Adrian Lewis became only the third player in history to retain the PDC World Darts Championship after winning the title for the second time at London’s Alexandra Palace this month.
The ‘Jackpot’ received the trophy and £200,000 (€242,000) in prize money after defeating Andy Hamilton 7-3 in a thrilling final on 2 January.
It was a win that ensured his place in the history books alongside the great Eric Bristow and Raymond van Barneveld.
Though the final failed to reach the heights of the previous night, when both semi-finals went the full distance – Hamilton defeating Simon Whitlock 6-5 and Lewis beating Wade on the same score-line – there was palpable drama in the third set, when Lewis almost repeated a perfect nine-dart leg which he achieved in last year’s final against Gary Anderson. On this occasion his final dart at double 12 landed just the wrong side of the wire.
Both finalists are natives of Stoke, and both joined the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) circuit in 2004, but Lewis, at 26, is 18 years younger than Hamilton, and feels his world title count can hit double figures.
“I’ve set myself a target of eight to 10 world championship titles and I’m on my way towards that now,” said Lewis.
“If I win between eight and 10 I can retire a happy man – but I’m only 26 so I’ve got plenty of time left in my career.”
He added: “There’s no reason I can’t do that because to retain the trophy shows that I’m the best player in the world at the minute. ”
Second-place Andy ‘The Hammer’ Hamilton, although 44 and yet to win a major title, believes the best achievement in his career to date could be the kick-start to something special.
“I wanted to win so badly tonight and I was trying too hard, and it wasn’t to be in the end,” he said. “Maybe Adrian had more big-game experience and [that] was important, but I’ve learnt a lot about myself during this tournament and I know I will come back a better and stronger player.”
He added: “I’m disappointed with my performance in the final but just winning through to this stage is an achievement. It’s a brilliant way to start 2012 and I want to kick on from here now – I want to win a major title.”
In the meantime, he will surely be happy with his runner-up prize of £100,000 (€121,000) and a rise to number seven in the PDC Order of Merit – not to mention his recent clinching of a wildcard place in the Premier League Darts starting in February.
There will be a total prize pool of £450,000 in next month’s tournament, with all eight players vying for the £150,000 first prize. Even a disastrous campaign will earn the bottom player £25,000.
Elsewhere in the World Championships, world number one and 15-time world champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor suffered an early exit in round two against Dave Chisnall, but received some consolation at the PDC annual awards dinner, where he received the Player of the Year award and was also voted as fans’ player of 2011.
“I’m delighted,” said Taylor. “Both of these awards mean a huge amount to me because there have been so many other great players in the PDC in the past year.”
He added: “We’ve seen Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Gary Anderson all win majors and other players emerging too, so to be voted for as Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year is a massive honour. It will spur me on to try even harder in 2012.”
