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Monday, 14 January, 2002, 01:48 GMT

Champ fulfils lifetime ambition


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By BBC Sport Online's Saj Chowdhury at the Lakeside Country Club

One week ago, Australian Tony David was ranked 18th in the world, a 50-1 shot for the Embassy title, and a disability pensioner.

A week later he is a national hero, not only back Down Under, but also in Britain.

The Queenslander endeared himself to the Lakeside Country Club crowd, during a tournament that saw him beat two seeds and defeat odds-on favourite Mervyn King in the final.

But it was not all plain sailing for the outsider. The 34-year-old had raced to a 5-1 lead before King clawed the match back to 5-4.

David missed a number of chances to win the match during his opponent's fightback, before a double top in the 10th set ended his frustration.


" It was my dream and now it's my reality "
Tony David

The Australian claimed after the match that the thought of losing was never on the cards.

"I never believed at any stage that I had blown it, despite the fact Merv pulled it back to 5-4," he said.

"The interval had something to do with my slight loss of form after what was a good start for me.

"He bashed me after the break. I was a bit worried, but I made good shots myself and was given seven darts to get double for a leg. I knew it was fate after that."

David added that he had three goals in his life, and winning the world crown had completed the set.

"Like I said, it was my dream and now it's my reality," he said.

"I had three dreams in one night in 1993, first was winning the Townsville Open which I clinched three days later.

"The second was winning the Australian Masters and third, the Embassy."


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