Dominant Durrant completes BDO world title hat-trick
Durrant celebrates with the trophy (credit:live-darts.com)
Glen Durrant completed an historic hat-trick of BDO World Championship titles with a 7-3 victory over Scott Waites in the final at Lakeside on Sunday.
Durrant matched the feat of Eric Bristow as he became the first player to win three consecutive BDO world titles since 1986 in what is likely to be his final outing as a BDO player.
The Middlesbrough ace, who will head to PDC Qualifying School next week, averaged 95.2 in the final as he came from 3-2 down to reel off five unanswered sets and scoop the £100,000 winner’s cheque once again.
“Genuinely I thought winning the first one was just the ultimate, I fell to my knees when I won that but I don’t think I’ve ever had a better feeling in darts than that winning double there,” admitted Durrant.
“I know I’m not playing Michael van Gerwen tonight, I’m not playing Michael Smith or Gary Anderson.
“All I can beat is legends like Scott Waites and Jim Williams, I’m mega happy.
“That means the earth and back and to do it against a Lakeside legend Scott Waites, that really was the icing on the cake.
“I thought for four or five sets there he was much the better player. I just keep finding that double like I did against Jim Williams in the semi-finals. I think I got just a little bit lucky.”
Durrant began the match in style with an 83 checkout on the bullseye before taking out 62 to double his lead, and though Waites replied with an 11-darter, ‘Duzza’ wrapped up the first set in the following leg.
A 131 checkout proved Durrant’s only meaningful contribution to the second set as Waites drew level, and though the Yorkshireman fired in a 128 finish in set three, it was Durrant who sealed it 3-1 to regain the lead.
Waites hit back by clinching the fourth set by three legs to one and produced a 104 checkout to move 2-1 up in the fifth.
Durrant finished 72 to force a decider, but it was Waites who held firm to move in front for the first time in the match.
Durrant, however, hit back to take the sixth set 3-1 and restore parity at the halfway stage, though Waites came out firing with a fabulous 160 checkout to open set seven.
Durrant turned the tide with three straight legs to seal the set and move 4-3 in front and quickly added the eighth set to forge daylight.
The Teessider then fired in finishes of 87 and 106 in set nine before Waites took out 83 for a 12-darter to force a decider, but a 177 followed by double four made it 6-3 to the BDO number one.
Finishes of 66 and 62 put Waites in a commanding position in the next set, but only for Durrant to land a 114 checkout and double 16 to force a decider, before punishing three missed darts at double 18 from ‘Scotty Too Hotty’ to seal glory on double 16.
Waites, who failed to add to his triumphs in 2013 and 2016, admitted: “I’m gutted about losing but we went in the break at three apiece and Glen didn’t give me a chance after that.
“I missed a few doubles and he didn’t and that’s why he’s champion and I’m not.”
Both Durrant and Waites will now head to Qualifying School in Wigan on January 17 in an attempt to secure a coveted PDC Tour Card.
