WYNAND HAVENGA will represent South Africa at the 2007 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship after winning the Emperors Palace South African Masters.
Havenga was the champion in the two-stage event held in Johannesburg on Saturday, defeating Paul Meyer 4-1 in the final.
Almost 100 players travelled from across South Africa to enter the tournament, with each having four hours to throw their best leg of 501.
Cape Town's Havenga was one of three players to produce a 13-dart leg, while Lodewyk Marais landed a 12-darter, which was the best of that stage in the tournament.
The last eight players, representing the most talented players in the country, then took to the stage to compete in knockout format for the South African Masters title.
Havenga defeated Francois De Villiers 3-1 in his quarter-final, landing two 180s and hitting an 11-darter to win the match.
He then overcame Roshan Sivraman 3-0 in the semis and never looked back after taking a 2-0 lead in the final to overcome Meyer and book his place at the Circus Tavern in December.
"I'm lost for words," he admitted afterwards. "This has been an amazing day.
"I have had some great support and this memory will never leave me. I can't wait to play in the World Championship and represent South Africa."
An added bonus for each of the last eight players was the chance to take on 13-time World Champion Phil Taylor in best-of-three-leg exhibition games in front of a packed crowd at the Emperors Palace.
Roberto Werth and Paul Meyer both took a leg from Taylor, who wore a shirt specially designed in the colours of the South African flag.
Emperors Palace South African Masters
Stage One Leaderboard
12 Darts - Lodewyk Marais
13 Darts - Francois De Villiers, Paul Meyer, Wynand Havenga
14 Darts - Roshan Sivraman, Clinton Prime, Roberto Werth
15 Darts - Mark McMahon, Koos Vonbrands, Theo Morgan, Veerappen Padiachy
Quarter-Final Results
Paul McMahon 3-1 Clinton Prime
Paul Meyer 3-0 Roberto Werth
Wynand Havenga 3-1 Francois De Villiers
Roshan Sivraman 3-1 Lodewyk Marais
Losers R5,000
Semi-Final Results
Paul Meyer 3-2 Mark McMahon
Wynand Havenga 3-0 Roshan Sivraman
Losers R7,500
Final
Wynand Havenga 4-1 Paul Meyer
Winner - Place in Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship plus sponsorship (package worth min R75,000)
Runner-Up R15,000
Wynand Havenga is pictured above receiving his trophy from Phil Taylor and Anne Vilas of Opel Sports, Unicorn Products' South African distributor.