ROB SZABO has become the first International Qualifier to secure his place in the 2015-16 William Hill World Darts Championship, after taking victory in the DartPlayers New Zealand knockout.
Szabo came through last weekend's tough three-stage event at the Whangamata Club to book his spot at Alexandra Palace in December.
The 16-player DPNZ Qualifier saw the players initially split into four groups for the initial knockout phase, before the top two progressed to a second group stage.
A quartet of players then progressed to compete in the knockout semi-finals and final as Szabo eventually took a 9-3 win over Craig Caldwell in the final.
Szabo won two of his three games in the first Group Stage, only losing out 6-5 to Mike Day, before winning all three in the second Group Stage, before seeing off Cody Harris 8-5 in the semi-finals.
Caldwell also won two of his opening three games - losing 6-5 to Szabo - and won all three matches in the second stage before overcoming John Kelly 8-3 in the semis.
The win is Szabo's second in three years as he secured his return to the World Championship, having overcome Ian Moss in the preliminary round of the 2014 event at Alexandra Palace before losing 3-1 in Sets to Phil Taylor.
Szabo has also competed in the 2014 and 2015 PDC World Cup of Darts events, and will be the DPNZ Qualifier for August's Auckland Darts Masters.
William Hill World Championship DPNZ Qualifier
Group Stage One
Group A
Rob Szabo 6-3 Warren French
Craig Caldwell 6-3 Mike Day
Mike Day 6-5 Rob Szabo
Craig Caldwell 6-4 Warren French
Rob Szabo 6-5 Craig Caldwell
Warren French 6-5 Mike Day
Group B
Cody Harris 6-1 Aiden Simpson
Mark McGrath 6-4 Joseph Moses
Cody Harris 6-0 Joseph Moses
Aiden Simpson 6-4 Mark McGrath
Cody Harris 6-5 Mark McGrath
Aiden Simpson 6-0 Joseph Moses
Group C
Michael Lacey 6-3 Keith Sheppard
Stephen Padget 6-5 Quintin Gardiner
Quintin Gardiner 6-3 Michael Lacey
Stephen Padget 6-2 Keith Sheppard
Michael Lacey 6-3 Stephen Padget
Quintin Gardiner 6-3 Keith Sheppard
Group D
Warren Parry 6-4 John Kelly
Paul Harper 6-3 Mark Cleaver
Warren Parry 6-2 Paul Harper
Mark Cleaver 6-5 John Kelly
Warren Parry 6-3 Mark Cleaver
John Kelly 6-5 Paul Harper
Group Stage Two
Group A
Rob Szabo 7-2 Aidan Simpson
John Kelly 7-3 Quintin Gardiner
Rob Szabo 7-1 John Kelly
Quintin Gardiner 7-3 Aidan Simpson
Rob Szabo 7-0 Quintin Gardiner
John Kelly 7-0 Aidan Simpson
Group B
Craig Caldwell 7-6 Cody Harris
Warren Parry 7-2 Stephen Padget
Cody Harris 7-1 Stephen Padget
Craig Caldwell 7-4 Warren Parry
Cody Harris 7-4 Warren Parry
Craig Caldwell 7-2 Stephen Padget
Semi-Finals
Rob Szabo 8-5 Cody Harris
Craig Caldwell 8-3 John Kelly
Final
Rob Szabo 9-3 Craig Caldwell