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World No. 1 Michael van Gerwen became a three-time PDC world champion with a convincing 7-3 victory over Michael Smith in Sunday's final in London. Van Gerwen raced into a 4-0 set lead in front of a packed house at Alexandra Palace before Smith clawed the deficit back to 4-2 with a trio of tonne-plus finishes. However, despite a brief fightback from final debutant and former world youth champion Smith, 28, Van Gerwen held firm to add to his 2014 and 2017 world titles and consolidate his position as the world's best player. "Sounds good, doesn't it? Three-time world champion," Dutchman Van Gerwen, 29, told Sky Sports. "It's the best feeling I can have; I worked so long for this. To win this trophy is phenomenal; it's the most important thing for me. "I was a little bit nervous, but my body was pumping. Michael wasn't going away, and I didn't want to give him anything. He always makes it hard for me. He's a good player and one day he will win this trophy. I'm really glad I could stop him today." Englishman Smith was left ruing missed chances: "I couldn't get going. I lost 7-3, but if I took those chances then it's 5-5. I'm sorry I didn't put on a better show. I'm gutted at the minute. "It's my first final, but I can guarantee it won't be my last and I will lift that trophy."
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