2. Then you are doing yourself so short. This is completely unnecessary. I can be angry with myself, but it happens. It is no different.”

With a 4-2 lead, 33-year-old Van Gerwen had the perfect opportunity to bring the margin to three, but he missed the double-12 three times. Then Price tied the score and the single world champion was the best in the eleventh and deciding leg.

“The triple-20 didn’t run at all tonight, it drove me crazy,” said Van Gerwen. “I have to take this one on my chin. I’m always at peace with being outclassed. But this hurts so much. I know I’m the man in shape and then you have to live up to it.”

Michael van Gerwen lost to Gerwyn Price in the final.

‘If they play against me, they are 0-1 behind’

The final was not Van Gerwen’s only difficult performance in Sheffield. In the semifinals, he still trailed 1-4 against Michael Smith. He managed to turn that around in a 6-5 win. In the previous round, he had easily defeated reigning world champion Peter Wright (6-1).

“When they play against me, they are 0-1 behind. They always want to beat me, that gives them a boost. But they don’t always succeed. They have a lot of respect for me. I have to exploit that and that I didn’t do it in the final.”

Despite his lost final, Van Gerwen secured the play-offs of the Premier League. The best four darters after sixteen rounds will compete for the title in the prestigious darts competition in Berlin on June 13.