Webster Inspired By Welsh Success

Mark Webster - Betway World Cup of Darts (Lawrence Lustig, PDC

MARK WEBSTER is hoping to use his Betway World Cup of Darts success alongside Gerwyn Price as the inspiration for a return to top form this year.

Former Lakeside Champion Webster reached his second World Cup of Darts final as he and partner Price defeated Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Russia and Belgium in Frankfurt over the weekend.

Their bid to claim the title was ended by the Netherlands' Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld in the final, with Webster picking up a 4-1 victory in their Singles tie only to see the Dutch prevail.

The left-hander has reached just one televised quarter-final inside the past 18 months - at the 2016 UK Open - but is hoping that his success in Frankfurt can help kick-start a rise back up the rankings.

Mark Webster: "He's involved in the World Series, the big events and I want to be joining him - I want to be his rival as well as his team-mate when we play for Wales."

"I'm over the moon," said Webster, the world number 23 who has openly battled against dartitis in recent years. "I think the tournament as a whole has been a success.

"Me and Gezzy have enjoyed every minute, regardless of what we've done on the board we've enjoyed each other's company and it's reflected in our darts.

"We played well and we weren't a pushover in the final. Raymond played well but when you've got Michael van Gerwen in your team it was always going to be a difficult task.

"They were the team to beat. I'm pleased and Gezzy is pleased - he's had a good weekend and he's on the up and hopefully he can inspire me.

"I need some better form and to be a bit more involved like Gezzy is. He's involved in the World Series, the big events and I want to be joining him - I want to be his rival as well as his team-mate when we play for Wales."

The run saw Price appear in his second televised final of 2017 after his run to the UK Open decider in March, as the former Welsh rugby player continues his emergence at the top level.

"We came here on Thursday and if we knew we were going to get to the final we would have taken that," said Price.

"I'm a little bit disappointed that I didn't perform a little bit better in the final myself, but fair play to Raymond in the last game, the last two legs he was unbelievable.

"All credit to them, they deserved to win in the end."

Mark Webster & Gerwyn Price Interview