MARK WALSH came from 4-0 down to defeat Raymond van Barneveld in the final of the Blue Square UK Open East Midlands Regional Final.
Walsh picked up his second tournament victory of 2009 with a resilient display to claim the £6,000 first prize at the Moorways Centre in Derby.
He had to show his battling qualities throughout the day, defeating Derby-based Colin Osborne 6-5 to reach the last 32 and then seeing off Kevin Dowling and Co Stompe 6-4 - the latter after being 4-1 down.
Walsh then overcame Ken Dobson 6-2 in the semi-finals before edging a thrilling final.
Van Barneveld took two breaks of throw in establishing a 4-0 lead, only for Walsh to land a 12-darter in taking the next two and punishing three key misses from the Dutchman to reduce the gap to 4-3.
Double top saw Walsh level, and he landed double ten to lead 5-4.
Van Barneveld hit a 174 to leave 40 in landing a 13-dart finish to send the match into a decider, and edged in front with two 140 scores.
But a missed double top for a 74 checkout gave Walsh his chance, and he clinically took out 80 in two darts with treble 20 and double ten to claim the win.
Van Barneveld's run was his best of the year so far, and included a superb comeback from 5-1 down to defeat Mark Dudbridge in the semi-finals.
He powered past James Barton and Stuart Bousfield in the early rounds before then edging past both Bryan de Hoog and world number two James Wade in a deciding leg, and saw off fellow Dutchman Vincent van der Voort in the quarter-finals.
Dudbridge produced some of his best darts of the year to reach the last four, seeing off Lionel Sams, Kevin McDine and Richie Burnett by dropping just two legs amongst his run on the day.
A semi-final appearance for Dobson was the best the Middlesbrough-based thrower has achieved on the PDC circuit, with Brendan Dolan, Alex Roy, Andy Jenkins, Wayne Jones and Jamie Caven all defeated as he pocketed £1,500 and ensured a place in the UK Open Televised Finals in June.
Sams' run to the last eight saw him reach the quarter-finals for the second time in 2009, while Coventry's Kevin Dowling included Adrian Lewis and Wes Newton among his victims in a run to the last 16.
Darren Johnson's last 16 appearance increased his hopes of a top 32 seeding in Bolton, while Gary Welding ensured his spot in the tournament by reaching the same stage.
Blue Square UK Open East Midlands Regional Final
Preliminary Round
Anastasia Dobromyslova 6-5 Danny Pinhorne
Richard Foster 6-3 Simon Craven
Robbie Parker 6-4 Mark Stephenson
Ian Lilley 6-2 Lee White
Tom Martin 6-1 Norman Fletcher
John Jenkinson 6-2 Steve Lane
Gary Scratchley 6-3 Jim Withers
Trevor Frost 6-5 Dave Smith
John Quantock 6-1 Ray Farrell
Pete Allen 6-4 Stuart Dutton
Mark Jodrill 6-0 Gary Storey
Robbie Newland 6-3 Ian Perkins
Chris Loudon 6-5 Steve Cupitt
Peter Wright 6-1 Ricky Williams
James Barton 6-5 Stephen Hardy
Steve Musson 6-4 Sean Dowling
Par Riihonen 6-0 Kevin Hill
Arron Monk 6-1 Jonathan Overton
First Round
Wayne Atwood 6-0 Andy Fulton
Wes Newton 6-0 Matt Gallett
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Anastasia Dobromyslova
Kevin Dowling 6-3 Richard Foster
Mark Walsh 6-3 Joey Palfreyman
Chris Mason 6-5 Andy Fordham
Colin Osborne 6-0 Stuart Holden
Steve Brown 6-4 Robbie Parker
Gary Welding 6-3 Nigel Birch
Nick Fullwell 6-0 Jimmy Dunlop
Michael Barnard 6-1 Chris Jackson
Steve Maish 6-1 Ian Lilley
Co Stompe 6-2 Dyson Parody
Alan Tabern 6-3 Michael Smith
Colin Monk 6-0 Kevin Harris
Andy Hamilton 6-1 Tom Martin
Chris Thompson 6-4 Andy Relf
Mervyn King 6-1 Russell Mason
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Andy Pearson
Dennis Smith 6-1 John Jenkinson
Joe Cullen 6-5 Steve Grubb
Roland Scholten 6-4 Robert Alford
Denis Ovens 6-0 Alex Tinsley
Jamie Caven 6-0 Gary Scratchley
Dave Honey 6-0 Steve Watts
Matt Jackson 6-5 Tony Eccles
Louis Blundell 6-5 Toon Greebe
Wayne Jones 6-5 Trevor Frost
Alex Roy 6-4 Ian McFarlane
Ken Dobson 6-4 Brendan Dolan
Andy Jenkins 6-2 Dave Ladley
Jason Clark 6-0 John Quantock
Paul Nicholson 6-3 Ben Burton
Martyn Turner 6-1 Lee Williams
Dennis Priestley 6-3 Pete Allen
Kevin McDine 6-5 Mark Jodrill
Mark Dudbridge 6-2 Paul Knighton
Mark Frost 6-1 Mark Tiller
Richie Burnett 6-0 John Kuczynski
Robbie Newland 6-4 Steve Evans
Kevin Painter 6-5 David Platt
Colin Lloyd 6-0 Gary Barnett
Lionel Sams 6-4 Geoff Whitworth
Mark Lawrence 6-3 Chris Loudon
Darren Johnson 6-4 Justin Pipe
Kirk Shepherd 6-2 Ian Lever
Ronnie Baxter 6-2 Robert Watson-Lang
Peter Manley 6-2 Peter Wright
Bryan de Hoog 6-2 Mick McGowan
Darren Latham 6-5 Adrian Gray
Stuart Bousfield 6-4 Tony Ayres
Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 James Barton
James Wade 6-0 Dylan Duo
Jelle Klaasen 6-1 Jon Archer
Terry Jenkins 6-1 Chris Allen
Larry Butler 6-2 Steve Musson
Steve Hine 6-0 Chris Cooper
Jan van der Rassel 6-1 Kieran Leal
Gary Anderson 6-0 Steve Perry
Steve Beaton 6-5 Par Riihonen
Vincent van der Voort 6-1 Danny King
Mark Webster 6-4 Robert Thornton
Barrie Bates 6-1 Steve Perkins
Andy Smith 6-5 Arron Monk
Second Round
Wes Newton 6-2 Wayne Atwood
Kevin Dowling 6-5 Adrian Lewis
Mark Walsh 6-2 Chris Mason
Colin Osborne 6-5 Steve Brown
Gary Welding 6-3 Nick Fullwell
Michael Barnard 6-3 Steve Maish
Co Stompe 6-5 Alan Tabern
Andy Hamilton 6-1 Colin Monk
Mervyn King 6-5 Chris Thompson
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Dennis Smith
Roland Scholten 6-4 Joe Cullen
Jamie Caven 6-3 Denis Ovens
Dave Honey 6-4 Matt Jackson
Wayne Jones 6-3 Louis Blundell
Ken Dobson 6-2 Alex Roy
Andy Jenkins 6-1 Jason Clark
Martyn Turner 6-2 Paul Nicholson
Kevin McDine 6-2 Dennis Priestley
Mark Dudbridge 6-4 Mark Frost
Richie Burnett 6-2 Robbie Newland
Colin Lloyd 6-3 Kevin Painter
Lionel Sams 6-5 Mark Lawrence
Darren Johnson 6-2 Kirk Shepherd
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Peter Manley
Bryan de Hoog 6-5 Darren Latham
Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 Stuart Bousfield
James Wade 6-3 Jelle Klaasen
Terry Jenkins 6-4 Larry Butler
Steve Hine 6-5 Jan van der Rassel
Gary Anderson 6-3 Steve Beaton
Vincent van der Voort 6-5 Mark Webster
Andy Smith 6-5 Barrie Bates
Losers £200
Third Round
Kevin Dowling 6-4 Wes Newton
Mark Walsh 6-5 Colin Osborne
Gary Welding 6-5 Michael Barnard
Co Stompe 6-5 Andy Hamilton
Mervyn King 6-0 Michael van Gerwen
Jamie Caven 6-2 Roland Scholten
Wayne Jones 6-5 Dave Honey
Ken Dobson 6-4 Andy Jenkins
Kevin McDine 6-2 Martyn Turner
Mark Dudbridge 6-1 Richie Burnett
Lionel Sams 6-2 Colin Lloyd
Darren Johnson 6-5 Ronnie Baxter
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Bryan de Hoog
James Wade 6-5 Terry Jenkins
Steve Hine 6-4 Gary Anderson
Vincent van der Voort 6-2 Andy Smith
Losers £300
Fourth Round
Mark Walsh 6-4 Kevin Dowling
Co Stompe 6-3 Gary Welding
Jamie Caven 6-2 Mervyn King
Ken Dobson 6-5 Wayne Jones
Mark Dudbridge 6-0 Kevin McDine
Lionel Sams 6-5 Darren Johnson
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 James Wade
Vincent van der Voort 6-2 Steve Hine
Losers £400
Quarter-Finals
Mark Walsh 6-4 Co Stompe
Ken Dobson 6-4 Jamie Caven
Mark Dudbridge 6-1 Lionel Sams
Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 Vincent van der Voort
Losers £800
Semi-Finals
Mark Walsh 6-2 Ken Dobson
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Mark Dudbridge
Losers £1,500
Final
Mark Walsh 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Winner £6,000
Runner-Up £3,000
News Updates
Preliminary Round
Sweden's Par Riihonen whitewashes Kevin Hill.
Peter Wright overcomes Ricky Williams 6-1.
Pete Allen takes 6-4 win against Stuart Dutton.
Young duo Arron Monk and Tom Martin enjoy 6-1 victories against Jonathan Overton and Norman Fletcher.
John Quantock is 6-1 winner against Ray Farrell.
Anastasia Dobromyslova sets up first round game with Adrian Lewis thanks to narrow 6-5 win over Danny Pinhorne.
Gary Scratchley takes 6-3 win against Jim Withers, and Ian Lilley defeats Lee White 6-2.
Steve Musson is 6-4 winner against Sean Dowling.
Scotland's Chris Loudon and James Barton take 6-5 wins against Steve Cupitt and Stephen Hardy.
Robbie Newland enjoys 6-3 win over Ian Perkins.
Newcomer Trevor Frost is 6-5 winner against Dave Smith.
Richard Foster defeats Simon Craven 6-3.
Mark Jodrill's 6-0 win over Gary Storey completes the preliminary round.
First Round
Saturday's Players Championship winner James Wade whitewashes Dylan Duo, opening with a ten-darter and completing the win with an 11-darter.
Steve Hine races past Chris Cooper in straight legs.
Vincent van der Voort sweeps past Danny King 6-1 to reach last 64.
Co Stompe defeats Gibraltar's Dyson Parody 6-2, and Alex Roy takes 6-4 win over Ian McFarlane.
Gary Welding enjoys 6-3 win over Nigel Birch.
Mark Dudbridge takes 6-2 victory against Paul Knighton to progress.
Bryan de Hoog condemns Mick McGowan to second successive first round defeat with 6-2 win.
Joe Cullen comes from 5-3 down to win 6-5 against Steve Grubb.
Mark Walsh picks up 6-3 win against Joey Palfreyman.
Yorkshire duo Darren Johnson and Chris Thompson pick up victories.
Jelle Klaasen takes 6-1 win over Jon Archer.
Mark Webster picks up 6-4 win over Robert Thornton.
Alan Tabern wins all-St Helens battle with Michael Smith 6-3.
Jan van der Rassel is 6-1 winner against Kieran Leal.
Kevin Painter wins in a deciding leg against David Platt.
Dave Honey whitewashes Steve Watts.
Paul Nicholson enjoys 6-3 win over Ben Burton.
Colin Lloyd sees off Gary Barnett in straight legs, and now takes on Kevin Painter in round two.
Mervyn King takes second round place with 6-1 win over Russell Mason.
Terry Jenkins and Mark Frost are also 6-1 winners, and Wayne Atwood and Nick Fullwell take whitewash victories.
Gary Anderson takes 6-0 win against Steve Perry.
Darren Latham comes from 5-2 down to defeat Adrian Gray 6-5.
Barrie Bates is 6-1 winner against Steve Perkins.
Michael van Gerwen enjoys 6-1 win against Andy Pearson.
Roland Scholten is 6-4 winner over Robert Alford.
Chris Mason edges out Andy Fordham 6-5.
Colin Monk takes victory in straight legs against Kevin Harris.
Wes Newton and Michael Barnard progress to last 64 with comprehensive wins over Matt Gallett and Chris Jackson respectively.
Stuart Bousfield hits eight 180s in 6-4 win over Tony Ayres.
Andy Jenkins bounces back from defeat in round one on Saturday with 6-2 win over Dave Ladley.
Denis Ovens whitewashes youngster Alex Tinsley.
Steve Beaton bounces back from 6-5 loss on Saturday to win by the same scoreline against Par Riihonen in Sunday's opener.
Andy Smith is narrow 6-5 winner against Arron Monk.
Jason Clark and Jamie Caven take whitewash wins against John Quantock and Gary Scratchley.
Dennis Smith is 6-1 winner against John Jenkinson, while Louis Blundell is 6-5 winner in clash with Toon Greebe.
Colin Osborne whitewashes Stuart Holden.
Adrian Lewis takes 6-4 victory over Anastasia Dobromyslova.
Raymond van Barneveld wins 6-2 against James Barton.
Peter Manley is 6-2 winner against Peter Wright, and Wayne Jones narrowly sees off Trevor Frost.
Kevin Dowling, Steve Brown and Kevin McDine complete first round action with victories.
Second Round
James Wade takes 6-3 win against Jelle Klaasen to reach round three.
Steve Hine wins deciding leg against Jan van der Rassel.
Vincent van der Voort takes victory in 11-leg clash with Mark Webster.
Mervyn King is another narrow second round victor, defeating Chris Thompson.
Ken Dobson reaches last 32 with 6-2 win over Alex Roy.
Co Stompe holds off Alan Tabern's fightback from 4-1 down to win a deciding leg and progress to the third round.
Mark Dudbridge progresses with 6-4 win over Mark Frost.
Gary Welding defeats Nick Fullwell 6-3 to reach round three.
Roland Scholten is 6-4 winner against youngster Joe Cullen.
Terry Jenkins takes 6-4 victory against American ace Larry Butler, and now faces James Wade in the last 32.
Bryan de Hoog narrowly defeats Darren Latham 6-5 to reach third round.
Colin Lloyd is 6-3 winner against Kevin Painter.
Darren Johnson overcomes Kirk Shepherd 6-2.
Gary Anderson picks up 6-3 win over Steve Beaton and now takes on Steve Hine.
Raymond van Barneveld defeats Stuart Bousfield 6-1 to set up all-Dutch board final with Bryan de Hoog.
Michael van Gerwen is another Dutchman into the third round, with 6-5 win over Dennis Smith.
Jamie Caven is 6-3 winner against Denis Ovens.
Andy Smith wins a second game of the day in a deciding leg, defeating Barrie Bates 6-5.
Ronnie Baxter defeats Peter Manley 6-4 to progress to last 32 game with Darren Johnson.
Wes Newton is 6-2 winner in clash with Wayne Atwood.
Richie Burnett reaches last 32 with 6-2 win over Robbie Newland, and Martyn Turner overcomes Paul Nicholson by the same scoreline.
Andy Jenkins is 6-1 winner against Jason Clark.
Dave Honey defeats Matt Jackson 6-4.
Mark Walsh is 6-2 winner in clash with Chris Mason.
Andy Hamilton picks up 6-1 win over Colin Monk, and Michael Barnard wins 6-3 against Steve Maish.
Lionel Sams is narrow 6-5 winner against Mark Lawrence.
Wayne Jones sees off Louis Blundell 6-3.
Kevin McDine moves into third round with 6-2 win against Dennis Priestley.
Deciding leg wins for Kevin Dowling, against Adrian Lewis, and Colin Osborne, in game with Steve Brown, see them complete second round action.
Third Round
Steve Hine wins 6-4 against Gary Anderson to become first player into last 16.
Mervyn King whitewashes Michael van Gerwen to power into round four.
James Wade remains on course for a weekend double with 6-5 victory against Terry Jenkins.
Raymond van Barneveld wins all-Dutch affair with Bryan de Hoog in a deciding leg, and now meets Wade in round four.
Vincent van der Voort wins last 16 spot with 6-2 defeat of Andy Smith.
Ken Dobson takes 6-4 win against Andy Jenkins to reach round four.
Jamie Caven reaches last 16 with 6-2 victory over Roland Scholten.
Co Stompe is 6-5 winner against Andy Hamilton.
Mark Dudbridge moves into last 15 with 6-1 win over Welsh ace Richie Burnett.
Darren Johnson comes from 5-2 down to win in a deciding leg against Ronnie Baxter.
Gary Welding takes out 111 finish, with Michael Barnard waiting on 40, to seal victory in deciding leg of their contest.
Lionel Sams takes 6-2 win against Colin Lloyd to reach last 16.
Kevin McDine defeats Martyn Turner 6-2 to set up fourth round game with Mark Dudbridge.
Wayne Jones defeats Dave Honey in a deciding leg to move into last 16, and now meets Ken Dobson.
Kevin Dowling progresses to last 16 with 6-4 win over Wes Newton.
Mark Walsh's deciding leg win over Colin Osborne sees him reach last 16.
Fourth Round
Jamie Caven is 6-2 winner against Mervyn King to reach quarter-finals.
Vincent van der Voort also moves through to last eight, defeating Steve Hine 6-2.
Raymond van Barneveld edges out James Wade 6-5 - the world number two suffering his first defeat of the week.
Co Stompe overcomes Gary Welding 6-3 to reach last eight.
Mark Dudbridge whitewashes Kevin McDine to put himself into quarter-finals.
Lionel Sams will meet Dudbridge in the last eight with deciding leg win over Darren Johnson.
Ken Dobson punishes three missed doubles from Wayne Jones in the deciding leg of their contest, putting him into his first PDC quarter-final.
Mark Walsh edges past Kevin Dowling 6-4, hitting back-to-back 180s in the winning leg.
Quarter-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld moves into his first PDC Pro Tour semi-final of the year, defeating Vincent van der Voort 6-1 in a display which saw no winning leg over 15 darts.
Mark Dudbridge powers past Lionel Sams 6-1 to set up semi-final against van Barneveld.
Ken Dobson's best-ever run in the PDC continues with 6-4 win over Jamie Caven to put him into semi-final.
Mark Walsh comes from 4-1 down to reel off five straight legs and take 6-4 win against Co Stompe.
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld comes from 5-1 down to edge out Mark Dudbridge and take a place in the final. Dudbridge included a 161 finish in taking his advantage, but missed darts for the match in two legs as the Dutchman hit back to level and then win the decider.
Mark Walsh books his place in the final with 6-2 win over Ken Dobson, taking a 4-0 lead before closing out the victory.
Final
Walsh 0-1 van Barneveld: Raymond van Barneveld breaks throw on double nine, after Walsh misses D19 for 158 finish.
Walsh 0-2 van Barneveld: Double 16 from van Barneveld doubles the advantage in 14 darts, including a maximum.
Walsh 0-3 van Barneveld: Van Barneveld opens the third leg with back-to-back 180s, and lands double top for a 14-darter.
Walsh 0-4 van Barneveld: Double eight puts the Dutchman 4-0 up, having started the leg with four successive tons.
Walsh 1-4 van Barneveld: Walsh posts a 14-darter to get off the mark, finish on double top.
Walsh 2-4 van Barneveld: A 12-darter against the throw reduces the gap to two legs for Walsh, who hit a 180 and an 89 finish.
Walsh 3-4 van Barneveld: Walsh lands double four to win a third successive leg, after misses at double four and double two from the Dutchman.
Walsh 4-4 van Barneveld: Walsh breaks throw again, on double top, to level.
Walsh 5-4 van Barneveld: Van Barneveld misses one dart at double 18 to break, and Walsh hits double ten to lead.
Walsh 5-5 van Barneveld: A 13-darter, including a 174 to leave double top, from van Barneveld sends the game into a decider.
Walsh 6-5 van Barneveld: Two opening scores of 140 give van Barneveld the edge in the decider, but a missed double top for a 74 finish gives Walsh a chance, and he takes out 80 in two darts, on double ten, for victory.