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That is when the new PDC Order of Merit kicks in and the Canadian star, still celebrating his brilliant win at the Las Vegas Desert Classic, has already shot up to 5th spot on the money list.

He is now only £1,500 behind Wayne Mardle in 4th. Team Unicorn holds the top three places in the new Order of Merit listings, with Phil Taylor followed by Colin Lloyd and Peter Manley. Raymond Van Barneveld is 6th and Adrian Lewis 7th.

Part collected £15,000 for his victory in the Desert Classic V and after sliding down the rankings over the last nine months, his win also helped ‘Darth Maple’ to stay in the world’s top 16.

“Some people said I was past my best,” he said. “But they are wrong to write me off. I always believed and that’s all that matters.”

Part played 15 matches in Vegas, because he was forced to play on both qualifying days before getting through to the 1st round. It was an incredible achievement for a man who should have won a lot more titles in his illustrious career.

The Vegas victory is only his 2nd PDC title…of course he has won two World Championships – one at the Circus Tavern and one at Lakeside – but after six defeats in major finals, this tasted sweet.

He has lost four Finals to Taylor – at Purfleet, Dublin and Blackpool and also lost a Desert Classic Final to Peter Manley and a UK Open Final to Roland Scholten.

The win over Barney is right up there for the Canadian. “I know I can throw good darts. In the past I haven’t been consistent, so I thought it was time to be persistent! Even when he came back to make it 3 sets all, I knew it was going to be my day.”

Part is now counting the days to the World Matchplay at Blackpool, where he is on course to meet Phil Taylor in the 2nd round. First, he must get past Wes Newton. “I had never had the experience of playing a major final and looking down into the audience to see Phil Taylor watching on! I beat him in the quarter-finals at Blackpool last year and it would be great to get the chance to knock him out earlier this year!”

The Unicorn website revealed before the tournament at the Mandalay Bay, that it was a new business like JP….and he was true to his word. “I was in my room by 7pm each night and up at 5.30am! This was work….the vacation can wait!”

This win will surely give Part a massive boost in confidence for the rest of 2006 and who knows, he may revise his targets from a top four place come next January, to being the World No.1 or World No.2 again.

As far as the latest rankings are concerned after Vegas, Unicorn star Kevin Painter is the big loser, slipping from 7th to 11th. Colin Lloyd retains the No.1 slot, despite his early exit at the hands of Chris Mason. Peter Manley is back in 4th but only 45 points separate him and Adrian Lewis in 13th. Part holds onto 16th, James Wade is 19, with Bob Anderson now ranked No.23. A certain Raymond Van Barneveld has now shot up to 51st place.

Meanwhile in the updated Order of Merit, Unicorn’s American star Ray Carver is making a good fist of it. He is ranked 43rd. Michael Barnard is 64th.

BY STUART PYKE