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He collected a cheque for £15,000 and only his 2nd PDC title. After winning the World Crown in 2003, Part has reached six major TV Finals and lost them all….until now.

“It is a great, great feeling,” he said. “I have always believed in myself – even through the bad times – and I have got my reward. It was a terrific honour to win the World Championships but this comes very close. To win the Vegas title and beat Raymond Van Barneveld is very special.”

You just got the impression that the Unicorn star meant business and he wasn’t going to fail this time. He has lost finals at the Circus Tavern, the Winter Gardens, Dublin and Bolton, as well as Vegas when he was beaten by Peter Manley. But he thwarted Barney’s bid for back-to-back majors.

“ I was talking with referee Russ Bray this week and we agreed that I should be called Mr.Persistent. Well, I’ve lived up to that I think!”

Barneveld started where he left off against Phil Taylor in the semi-finals. Despite an 11-dart leg from the Canadian, Barney took the first set comfortably. But Part was just warming up, as he found his range and his scoring. A terrific 101 finish gave him the second set and the Dutchman started to look rattled.

Part put his foot on the gas with spectacular results. He just missed the bull going for 164 and 121 check-outs but found a great 115 finish to take the 3rd set into a decider. Another 180 set up the chance and he took it against the throw. The pressure was building on Barney, as he twice missed darts for the 4th set and again Part made him pay, building a 3 sets to 1 advantage. It really was great stuff from Unicorn’s twice former World Champion.

But Barney drew on all his reserves to start a comeback, winning the next two sets to give us a level game. In the 6th set, he banged in a brilliant 170 check out and after both players has missed doubles for the set, Barney finally hit double 16…it was 3 sets apiece.

The tension was building but that was as close as Barneveld got…Part was in sensational form and after so many near misses, he wasn’t to be denied this time….he will be a very popular winner throughout the darts world.

He raced through the 7th set and after Barneveld missed more doubles, the Canadian ace won the 8th in style, despite missing six darts to take it. You could see Barneveld was a beaten man and Part could sense it. By now, he was playing beautiful controlled darts and although Barneveld missed on 116 to save the match, Part finished the job – holding his nerve to take out 65 and the match….and it was time for the PART-Y to begin!

It really is a fabulous achievement for Part and a real shot in the arm for one of the most popular players in the world….another title for Team Unicorn and a prestigious prize for Part.

He will move onto the World Matchplay at Blackpool full of confidence. He will face Wes Newton at the Winter Gardens in a repeat of their Las Vegas semi-final! And….who knows but Part could well be taking on Phil Taylor in the 2nd round….that would be something special.

But Part’s performance all week in the gambling capital of the world has been something special. He deserves this triumph and this title.

BY STUART PYKE