Flying Scotsman sweeps to title after victories over Rob Cross, David Pallett and Cadby on Finals Day on Somerset coast
Sunday 4 March 2018 22:52, UK
Gary Anderson claimed his first major televised title since 2016, beating Australian sensation Corey Cadby to win the UK Open in Minehead.
The 2015 and 2016 world champion has lost his last five major TV finals since he claimed the Sid Waddell Trophy in January 2016 but he added a fourth different major to his CV with Sunday's victory.
Having beaten world champion Rob Cross in the last eight on Sunday afternoon, Anderson battled past Shropshire's David Pallett in the semi-final to book his place in the final where he faced Cadby who beat Robert Owen in the last four following a win over Gerwyn Price in the last eight.
Anderson was forced to do things the hard way in front of a sparsely populated venue following the weather that has swept the country and forced the Butlins resort into closing off the venue due to safety concerns.
Cadby, a former world youth champion, roared out of the gate in the final to chalk up a 4-1 lead on the back of his 11-3 victory over Owen.
But Anderson produced a brilliant burst from 4-1 down to win six of seven legs and edge into a 7-5 lead. A missed dart at tops would have given him a 9-6 lead but it allowed his younger opponent to nip in and pin the very same double to close to within one.
However, that was as good as it got for Cadby as Anderson returned from the break to pin tops for a 9-7 lead.
He then claimed the next two legs to end the hopes of Cadby who has enjoyed a brilliant start to his professional career and walks away with a runners-up trophy and a cheque for £35,000 just a couple of months after securing his PDC Tour card for the first time.
Anderson now adds the UK Open to his two world titles, two Premier League titles and a Players Championship crown and has put concerns over a back injury behind him to produce his very best form in recent weeks.
Some 117 players started the tournament on Friday after 11 withdrew due to the weather conditions - those conditions ensured the tournament was played behind closed doors with just invited guests of the players watching on.
Sunday got underway with only three of the world's top 30 left standing on the final day but despite the surprises and snow of Friday night, the tournament got a high-quality final between one it's hottest young properties and one of it's most established stars.
Earlier in the day John Part's fairytale run was brought to a halt by Owen, the Welshman a dominant 10-3 winner over the three-time world champion.
Part was playing in his first major television quarter-final since 2012 having won five games over the previous two days to reach Sunday's action - but Owen's near-100 average was too much for the Canadian.
Last year's runner-up Gerwyn Price was also beaten on Sunday afternoon, losing 10-6 to an inspired Cadby after the day had kicked off with Pallett accounting for Steve West.
Anderson's victory over Cross brought the curtain down on the afternoon's session, the Scot powered over the line after a lacklustre start to reel off six successive legs and send Voltage package with a 10-5 success before going on to end his wait of more than two years for a sixth major TV title.
The 2018 Premier League heads to the First Direct Arena in Leeds next Thursday with coverage underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event from 9.45pm. The action will then continue through to the season's conclusion with the Play-Offs on May 17 at The O2 in London
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