Martin Adams holds nerve to clinch world crown

Published on Sunday 10 January 2010 21:37

MARTIN Adams won his second BDO world title with a 7-5 victory over Dave Chisnall in a thrilling 2010 Lakeside final.

Adams stormed into a three-set lead and was 4-2 up, but Chisnall began to hit his doubles and drew level at 4-4.

Aided by a 170 checkout and a ten-dart finish, the veteran Peterborough player again extended his lead to two sets, only for the resolute Chisnall to bring it back to 5-6. But Adams held his darts and his nerve to win through in the fifth leg of the 12th set.

Adams, who claimed the 100,000 winner's prize as well as a 3,000 bonus for a tournament-best checkout of 170 in the match, said: "It's a lovely cheque, but it's the world professional darts title, that's what we come here for. Dave's game is all about not letting go. He's like a dog with a bone. He maybe gave me a little too much rub of the green in the early sets but I'm happy with that, thanks Dave."

Chisnall, who came into the event an unfancied outsider and leaves with a cheque for 30,000, added: "I'm happy with how I played but I missed doubles and he punished me. He didn't miss many himself, he was brilliant."

He showed few signs of nerves with two 180s and a 12-dart finish to take the opening leg, but his inexperience betrayed him throwing for the set when he had three darts at double five, maxed out, and allowed Adams to steal.

The doubles continued to elude the St Helens player in the second and third sets and it looked like he was staring down the barrel as Adams strolled into a 3-0 lead.

But Chisnall brought up his first set of the final with an 84 checkout and then watched on as Adams followed a 10-dart leg with three missed darts at double 16 to allow him to pull it back to 3-2 with double top.

Victory in the final set before the interval would have completed the Chisnall comeback, but England skipper Adams produced a 170 checkout on his way to restoring a two-set cushion.

That was immediately cut back to one as Chisnall held his throws in set seven to make it 3-4 and despite missing outs in two legs to break Adams in the eighth, he levelled after Adams missed three darts at 17 to take the set.

Adams regained his lead with a whitewash set next up and then fought back from two legs down to win the pivotal 10th.

Chisnall clawed his way back, holding his throw in the 11th, and then breaking in the first leg of the 12th to set up a chance to level at 6-6. It was not to be, though, as Adams broke his opponent's spirit by breaking back in the second leg and even though it took him four darts to hit the crucial double top, the 53-year-old was not to be denied his moment in front of a vociferous Lakeside crowd.