DARIN YOUNG claimed the biggest title of his career with an 8-7 win over Brad Wethington in the final of the inaugural North American Darts Championship.
Young edged a final leg thriller to pick up the $15,000 first prize at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut, with Wethington missing two darts for victory before the Pennsylvania star took the decider in 13 darts.
He had also produced a 13-darter to defeat Dave Brocksmith in a deciding leg in the quarter-finals and a 14-darter in the final leg of his 4-3 win over Larry Butler earlier in the event, and was a 7-5 winner over Bill Davis in the semis.
The final saw Young and Wethington trade legs, with the lead changing hands five times in total.
Wethington took a 3-2 lead early on, only for three straight legs to put Young 5-3 up.
Wethington won four of the next five - including a 94 finish on the bullseye - to push himself back into the ascendancy, and gave himself a shot for the title in leg 14.
However, his misses at double top and double ten allowed Young to rescue himself before landing three 140 scores to pull clear in the decider and take out double top for a 13-dart winning leg.
"I'm overcome by the emotion of winning," admitted Young. "It's the biggest win of my career and a big momentum boost for me to kick on now.
"I was playing one of my best buddies and it was a picture perfect match - I had to fight, claw back and get the job done.
"It was a cracking game and fantastic to be a part of."
Wethington claimed $5,000 as runner-up, and admitted: "It's the biggest pay-day of my career and I'm pleased to have reached the final.
"It wasn't my best display of the event but I gave myself a chance to win it - the dart at double top just flicked below the wire and I honestly thought the double ten was going in when it left my hand, but it wasn't to be.
"Being in the final will be great for me and superb experience.
"The PDC has raised the level in America. People have a shot at the World Championship and other major events and playing against the top players in the world helps any player."
Wethington had earlier come from 4-0 down to defeat California's Chris White 7-6 in the semi-finals.
Semi-Finals
DARIN YOUNG won the first semi-final with a 7-5 defeat of Bill Davis in a tight contest.
The first four legs of the game went with the throw before Davis secured a break in leg five to take the lead on double top after Young missed six darts at double 18.
Young hit back to level, and a crucial 120 finish - when Davis was sat on 16 - was followed by a double four checkout that put him 5-4 up.
Davis took leg ten, but paid for four missed doubles in the next as Young moved 6-5 up, and another wayward attempt at double 16 cost him the game in the next, with Young landing tops to move into the final.
Brad Wethington edged out Chris White 7-6 in a thrilling second semi-final, coming from 4-0 down before eventually taking the win.
White started superbly, breaking throw in the opening leg and then winning the next three with some assured darts to leave Wethington trailing.
Double eight set off Wethington in leg five, and he pulled back to 4-3 by punishing missed doubles from California's White in the next two.
The pair shared the next four legs to leave White 6-5 up and just a leg away from victory.
However, he missed five darts for the match as Wethington levelled, and was never in touch in the decider as the St Louis star kicked off with a 140 and then took out double ten for the win.
Pictures courtesy FM Harris/Bulls-Eye News
Match Stats
Semi-Finals
|
Darin Young |
7-5 |
Bill Davis |
|
18 |
100+ |
20 |
|
8 |
140+ |
8 |
|
1 |
180 |
0 |
|
26.88 |
Ave1 |
26.71 |
|
80.63 |
Ave3 |
80.14 |
|
120 |
High Finish |
60 |
|
Chris White |
6-7 |
Brad Wethington |
|
17 |
100+ |
21 |
|
7 |
140+ |
9 |
|
2 |
180 |
0 |
|
28.89 |
Ave1 |
27.22 |
|
86.68 |
Ave3 |
81.67 |
|
68 |
High Finish |
40x2 |
Final
|
Darin Young |
8-7 |
Brad Wethington |
|
20 |
100+ |
24 |
|
9 |
140+ |
4 |
|
1 |
180 |
1 |
|
28.82 |
Ave1 |
27.80 |
|
86.47 |
Ave3 |
83.40 |
|
59 |
High Finish |
94 |
Click here for Day One Results
North American Darts Championship
Semi-Finals
Darin Young 7-5 Bill Davis
Chris White 6-7 Brad Wethington
Losers $3,000
Best of 13 legs
Final
Darin Young 8-7 Brad Wethington
Winner $15,000
Runner-Up $5,000
Best of 15 legs