For the third year running, Michael van Gerwen is the Grand Slam of Darts champion.
The Dutchman beat Peter Wright in Sunday evening’s final in what was a friendly encounter but the same can’t be said for Van Gerwen’s semi-final with Phil Taylor.
MVG claimed a 16-8 victory over Taylor to secure a place in the final and the match descended into the latest installment of the pair’s heated rivalry.
VAN GERWEN WINS | MvG knocks out Phil Taylor from this year's Grand Slam, setting up a final against Peter Wright.#LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/LkaxmhsSq0
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 19, 2017
There was an exchange of words after the men left the stage for a break, with Taylor supposedly scolding his opponent for celebrating after winning that leg.
“He tried a few of his tricks, what he always does,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.
“In the break I wasn’t allowed to cheer from my own throw. I don’t know why when I finished a 74.
“What can I say? Honestly, you want to know honestly? I just walked off, had a little nip of my drink.
“He came to me ‘you shouldn’t do this, you shouldn’t do that’.
“I just said ‘you’re a knob’ again, that’s exactly what I said.
Was already a @MvG180 fan. Even more so now he’s called Phil Taylor a knob. #darts #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/woYaHouy4B
— Mike Oakes (@mjdo27) November 19, 2017
“Then he was annoyed at what I said, I don’t know why but something always happens in-between our games, after or before.
“But I also thinks it’s our rivalries in our games because we don’t want to lose to each other, we try to present our best all the time.
“Maybe I shouldn’t say it but I still think it was a good game for everyone to watch and that’s what is most important.”
Taylor is not the most popular player in the world and ‘The Power’ also had some choice words for quarter-final opponent Daryl Gurney on Saturday night.
Phil Taylor bragging that he got a text from Conor McGregor. This is pretty douchey. pic.twitter.com/23SSF9MvoY
— Darragh Murphy (@DarrMurphy) November 19, 2017
Taylor insisted he enjoyed beating Gurney all the more because he hadn’t poured him a glass of water before bizarrely dropping Conor McGregor’s name in the post-victory interview.
