Champion Martin Adams retains BDO darts crown

Ruthless Adams finishes off Winstanley

Martin Adams clinched his third BDO World Darts title after overcoming a spirited challenge from Lakeside debutant Dean Winstanley.

'Wolfie', the defending champion, looked to be in all kinds of trouble when he trailed 5-4, but he drew on all his experience to triumph 7-5.

Adams made a strong start, taking a 2-0 lead, including a 161 checkout.

But Winstanley recovered and went 4-3 and then 5-4 ahead but his nerve failed and Adams capitalised for victory.

"I had to dig deep," Lincolnshire's Adams, 54, told BBC Sport afterwards. "Deano had me in all sorts of problems.

Jubilant Adams dedicates win to 'the wife'

"I thought 'what do I have to do now?'

On his victory, he added: "It means it's number three and that equals one or two records. I want to win a third one [in a row] next year."

The win for Adams sees him equal John Lowe's record of three wins with only Raymond van Barneveld (four) and Eric Bristow (five) ahead of him.

Yorkshire's Winstanley, 29, was proud of his performance, despite falling short against the top seed.

"The better man won on the night, he deserves it. But it was nice to see the man with the beard shake," he said.

After opening up a 2-0 lead, Adams was in danger of running away with the match.

But he missed a 120 checkout which would have put him 3-0 up, and Winstanley capitalised to hit double eight with his second dart to pull back a set and then levelled the match in the fourth with double top.

606: DEBATE It really just goes to prove Martin Adams is a big fish in a very small pond but, fair play to him, he can do no more than win it greigsdestiny

Adams recovered to go 3-2 ahead as Winstanley failed to win a leg, and he could have taken a 4-2 lead but missed eight doubles as the Yorkshireman's double five ensured the players went into the break at 3-3.

Winstanley took the next set to go ahead for the first time, but Adams responded to level it at 4-4 before Winstanley again edged ahead.

With the tension rising, Adams won the opening leg of the 10th set against the throw, and double 16 then edged him 2-0 ahead. Although Winstanley took the third leg with his second attempt for double 20, Wolfie took the set 3-1 to level the match at 5-5.

A brave two-dart 62 finish, completed on double 16 put Adams 6-5 ahead and that was the end of Winstanley's challenge.

Adams hit two 180s in the final set and narrowly missed a 161 match-winning checkout but returned to find the single nine and double eight he needed for the title and a £100,000 winners cheque.

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