Welshman Gerwyn Price won his first PDC World Championship with a superb 7-3 win over two-time champion Gary Anderson at Alexandra Palace.
Price missed 11 match darts before he secured the title at the 12th time of asking with a double five.
The former professional rugby player only started competing on the PDC tour in 2014 after winning a place in qualifying school.
"I've never ever felt pressure like that in my life," the 35-year-old said.
"I think it's going to take a couple of days to sink in. I'm walking on cloud now - it means the world."
His beaten opponent said: "Tonight I just could not get the darts up to that treble twenty. My doubles were atrocious and that's what happens when you do that - you get thumped."
Price's win also secures his place as world number one, ending Dutchman Michael van Gerwen's seven-year reign.
The 'Iceman' becomes the first player from qualifying school to become world champion and world number one, as well as the first Welshman to win the PDC World title.
It was the first time the pair had met in a major final since arguably the most controversial final in darting history at the 2018 Grand Slam, when Price won his maiden televised title.
The smiling Welshman said afterwards: "When you get that chance to win and you get three darts in your hand to take it out and you think you are going to take it - I've never been in that situation to win the World Championship and that was tough."
A gracious Anderson said: "You get beat in the final - yes it's disappointing but to get to the final in the first place was a pat on the back for myself.
"What I've done the last few weeks has been a bonus for me so it's good to get back on it."
No comments:
Post a Comment