JOHN MAGOWAN has revealed his pride at hitting the first competitive nine-darter of his career in a Players Championship in Holland.
MaGowan achieved the feat during a first round win over Steve Maish in Koninghsof at the end of August, earning him a £3,600 bonus as the first player since Colin Osborne in April to hit a nine-darter in a Players Championship event.
The 67-year-old followed back-to-back 180s with a 141 finish of treble 20, treble 15 and double 18 for the nine-darter to become the oldest player to hit a nine-darter in competition.
"I hit the first 180 and you always go for another one," he said. "Once that went in I knew it was on and I got the 141.
"It was funny - the guy who was marking the board (Ali Avci, right) went ballistic, cheering for me!
"Later in the same match I had back-to-back 180s again but missed the seventh treble, but it was just great to get one, a proud moment."
The nine-darter was the first of his career during a game, although MaGowan revealed that he has experienced the feeling many times in practice.
"It was very nice to do it," he added. "I've had 21 in all the years I've been playing - I had my first in 1984 I think - but that was the first in a competition.
"I guess 21 isn't a lot, but it is a lot for me!
"I think I'm the first player from Ireland or Northern Ireland to hit one in a competition - Jack McKenna had one hit against him by Paul Lim, so that's nice."
MaGowan backed up the nine-darter with his best performance in two years on the circuit by reaching the quarter-finals, before losing to eventual champion Phil Taylor.
"I was delighted to reach the quarter-finals too," he said. "I had to play Steve Maish, Alex Roy, Alan Tabern and then Mick McGowan.
"It was tough, but there's no easy matches now in the PDC - you have the young lads coming through as well as so many established players, and when you're a pensioner it's not easy anyway!"
MaGowan is on course to qualify for October's Sky Poker World Grand Prix - having reached the quarter-finals of that event in 2005.
However, he still feels he will have to perform well in the final qualifying Players Championship events in Newport during September before he can celebrate a place in the event.
"I'll still be going to Wales and the job isn't done yet for the World Grand Prix," he said.
"Funnily enough I had to miss the Ireland Open Classic quite close to me in Dromore, my wife's been in hospital for a few weeks and I've been looking after her, and I'll be back for Wales."
MaGowan had used his bus pass to travel to Dublin airport ahead of the Koningshof events, but admits that his £3,600 bonus will boost his ability to travel on the PDC circuit.
"The money will be a big help for me going to tournaments," he said. "I love playing in these events and this will help me out - every little bit helps!"