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It wasn’t a classic all Unicorn final but it was a truly professional job by the Canadian, who now joins an exclusive club of stars who have won three world crowns….Part in that elite along with Taylor, Barneveld, Lowe and Bristow.

His 7-2 victory also rockets him back up to No.4 in the world rankings and it earns him a wildcard into the 2008 Premier League. For Shepherd, fame and fortune and a huge future ahead and his £50,000 consolation takes him from No.142 in the Order of Merit up to No.22

The Unicorn rookie can be mighty proud of what he has achieved but it just didn’t happen for him in the final. He had been feeling under the weather and the occasion certainly got to him in the early stages but it is now up to him to kick on from this and make a career out of darts.

“It’s unbelievable,” admitted an emotional Part. “I never really imagined winning it at the start of the tournament but I got better and better and then I knew it could be my year. It is also extra special to win it in the first year at the Alexandra Palace.”

He added: “Kirk did brilliantly and he can be very pleased with what he has done but there was no way I was going to lose the final after going so far ahead. I always knew I had another World Championship left in me.”

Shepherd was disappointed but not downhearted. “At the end of the day, I reached the final of the hardest darts tournament in the world. This is just the start for me. I didn’t play that well and that was disappointing but John is a worthy World Champion.”

Shepherd is now considering giving up his job as a sheet metal worker to go full-time as a darts professional and he certainly has the talent to take the plunge.

Part can surely be classed as one of the greatest ever. He used all his skill and experience to race into a 4 sets to nil lead and although Shepherd displayed great character to make a game of it in the latter stages, there was only ever going to be one winner.

● The Final set by set:

● Set One: The Alexandra Palace is heaving, John Part gets the full Stars Wars walk-on and settles down to the job in hand….a lovely 80 finish takes the deciding leg and set one to ‘Darth Maple’ against the throw………SHEPHERD 0 PART 1

● Set Two: Shepherd takes the opening leg against the throw but can’t find the heavy scoring, while the Canadian is banging in the 180s for fun. Again, it goes to a deciding leg and Part’s 5th maximum is crucial and he holds throw to take a firm grip on the final…..SHEPHERD 0 PART 2

● Set Three: A breeze for Part and a big worry for Shepherd, because he just can’t get into the final. It is clinical and he cruises through the set, winning three legs on the spin and the 21-year-old looks shellshocked…..SHEPHERD 0 PART 4

● Set Four: It is turning into a nightmare scenario for the Unicorn rookie….There is just no pressure on the Part throw and when he gets rare shots at a double, Shepherd isn’t taking them….another stroll for Part, who has now won seven consecutive legs and rubs salt in the wounds by taking the set with an 86 bull finish….SHEPHERD 0 PART 4

● Set Five: It takes a 101 finish from Shepherd to stop the rot and it sparks him into action. He watches Part win the next two and miss three darts to make it 5 sets to 0 but then pounces with the help of his first 180 in the deciding leg and double 8 hands him his first set of the match. He was visibly relieved! SHEPHERD 1 PART 4

● Set Six: The most dramatic of the final so far, as Part goes two legs up, then Shepherd produces his best darts of the match, when the Canadian misses seven darts for the set. The Ramsgate youngster gets back to two apiece, only to see Part finally take double 8 and he can sense the World Championship crown….SHEPHERD 1 PART 5

● Set Seven: Simply sensational from Shepherd! A 100 finish (20, double top, double top) from Part, then an 11-darter puts the Canadian 2-1 up but a 12 darter from the ‘Karate Kid’ breaks the throw. Part in control of the decider and hits the wire of D16 for a 106 but should be back, because Shepherd is on 160….Not a bit of it! ‘No Fear’ has been Shepherd’s inspiration and the 2,700 crowd are on their feet as he brilliantly takes out the 160….great stuff! SHEPHERD 2 PART 5

● Set Eight: Normal service is resumed….a great response from Part, who starts with a 139 finish, just misses a 126 and wins the set with an 80 kill to go within one set of the biggest prize in world darts. Shepherd is playing well but it’s too little to late….SHEPHERD 2 PART 6

● Set Nine: IT’S PART’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! A 112 wins the first leg and Shepherd keeps fighting to take it into a decider and after missing four darts to win, Part smacks the best double 10 of his life….he has won it for a third time….SHEPHERD 2 PART 7

Result:

Kirk Shepherd 2-7 John Part

Winner - £100,000

Runner-up - £50,000

BY STUART PYKE