World No 1 follows success in Melbourne last week with dominant 8-1 victory over Barney
Michael van Gerwen beat a resurgent Raymond van Barneveld to win the New Zealand Masters and claim back-to-back World Series titles.
The brilliant Dutchman, who survived four missed match darts from Kyle Anderson on day one, was a player transformed on Finals Day as he beat Gary Anderson and Rob Cross before his final success over Barney.
Van Gerwen had been without a televised title since the Premier League in May but in the final qualifying event of the World Series he ensured he goes into the second half of the season in fine form.
The return to form of Van Barneveld was impressive and thanked the PDC for his opportunity on the Antipodean leg of the series.
In his final World Series appearance, it was a third final in five years in New Zealand for Van Barneveld, whose focus now switches to ending his career on a high.
His run to the final should ensure him one of the eight qualification players for the Finals in Amsterdam in November where he will be assured of a hero’s reception – while he will also hope for success on the regular tour events as he seeks the necessary ranking points to move back up the rankings having slipped to 35.
However as the big prizes prepare to be handed out, Van Gerwen looks once again to be timing his return to form perfectly after his triumph in front of 4,000 fans at the Claudelands Arena in Hamilton.
Despite a shock second-round exit at the World Matchplay, he has already claimed a third world title on New Year’s Day and a fifth Premier League title at The O2 to go with The Masters and six other Players Championship and European Tour titles in 2019.