ALEX ROY won his first title since March 2005 with a final-leg triumph over Denis Ovens in the Scottish Players Championship.
Roy claimed a dramatic victory at the Magnum Centre in Irvine to claim the £5,000 title - and a place in the European Championship at the end of the month.
Roy took the final's first set before Ovens won four of the next five legs to lead 2-1 in the game.
Roy won set four without reply, but Ovens hit back to lead in the deciding set.
Watford-based Roy levelled with a 101 finish to send the match all the way, and a brilliant 161 checkout earned him victory.
He had also come from behind to win his semi-final against Terry Jenkins, and defeated Vincent van der Voort, Felix McBrearty, Adrian Lewis, Carlos Rodrgiuez and Jason Clark on the day.
Ovens reached his third final of the year with a 3-1 win over Steve Maish in the semi-final, and narrow five-set wins over Wayne Jones, Dave Smith and Mark Dudbridge.
Maish's semi-final appearance - his second in a month - also lifted his hopes of claiming European Championship qualification spot, as well as his hopes of winning a place in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in December.
World number three James Wade, two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley and Colin Lloyd were all early casualties, with the latter going down in a deciding leg to Ayshire's local star Robert Thornton.
Thornton went on to lose to Andy Jenkins in the last 16, with Northern Ireland's McBrearty, Liverpool's Lee Palfreyman and Leeds' Smith also going down in the fourth round.
Wolverhampton's Jones squandered a two-set lead in his quarter-final with Ovens, while Maish came from a set down to defeat Andy Jenkins.
Scottish Players Championship - Saturday
Preliminary Round
Alan Warriner-Little 3-2 Ian Critchett
Dave Smith 3-2 Ken Dobson
Brendan Dolan 3-0 Dave Ansell
Shane O'Connor 3-0 Mike Herold
Dennis Smith 3-1 Alan Caves
Andy Howarth 3-1 Jon Archer
Alan Green 3-1 Jim Young
Jelle Klaasen 3-1 Jamie Caven
Mark Stephenson 3-2 Ben Burton
Matt Jackson 3-2 Pete Allen
Gary Mawson 3-0 Steve Brown
Jason Crawley Bye (Gary Storey)
Peter Walford 3-0 Dave Ladley
Louis Blundell 3-1 Geoff Wylie
Joey Palfreyman 3-1 Mark Layton
Chris Cooper 3-1 Dave Honey
Sam Rooney 3-2 Mark Jodrill
Tony Ayres Bye (Shane Passey)
Co Stompe 3-0 Robbie Newland
Justin Pipe 3-0 Lee White
Steve Musson 3-0 Darrell Townsend
Richie Burnett 3-0 Tom Martin
Stephen Hardy 3-2 Steve Cupitt
Carlos Rodriguez 3-1 Sean Palfrey
James Keogh 3-2 Mark Jones
Felix McBrearty 3-2 Sean White
Bill Davis 3-0 Ian Perkins
Arron Monk 3-1 Lee Holden
Jonathan Overton 3-0 Geoff Daniels
Steve Grubb 3-1 Martin Burchell
Martyn Turner 3-0 Andy Mason
Kevin McDine Bye (Shayne Burgess)
Ian Jopling 3-1 Russell Mason
Ian Walters 3-2 Matt Gallett
John Kuczynski 3-1 Davey Mansell
Paul Knighton 3-1 Kevin Hill
First Round
Dylan Duo 3-1 Andy Smith
Kevin Harris 3-0 Steve Randall
Ian Eames Bye (Matt Clark withdrawn)
Dave Smith 3-2 Alan Warriner-Little
Denis Ovens 3-0 David Platt
Michael Rosenauer 3-0 Jim Leighton
Mark Dudbridge 3-1 Brendan Dolan
Shane O'Connor 3-0 Dennis Smith
Michael Barnard 3-1 Dennis Priestley
Mark Carter 3-2 Aaron Turner
Wayne Jones 3-0 John Dawes
Alan Green 3-2 Andy Howarth
Alan Tabern 3-0 Jamie Harvey
Erwin Extercatte Bye (Taro Yachi)
John MaGowan 3-2 Adrian Gray
Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Mark Stephenson
Robert Thornton 3-2 Colin Lloyd
Chris Daglish 3-2 Peter Wright
Steve Beaton 3-0 Paul Anthony
Matt Jackson 3-1 Gary Mawson
Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Gary Blades
Steve Cusick 3-1 Lionel Sams
Andy Jenkins 3-2 Gary Welding
Jason Crawley 3-1 Peter Walford
Wayne Mardle 3-0 Michael Smith
Steve Maish 3-1 John Quantock
Mick McGowan 3-1 Danny King
Louis Blundell 3-1 Joey Palfreyman
Colin Osborne 3-0 Norman Fletcher
Simon Craven 3-2 Jim Withers
Kirk Shepherd 3-1 Chris Cooper
Tony Ayres 3-2 Sam Rooney
James Wade 3-0 David Davies
Lee Palfreyman 3-1 Steve Hine
Tony Eccles 3-0 Stuart Holden
Justin Pipe 3-2 Co Stompe
Kevin Painter 3-0 Steve Evans
Nick Fulwell 3-1 Andy Relf
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Steve Musson
Richie Burnett 3-1 Stephen Hardy
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Scott Kirchner
Mark Frost 3-2 Colin McGarry
Alex Roy 3-1 Jason Clark
Carlos Rodriguez 3-1 James Keogh
Jan van der Rassel 3-0 Roland Scholten
Andy Pearson 3-0 Steve Watts
Isen Veljic 3-2 Mark Walsh
Felix McBrearty 3-2 Bill Davis
Andy Hamilton 3-1 Andrew Davies
Darren Johnson 3-1 Gary Noonan
Colin Monk 3-2 Wes Newton
Arron Monk 3-0 Jonathan Overton
Peter Manley 3-1 Chris Beeston
Jacko Barry 3-0 Robbie Parker
Barrie Bates 3-1 Wayne Atwood
Martyn Turner 3-0 Steve Grubb
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Danny Pinhorne
Kevin Dowling 3-2 Robert Watson-Lang
Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Lee Williams
Kevin McDine 3-1 Ian Jopling
Mervyn King 3-0 Karl Loiseau
John Jenkinson 3-2 Peter Aleman
Ian Walters 3-1 Chris Mason
Paul Knighton 3-1 John Kuczynski
Second Round
Kevin Harris 3-1 Dylan Duo
Dave Smith 3-1 Ian Eames
Denis Ovens 3-0 Michael Rosenauer
Mark Dudbridge 3-0 Shane O'Connor
Michael Barnard 3-2 Mark Carter
Wayne Jones 3-0 Alan Green
Alan Tabern 3-0 Erwin Extercatte
Jelle Klaasen 3-1 John MaGowan
Robert Thornton 3-0 Chris Daglish
Matt Jackson 3-2 Steve Beaton
Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Steve Cusick
Andy Jenkins 3-1 Jason Crawley
Steve Maish 3-1 Wayne Mardle
Mick McGowan 3-0 Louis Blundell
Colin Osborne 3-0 Simon Craven
Tony Ayres 3-1 Kirk Shepherd
Lee Palfreyman 3-2 James Wade
Tony Eccles 3-2 Justin Pipe
Kevin Painter 3-2 Nick Fulwell
Vincent van der Voort 3-1 Richie Burnett
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Mark Frost
Alex Roy 3-2 Carlos Rodriguez
Jan van der Rassel 3-1 Andy Pearson
Felix McBrearty 3-0 Isen Veljic
Andy Hamilton 3-1 Darren Johnson
Colin Monk 3-1 Arron Monk
Jacko Barry 3-0 Peter Manley
Martyn Turner 3-0 Barrie Bates
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Kevin Dowling
Kevin McDine 3-1 Michael van Gerwen
Mervyn King 3-0 John Jenkinson
Paul Knighton 3-0 Ian Walters
Losers £75
Third Round
Dave Smith 3-0 Kevin Harris
Denis Ovens 3-2 Mark Dudbridge
Wayne Jones 3-0 Michael Barnard
Alan Tabern 3-1 Jelle Klaasen
Robert Thornton 3-2 Matt Jackson
Andy Jenkins 3-1 Ronnie Baxter
Steve Maish 3-1 Mick McGowan
Tony Ayres 3-0 Colin Osborne
Lee Palfreyman 3-1 Tony Eccles
Vincent van der Voort 3-2 Kevin Painter
Alex Roy 3-0 Adrian Lewis
Felix McBrearty 3-1 Jan van der Rassel
Andy Hamilton 3-1 Colin Monk
Martyn Turner 3-1 Jacko Barry
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Kevin McDine
Mervyn King 3-2 Paul Knighton
Losers £150
Fourth Round
Denis Ovens 3-2 Dave Smith
Wayne Jones 3-2 Alan Tabern
Andy Jenkins 3-1 Robert Thornton
Steve Maish 3-2 Tony Ayres
Vincent van der Voort 3-1 Lee Palfreyman
Alex Roy 3-2 Felix McBrearty
Andy Hamilton 3-1 Martyn Turner
Terry Jenkins 3-1 Mervyn King
Losers £300
Quarter-Finals
Denis Ovens 3-2 Wayne Jones (0-2, 0-2, 2-1, 2-1, 2-0)
Steve Maish 3-1 Andy Jenkins (1-2, 2-0, 2-1, 2-0)
Alex Roy 3-1 Vincent van der Voort (2-0, 2-1, 1-2, 2-1)
Terry Jenkins 3-1 Andy Hamilton (2-0, 2-1, 1-2, 2-1)
Losers £600
Semi-Finals
Denis Ovens 3-1 Steve Maish (0-2, 2-1, 2-1, 2-0)
Alex Roy 3-2 Terry Jenkins (2-1, 1-2, 0-2, 2-1, 2-1)
Losers £1,250
Final
Alex Roy 3-2 Denis Ovens (2-0, 1-2, 0-2, 2-0, 2-1)
Winner £5,000
Runner-Up £2,500
News Updates
Preliminary Round
Jelle Klaasen races to 3-1 win over Jamie Caven - a semi-finalist in Friday night's PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts ITV Wildcard Qualifier.
Alan Warriner-Little edges out Ian Critchett.
Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan takes straight sets win over Dave Ansell, but fellow countryman Geoff Wylie loses 3-1 to Louis Blundell.
Co Stompe sees off Robbie Newland in straight sets, while Spain's Carlos Rodriguez overcomes Sean Palfrey 3-1.
Arron Monk defeats Lee Holden 3-1 to reach round one - and could meet father Colin in the second round should both progress.
Ian Jopling sets up first round game with Kevin McDine thanks to 3-1 defeat of Russell Mason.
Felix McBrearty kicks off his bid for a second Players Championship win of 2008 with five-set win over Sean White.
Ireland's World Championship qualifier Shane O'Connor defeats Mike Herold 3-0.
Justin Pipe sees off Lee White in straight sets to set up clash with Co Stompe.
Richie Burnett is another 3-0 winner, against Tom Martin, while Martyn Turner powers past Andy Mason by the same scoreline.
Mark Stephenson comes from two sets down to defeat Ben Burton in a decider, meaning he will take on Jelle Klaasen in round one.
Alan Green defeats Jim Young 3-1 to set up clash with fellow scouser Andy Howarth.
James Keogh reaches first round with 3-2 win over Mark Jones, while America's Bill Davis sees off Ian Perkins 3-0.
American John Kuczynski kicks off with 3-1 win over Davey Mansell.
Dave Smith follows up run to last eight on Friday night with 3-2 win over Ken Dobson.
Gary Mawson joins Kuczynski and Davis in round one with 3-0 defeat of Steve Brown.
Sam Rooney edges out Mark Jodrill in five sets.
Dennis Smith knocks out Alan Caves 3-1.
Paul Knighton defeats travelling partner Kevin Hill 3-1 to set up first round game with Kuczynski.
First Round
Terry Jenkins opens the first round games with 3-0 win over Danny Pinhorne.
Ronnie Baxter defeats Gary Blades in straight sets, with James Wade seeing off David Davies by the same scoreline.
Andy Hamilton and Peter Manley begin their challenges with 3-1 wins over Andrew Davies and Chris Beeston.
Jan van der Rassel wins all-Dutch clash with Roland Scholten 3-1.
Wayne Mardle defeats St Helens youngster Michael Smith in straight sets.
Steve Cusick wins 3-1 against Lionel Sams.
Robert Thornton sneaks past Colin Lloyd in a deciding leg of the fifth set in their game.
Colin Osborne defeats Norman Fletcher in straight sets.
Michael Barnard knocks out Dennis Priestley - the winner of the Irish Players Championship a fortnight ago - with a 3-1 win.
Kevin Dowling edges out Robert Watson-Lang 3-2 to move into last 64.
Kevin Painter defeats Welshman Steve Evans 3-0.
Gibraltar's Dylan Duo wins 3-1 against Andy Smith - the winner in Scotland 12 months ago.
Tony Eccles powers past Stuart Holden 3-0, while Adrian Lewis is 3-1 winner against American Scott Kirchner.
Jacko Barry wins in straight sets against Robbie Parker, with Andy Pearson defeating Steve Watts by the same scoreline.
Michael van Gerwen overcomes Lee Williams in straight sets.
Darren Johnson earns second round tie with Andy Hamilton thanks to 3-1 win over Gary Noonan, while Steve Maish defeats John Quantock by the same scoreline.
Andy Jenkins edges out Gary Welding 3-2 to win place in last 64, while Denis Ovens defeats David Platt 3-0.
Mervyn King begins his challenge with 3-0 win over Karl Loiseau, while Alan Tabern wins by the same scoreline against Jamie Harvey.
Kevin McDine wins 3-1 against Ian Jopling, and John MaGowan wins in five sets against Adrian Gray.
Mick McGowan takes 3-1 win against Danny King, and Jason Crawley defeats Peter Walford by the same scoreline.
Vincent van der Voort cruises to 3-0 win over Steve Musson, with Barrie Bates winning the all-Welsh battle with Wayne Atwood 3-1.
John Jenkins takes 3-2 win over Peter Aleman to set up second round clash with Mervyn King.
Wayne Jones and Jelle Klaasen take 3-0 wins over John Daws and Mark Stephenson.
Steve Beaton is another straight sets winner, against Paul Anthony, and Kirk Shepherd defeats Chris Cooper 3-1.
Mark Frost's narrow win over Colin McGarry sets up all-Stoke second round game with Adrian Lewis.
Mark Dudbridge wins 3-1 against Brendan Dolan, with Matt Jackson taking victory by the same scoreline against Gary Mawson.
Dave Smith edges past Alan Warriner-Little in five sets in their Roses battle - never leading until he won the deciding leg of the game.
Arron Monk's 3-0 win over Jonathan Overton sets up his first competitive clash with father Colin.
Shane O'Connor defeats Dennis Smith in straight sets and now meets Mark Dudbridge.
Felix McBrearty needs a deciding leg to see off Bill Davis - and now meets another American, Isen Veljic.
Second Round
Alan Tabern kicks off round two with straight sets win over Holland's Erwin Extercatte.
Lee Palfreyman knocks out world number three James Wade in a deciding set.
Steve Maish wins all-Essex clash with Wayne Mardle 3-1.
Ronnie Baxter and Andy Jenkins take 3-1 wins over Steve Cusick and Jason Crawley to set up third round contest.
Jacko Barry sees off Peter Manley in straight sets.
Terry Jenkins and Kevin McDine overcome Kevin Dowling and Michael van Gerwen to ensure meeting in board 15 final.
Jelle Klaasen overcomes John MaGowan 3-1, and now meets Alan Tabern in last 32.
Robert Thornton wins through to last 32 on home soil with 3-0 win over Chris Daglish.
Colin Osborne defeats Simon Craven in straight sets, with Mick McGowan another 3-0 winner, against Louis Blundell.
Kevin Harris defeats Gibraltar's Dylan Duo 3-1.
Denis Ovens wins in straight sets against Germany's Michael Rosenauer.
Tony Ayres knocks out Kirk Shepherd 3-1, with Adrian Lewis defeating Mark Frost by the same scoreline.
Kevin Painter is pushed all the way by Nick Fulwell before securing 3-2 win.
Colin Monk defeats son Arron 3-1 to reach last 32.
Tony Eccles, Michael Barnard, Alex Roy and Matt Jackson all mvove into third round with five-set wins.
Mervyn King powers to 3-0 win over John Jenkinson, and now meets Paul Knighton, who defeated Ian Walters by the same score.
Mark Dudbridge overcomes Shane O'Connor 3-0 to set up game with Denis Ovens.
Dave Smith defeats Ian Eames 3-1 to reach last 32.
Jan van der Rassel progresses to last 32 with 3-1 defeat of Andy Pearson.
Wayne Jones is straight sets winner over Alan Green, and now meets Michael Barnard.
Felix McBrearty claims second American scalp of the day with 3-0 win over Isen Veljic.
Vincent van der Voort sees off Richie Burnett to set up board final with Kevin Painter.
Third Round
Andy Jenkins reaches last 16 with 3-1 win over Ronnie Baxter.
Terry Jenkins defeats Kevin McDine in straight sets.
Alan Tabern overcomes Jelle Klaasen 3-1 to reach last 16.
Alex Roy defeats Adrian Lewis 3-0 to move into fourth round.
Robert Thornton is pushed all the way to a deciding leg against Matt Jackson before moving into last 16.
Tony Ayres defeats Colin Osborne in straight sets.
Lee Palfreyman overcomes Tony Eccles 3-1 to reach round four.
Andy Hamilton defeats Colin Monk 3-1.
Vincent van der Voort sees off Kevin Painter in five sets to reach last 16.
York's Martyn Turner defeats Jacko Barry 3-1, and is joined in the fourth round by fellow Yorkshireman Dave Smith, who defeated Kevin Harris 3-0.
Steve Maish sees off Mick McGowan to reach last 16.
Mervyn King is pushed all the way by Paul Knighton before winning 3-2.
Wayne Jones defeats Essex's Michael Barnard in straight sets.
Denis Ovens edges a tight contest with Mark Dudbridge 3-2.
Felix McBrearty, September's Ireland Open Classic winner, defeats Jan van der Rassel 3-1.
Fourth Round
Steve Maish defeats Tony Ayres in five sets to reach third Players Championship quarter-final of the year.
Andy Jenkins will meet Maish in the quarter-finals following his 3-1 defeat of Robert Thornton.
Vincent van der Voort overcomes Lee Palfreyman 3-1 to reach quarter-finals.
Andy Hamilton and Terry Jenkins reach quarter-finals with 3-1 wins over Martyn Turner and Mervyn King.
Wayne Jones edges out Alan Tabern in five sets to reach last eight.
Denis Ovens battles past Dave Smith 3-2 to set up quarter-final with Jones.
Alex Roy defeats Felix McBrearty in a deciding leg of their five-set game.
Quarter-Finals
Steve Maish comes from a set down to defeat Andy Jenkins 3-1. Jenkins won the opening set in a deciding leg, but Maish won six of the next seven to book his place in a second semi-final in a month.
Terry Jenkins claims 3-1 win over Andy Hamilton to reach semi-finals. Jenkins won the first two sets and was waiting on 32 for the game in the third before Hamilton landed double ten to pull back a set, but the Ledbury man was strongest in the fourth to progress.
Alex Roy continued his good run with a superb 3-1 defeat of Vincent van der Voort. He won four of the first five legs to take a two-set lead before the Dutchman won the third without reply, but back-to-back legs sealed Roy's triumph.
Denis Ovens came from two sets down to claim the last semi-final spot with a 3-2 win over Wayne Jones. Jones made a dream start by winning the first four legs to open up a two-set lead, but Ovens edged the next two in a deciding leg and then took the decider 2-0.
Semi-Finals
Alex Roy won a dramatic final-leg shoot-out with Terry Jenkins to reach his first final for over 12 months. Jenkins came from a set down to lead 2-1, before Roy won the fourth set in a deciding third leg. He led in the fifth set, but two missed darts for the match allowed Jenkins to level. The world number five then gave himself the chance for victory, but missed five darts at double eight in the sudden-death leg before Roy returned to the oche to land double ten for the win.
Denis Ovens came from a set down to defeat Steve Maish 3-1 and reach his first Players Championship final since January. Maish started superbly to win the first set without reply, but Ovens edged the second and then won the third 2-1, before landing back-to-back legs in the next to seal victory.