John Henderson storms to debut World Seniors Championship title
John Henderson claimed glory on his World Seniors Championship debut with a 5-0 whitewash of Colin McGarry in the final.
Former World Cup of Darts winner Henderson secured his first televised singles title in emphatic fashion at the Circus Tavern, dropping just four sets in his five wins en route to victory.
Henderson, who turned 50 last May, came into the tournament as the bookmakers’ favourite and lived up to that billing as he scooped the £30,000 top prize in Purfleet.
After recovering from a set down to defeat both Trina Gulliver and Kevin Painter 3-1 in the opening two rounds, ‘The Highlander’ began Sunday’s action by overcoming former PDC world finalist Andy Hamilton by the same scoreline.
Henderson then averaged 93 in a 3-1 success over Canada’s Jim Long in the Semi-Finals, before blitzing McGarry in five unanswered sets to take the title.
“I’m absolutely buzzing,” said Henderson. “I never thought I’d get this feeling in darts again.
“When I won the World Cup with Peter [Wright], I thought that was it for me, then losing my tour card and getting the opportunity to play in this – it’s right up there.
“It means a hell of a lot to me – I’m over the moon.
“I feel as though I haven’t played my ‘A’ game but I did the right things at the right time.
“We’re getting back to where I want to be. Obviously this [World Seniors] is not where I want to be but this is one of the best things I’ve ever won in my darts career.”
Henderson pounced on a below-par start from McGarry to clinch the first set of the final, before defying a 144 checkout from his opponent to edge the second in a decider and double his lead.
A third consecutive set followed for crowd favourite Henderson, before adding a 98 checkout to wrap up the fourth and continue the procession.
The Scotsman sealed the whitewash in style with a 114 checkout, ending with an average of 86.7.
McGarry enjoyed his best run in a televised tournament to date, defeating Leonard Gates, Richie Burnett, Mark Dudbridge and Lisa Ashton to reach the final.
The Antrim ace had ended Ashton’s hopes of becoming the first female to win a televised mixed singles tournament with a narrow 3-2 success in the semi-finals, but struggled to raise his game over the extended format in the final.
World Seniors Championship 2024 Day Four Results
Sunday February 18
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Andy Hamilton 1-3 John Henderson
Jim Long 3-2 Paul Hogan
Chris Mason 1-3 Lisa Ashton
Mark Dudbridge 1-3 Colin McGarry
Evening Session
Semi-Finals
John Henderson 3-0 Jim Long
Lisa Ashton 2-3 Colin McGarry
Final
John Henderson 5-0 Colin McGarry
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