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You are in: Special Events: 2000: World Darts Championship |
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Sunday, 14 January, 2001, 19:50 GMT
Jubilant Walton takes title
Walton fires in another set-winning arrow
John 'Boy' Walton took his first ever Embassy World Darts title - and the £46,000 winner's cheque - with a superb six sets to two win over Ted Hankey at Frimley Green.
Walton, a 50-1 outsider before this tournament began, was more consistent and direct than reigning champion Hankey throughout - and always stronger against the throw. Hankey crumbled in the face of Walton's rock-solid darts - but few could have matched the new champ on this kind of form. "I don't remember much about the match," said an exhausted Walton afterwards.
"I kept saying to myself, win your own sets and your own legs and you'll be alright."
Hankey was magnaminous in defeat. "He was superb," he said. "He was busting 180s everywhere - he was buzzing." Walton took the first set with a memorable Shanghai, the first time Hankey has been been behind in a world final. It was particularly galling for 'The Count' as he had the advantage of throwing first. He struck back to take the next leg with 13 darts - and his raucous army of fans prayed that this signalled he was beginning to settle after that uncharacteristically nervy start.
Hankey, playing on pure emotion, came back like a true champion, firing in a 180 when the heat was on to take the third set in a rollercoaster final leg. Walton, unperturbed and unbowed, took the fourth set with masterful use of the arrows. Hankey had sealed his win last year in double-quick time, but Walton's nerveless shooting left him in no doubt that he was in an utterly different battle this time around. Walton went from strength to strength after the interval, closing Hankey out again and again as he moved inexorably towards the biggest pay-day of his career.
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