ROBERT THORNTON defeated Dave Muller 6-4 to win Friday's Australian Grand Prix event at the Revesby Workers Club.
The Scot warmed up for Sunday's Australian Open Players Championship in style with victory in the first of two AGP tournaments being held in Sydney, earning him a $1,000 first prize.
Having won his group for the round-robin stage, he then defeated Ben Gaitor in the last 16, Mitchell Clegg in the quarter-finals, Shane Tichowitsch in the semis and Muller in the final.
The win will be a valuable confidence boost for Thornton, who was the Australian Open Players Championship winner in 2008 but has suffered a tough time in recent months.
Muller was a narrow 6-5 winner against Neil Hembrow in the semis, and also defeated Tony Eccles and Pat Orreal in the knockout phase.
Hembrow's impressive run to the last four included victories over Simon Whitlock and Mark Webster in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.
Paul Nicholson, last year's Australian Open Players Championship winner, failed to come out of Group Eight after the round-robin stage, with Tichowitsch and Orreal progressing.
A second AGP event will be held on Saturday ahead of Sunday's PDC ProTour event at the Revesby Workers Club.
Revesby Workers Club AGP Event (Friday)
Last 16
Mitchell Clegg 6-2 Brian Rowe
Robert Thornton 6-4 Ben Gaitor
Shane Tichowitsch 6-1 Barry Jouannet
Mick Parker 6-3 Ron Robinson
Mark Webster 6-1 Steve Padget
Neil Hembrow 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Tony Eccles 6-2 Bill Stanley
Dave Muller 6-1 Pat Orreal
Quarter-Finals
Robert Thornton 6-2 Mitchell Clegg
Shane Tichowitsch 6-0 Mick Parker
Neil Hembrow 6-5 Mark Webster
Dave Muller 6-2 Tony Eccles
Semi-Finals
Robert Thornton 6-2 Shane Tichowitsch
Dave Muller 6-5 Neil Hembrow
Final
Robert Thornton 6-4 Dave Muller