| The
Ice Man Cometh
Alan
'The Ice Man' Warriner was crowned Paddy Power World Darts
Grand Prix champion in Dublin on Sunday, with a victory over
Roland Scholten eight sets to two.
Not a
classic by any means but for Alan Warriner, who has been defeated
in world finals, it was a truly sweet moment as he lifted
his first ever PDC world title.
Warriner
has admitted as the week's gone on that his game has faded
rather than improved. The crucial factor however, has been
that he has done enough in each match to swing it.
While
Warriner has been inconsistent in his play this week, Scholten
has thrown some great darts and as a result was favourite
to win the event. In every game he has established a steady
rhythm to overcome his oppenent but that was not to be in
this final.
The
match started at a snail's pace, with both players suffering
from opening nerves. Both seemed to have the jitters as they
missed a handful of doubles on the out shots.
Warriner
eventually took the opener and the crowd thought they were
on for a cracker when Scholten immediately pulled back in
the next set.
The
standard of the set was summed up in the last leg, when Roland
missed eleven darts to get off at the double and by the time
Warriner won it, Scholten had come within one dart of winning
it himself.
In fairness
to the number two seed, he picked up his game from this point
onwards. It wasn't breath-taking darts by any means, but enough
to really seal Warriner's grip on the game.
At 7
sets to 1 Scholten relaxed and began to pick up his game and
with the Ice Man one set from victory he won a set 3-0 to
make it 7-2.
There
was still time for Wozza to show his class and he sent the
crowd mad and claimed the tournament, with a truly outstanding
157 out.
A relived
Warriner commented, "I am a little lost for words at
the moment but I am just so relieved because I have tried
my heart out all week. I am just pleased to have done it at
last. I got well in front early in the match but I always
said that event single leg was crucial."
An emotional
Wozza lifted the cup dedicated his victory to the memory of
his father Arnold 'Punch' Warriner who died just last month.
"My family have been my priority recently. Life is more
important than darts and maybe
that release of pressure may be why I have done so well tonight"
Wozza stressed.
Warriner
will be hoping to capitalise on his victory at the World Grand
Prix and carry on his winning form at the Skol World Championships
and stop the legend Phil 'The Power' Taylor winning his tenth
World Championship title.
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