JAMIE CAVEN defeated World Champion Adrian Lewis 6-2 in the final of Saturday's Players Championship to claim the £6,000 prize on home soil in Derby.
The world number 18 picked up his first ranking title in England, and the fifth win of his career, in style by hitting a 170 finish during his win over high-flying Lewis.
Lewis had taken the first leg of the final, but Caven included checkouts of 85 on the bullseye and 75 in taking the next three to lead 3-1.
He also missed one dart at the bull in the fifth as Lewis hit back, but a 107 finish was followed by a brilliant 170 checkout - in reply to a 180 from his opponent earlier in the leg - as he moved 5-2 up, before taking out 54 for victory.
Caven had earlier defeated Ronnie Baxter by the same scoreline in the semi-finals, and overcame PDC newcomer Dave Chisnall 6-3 in the quarter-finals.
He had also defeated Colin Monk, Peter Wright, Dennis Smith and Steve Evans on the day, as he pocketed a valuable £6,000 - which boosts his chances of qualifying for the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix this year through the Players Championship Order of Merit if he fails to break into the world's top 16.
"It's a huge win for me," said Caven afterwards. "I felt good coming into the event and knew it would be amazing to win in my home town, but to defeat the current World Champion in the final makes it extra special.
"I played well throughout the day and held it together when I needed to under pressure. Dave Chisnall played really well against me, and I was 2-1 down against Ronnie Baxter in the semis and won 6-2 so I showed plenty of fight.
"The 170 in the final was a big shot and it probably won me the game because Adrian was waiting on a finish to get back to 4-3 and instead I went 5-2 up."
He added: "I'm delighted to have won my fifth title in just four years as a professional, and especially in such a strong field of players.
"The result will move me closer to the top 16 but it's important too in terms of qualifying for the other majors this year, and it's a big relief to have the £6,000 on the Players Championship Order of Merit at this stage."
Lewis' run to the final included battling wins over Wes Newton, Paul Nicholson and Terry Jenkins in the latter stages, after he had earlier defeated Brendan Dolan, Steve Hine and Prakash Jiwa.
Baxter's semi-final appearance followed up his victory in a Players Championship in Germany three weeks ago, while Newton also claimed £2,000 in his bid to push for a place in the world's top ten.
Gibraltar's Dyson Parody enjoyed his best-ever run on the PDC ProTour, overcoming Gary Welding, Richie Burnett, Mark Jones and John Henderson to reach the last eight, where he went down to Newton.
Henderson had earlier hit a nine-dart finish in the second leg of a victory over Andy Hamilton, earning the Scot an £800 bonus in only his third Players Championship event.
Canada's three-time World Champion John Part had also come close to hitting a perfect leg during his first round win over Ireland's John O'Shea, but missed double 12 for the achievement.
Play continues on Sunday with a second £35,000 Players Championship event at the Moorways Centre in Derby.
Players Championship 3 (Derby)
First Round
Simon Whitlock (1) Bye
Scott Rand 6-3 Kirk Shepherd
Paul Nicholson (32) 6-2 Stacy Bromberg
Tony Ayres 6-1 Andy Pearson
Alan Tabern (16) 6-2 Jon Archer
James Richardson 6-1 Wayne Mardle
Co Stompe (17) 6-2 Ryan Harrington
Matt Jackson 6-5 Gary Mawson
Vincent van der Voort (8) 6-4 Michael Mansell
Mark Hylton 6-2 Geoff Whitworth
Terry Jenkins (25) 6-3 Joe Cullen
John Part 6-3 John O'Shea
Adrian Lewis (9) 6-4 Brendan Dolan
Steve Hine 6-3 Andy Jenkins
Prakash Jiwa 6-1 Barrie Bates (24)
Mark Frost 6-5 Jason Crawley
Colin Lloyd (5) 6-1 Mick Todd
Mark Jones 6-4 Matt Padgett
Richie Burnett (28) 6-1 Devon Petersen
Dyson Parody 6-5 Gary Welding
Andy Hamilton (12) 6-3 Mike Nott
John Henderson 6-3 Mark Stephenson
Adam Hunt 6-5 Andy Smith (21)
Chris Aubrey 6-5 Mark Lawrence
Wes Newton (4) 6-2 Antonio Alcinas
Ryan Herrington 6-4 Nick Malkin
Steve Brown (29) 6-1 Arron Monk
Shane O'Connor 6-5 Wayne Atwood
James Wade (13) 6-2 Steven Pearson
Nicky Bache 6-1 Jimmy O'Regan
Colin Osborne (20) 6-3 Adam Smith-Neale
Magnus Caris 6-3 Reece Robinson
Gary Anderson (2) 6-3 Darren Johnson
Peter Hudson 6-1 Louis Blundell
Roland Scholten 6-4 Tony Eccles (31)
Aodhagan O'Neill 6-5 Ian Jopling
Dave Smith 6-5 Wayne Jones (15)
Alex Roy 6-5 Nigel Heydon
Dennis Priestley (18) 6-3 Simon Jones
Nick Fullwell 6-4 Dave Ladley
Ronnie Baxter (7) 6-3 Paul Rowley
Steve Maish 6-5 Jamie Atkins
Steve Farmer (26) 6-5 Ian White
Nigel Birch 6-2 Michael Rosenauer
Mark Webster (10) 6-2 Ashley Holgate
John MaGowan 6-2 Terry Temple
Mark Dudbridge (23) 6-3 Ken Dobson
William O'Connor 6-3 Adrian Gray
Jamie Caven (6) 6-4 Colin Monk
Peter Wright 6-1 Dave Honey
Dennis Smith 6-1 Jelle Klaasen (27)
Andy Hutchings 6-3 Kevin Dowling
Steve Evans 6-4 Mervyn King (11)
Peter Manley 6-3 Dylan Duo
Robert Thornton 6-4 Steve Beaton (22)
Shaun Griffiths 6-1 Mick McGowan
Mark Walsh (3) 6-1 Tom Martin
Chris Thompson 6-0 Gary Eastwood
Justin Pipe (30) 6-0 Paul Schofield
Martyn Turner 6-5 Brian Woods
Denis Ovens (14) 6-1 Kevin McDine
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Steve Grubb
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Kevin Painter (19)
Andy Brown 6-4 Darren Whittingham
Second Round
Scott Rand 6-2 Simon Whitlock
Paul Nicholson 6-3 Tony Ayres
Alan Tabern 6-5 James Richardson
Co Stompe 6-4 Matt Jackson
Vincent van der Voort 6-5 Mark Hylton
Terry Jenkins 6-5 John Part
Adrian Lewis 6-1 Steve Hine
Prakash Jiwa 6-5 Mark Frost
Mark Jones 6-5 Colin Lloyd
Dyson Parody 6-5 Richie Burnett
John Henderson 6-5 Andy Hamilton - John Henderson hits nine-darter
Chris Aubrey 6-2 Adam Hunt
Wes Newton 6-1 Ryan Herrington
Steve Brown 6-5 Shane O'Connor
James Wade 6-4 Nicky Bache
Magnus Caris 6-3 Colin Osborne
Peter Hudson 6-5 Gary Anderson
Aodhagan O'Neill 6-5 Roland Scholten
Dave Smith 6-2 Alex Roy
Dennis Priestley 6-1 Nick Fullwell
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Steve Maish
Nigel Birch 6-4 Steve Farmer
Mark Webster 6-1 John MaGowan
Mark Dudbridge 6-2 William O'Connor
Jamie Caven 6-4 Peter Wright
Dennis Smith 6-0 Andy Hutchings
Steve Evans 6-4 Peter Manley
Shaun Griffiths 6-3 Robert Thornton
Mark Walsh 6-1 Chris Thompson
Justin Pipe 6-3 Martyn Turner
Denis Ovens 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Andy Brown
Losers £200
Third Round
Paul Nicholson 6-5 Scott Rand
Co Stompe 6-5 Alan Tabern
Terry Jenkins 6-1 Vincent van der Voort
Adrian Lewis 6-1 Prakash Jiwa
Dyson Parody 6-1 Mark Jones
John Henderson 6-0 Chris Aubrey
Wes Newton 6-1 Steve Brown
Magnus Caris 6-1 James Wade
Peter Hudson 6-2 Aodhagan O'Neill
Dennis Priestley 6-4 Dave Smith
Ronnie Baxter 6-2 Nigel Birch
Mark Webster 6-3 Mark Dudbridge
Jamie Caven 6-1 Dennis Smith
Steve Evans 6-5 Shaun Griffiths
Mark Walsh 6-1 Justin Pipe
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Denis Ovens
Losers £400
Fourth Round
Paul Nicholson 6-5 Co Stompe
Adrian Lewis 6-5 Terry Jenkins
Dyson Parody 6-5 John Henderson
Wes Newton 6-4 Magnus Caris
Dennis Priestley 6-4 Peter Hudson
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Mark Webster
Jamie Caven 6-3 Steve Evans
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Mark Walsh
Losers £600
Quarter-Finals
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Paul Nicholson
Wes Newton 6-3 Dyson Parody
Ronnie Baxter 6-5 Dennis Priestley
Jamie Caven 6-3 Dave Chisnall
Losers £1,000
Semi-Finals
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Wes Newton
Jamie Caven 6-2 Ronnie Baxter
Losers £2,000
Final
Jamie Caven 6-2 Adrian Lewis
Winner £6,000
Runner-Up £3,000