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World Matchplay Darts Final recap! Gary Anderson defeats Mensur Suljovic in classic

Gary Anderson defeats Mensur Suljovic in an epic World Matchplay final at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

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Joshua Gorton moderator

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

What a nine days it has been in Blackpool and what an extraordinary finale. That has to go down as one of the greatest games of darts ever seen! Thanks for joining us!

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WATCH: ANDERSON'S BOUNCE-OUT ON THE BULL!

What a moment of drama this was!

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WATCH: ANDERSON'S WINNING MOMENT!

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FOOTBALL ON SKY SPORTS!

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COMING UP ON SKY!

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YOUR TWO FINALISTS!

Gary Anderson and Mensur Suljovic produced a final that will live long in the memory!

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ANDERSON COMPLETES THE TRIPLE CROWN!

Gary Anderson becomes only the third player to win the World Championship, World Matchplay and Premier League.

Only Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen can boast such a record!

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THE WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPION!

Gary Anderson is the World Matchplay champion for the very first time!

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YOUR WORLD MATCHPLAY RUNNER UP!

What a tournament Mensur Suljovic has had. Simply sensational!

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WHAT A GAME OF DARTS!

The greatest World Matchplay final we've ever seen?

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ANDERSON 21-19 SULJOVIC

GARY ANDERSON IS THE WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPION!

'The Flying Scotsman' wraps up an absolute classic after pinning D10 with his last dart in hand to seal the deal in 15 darts.

What an astonishing game of darts. One of the greatest we've ever seen on Sky!

Joshua Gorton moderator

ANDERSON *20-19 SULJOVIC

ANDERSON BREAKS!

Suljovic misses darts at tops and tens to close within one leg of victory, and Anderson nails D8 for a 14-dart break.

For the fourth time in this match, he's throwing for the title!

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ANDERSON 19-19* SULJOVIC

ASTONISHING!

Anderson leaves 121 after 9 darts, but Mensur piles in a 14th maximum to leave 46 after 9.

Anderson has a dart at bull but incredibly it hits the wire and bounces out. Suljovic takes advantage; closing out a brilliant 11-dart break on D14.

This is one of the greatest games ever seen at the Matchplay!

Joshua Gorton moderator

ANDERSON *19-18 SULJOVIC

Incredible darts! Anderson is throwing for victory!

Anderson fires in his 13th maximum and completes a 12-dart break of throw on D18!

Can he close it out this time?

Joshua Gorton moderator

ANDERSON 18-18* SULJOVIC

Anderson stays alive!

Commanding hold of throw for the Scot. He hits tops to hold in 13 darts, with Suljovic not even on a finish. The drama continues!

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ANDERSON *17-18 SULJOVIC

SULJOVIC LEADS!

The Austrian follows up a brilliant visit of 170 by completing a 14-dart hold on D14. He's now one leg away from victory! Five consecutive legs for Mensur!

Joshua Gorton moderator

ANDERSON 17-17* SULJOVIC

THIS IS ASTONISHING! WE'RE GOING TO A TIE-BREAK!

Mensur Suljovic converts a stunning 121 kill on the bull for a 12-dart break. He's won four legs on the spin. The crowd are shell-shocked!

The match must now be won by two clear legs!

Joshua Gorton moderator

ANDERSON *17-16 SULJOVIC

Three legs on the spin for Suljovic! He picks out D4 for a 16-dart hold.

Anderson is throwing for the title, but if Suljovic breaks, we're going to a tiebreak!

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ANDERSON 17-15* SULJOVIC

Brilliant from Mensur Suljovic. He punishes an indifferent leg from Anderson by closing out a 13-dart break on D18. He's still alive here!

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WATCH: SULJOVIC HITS THE BULL!

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WATCH: ANDERSON'S BRILLIANT 105!

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ANDERSON *17-14 SULJOVIC

Brilliant from Mensur. He follows up three consecutive 140's with a clinical 81 kill on the bull for a 12-dart hold.

He's still averaging over 104. What a performance from the Austrian.

Joshua Gorton moderator

ANDERSON 17-13* SULJOVIC

Anderson is one leg away!

The two-time world champion suffers a double bounce-out but is undeterred, taking out 77 in two darts to hold and move to the cusp of glory!

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ANDERSON *16-13 SULJOVIC

HUGE MOMENT!

Suljovic fires in his 13th maximum as he bids to close within a leg, but Anderson produces a moment of sheer class; converting a 105 finish on tops.

What a time to hit your first ton-plus finish!

Joshua Gorton moderator

ANDERSON 15-13* SULJOVIC

Suljovic breaks!

Anderson misses two darts at double for a 16-12 lead and Suljovic follows up his 27th 140 by pinning tops for a 13-dart break. GAME ON!

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ANDERSON *15-12 SULJOVIC

Anderson's maximum count rises to 11 as he leaves 98 after 9, but he can't take it out.

Suljovic is sat on 71 and despite a stray first dart, he holds his nerve to hit the bull and close out a crucial hold. What a skin-saver!

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ANDERSON 15-11* SULJOVIC

Commanding hold of throw from Gary Anderson. Clean two-dart 68 kill for the Scot to edge closer to the finishing line!

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CURRENT STATS!

Both players averaging over 100 after 25 legs. Superb!

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ANDERSON *14-11 SULJOVIC

Suljovic's scoring has been exceptional.

He kicks off the leg with his twelfth 180 before leaving tops after 12 darts. As Wayne Mardle points out, this is the most maximums Suljovic has ever hit in a professional darts match.

He mops it up in 13 darts to stay alive. He's still averaging 105. Remarkable!

Joshua Gorton moderator

ANDERSON 14-10* SULJOVIC

The pair trade maximums once again, but Anderson sinks D12 for his third consecutive 13-darter to move to within four legs of World Matchplay glory!

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ANDERSON *13-10 SULJOVIC

Daylight for Anderson! He crashes in his ninth maximum of the contest to pressure Suljovic's throw and he pins tops for back-to-back 13-dart legs.

He's won 6 of the last 7 legs and Suljovic is in real trouble now.

Joshua Gorton moderator

ANDERSON 12-10* SULJOVIC

Anderson regains his two-leg buffer! 'The Flying Scotsman' registers his eighth maximum and nails D10 for a 13-dart hold, after Mensur was unable to take out the 167!

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ANDERSON *11-10 SULJOVIC

Superb from Suljovic. He clatters in his tenth maximum to leave 41 after 9 darts and converts D16 at the first time of asking to complete an 11-dart hold. That stops the rot!

Joshua Gorton moderator

DOUBLES COSTING MENSUR!

Suljovic has missed 26 darts at double so far. He's usually so clinical in the finishing department, but it's proving his undoing at present!

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ANDERSON 11-9* SULJOVIC

For the fourth straight leg, Mensur Suljovic has squandered darts at a double.

He misses D4 and D2 to level up the contest at ten apiece, and Anderson hits D7 to make it 11-9, having missed D14 for a 121 in the preceding visit.

Suljovic has missed 11 darts at double in the last four legs. Can 'The Gentle' respond after the break?

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ANDERSON *10-9 SULJOVIC

It's all starting to go wrong for Mensur Suljovic. He squanders two darts at tops and tens to hold and Anderson converts D4 to secure his third straight leg.

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ANDERSON 9-9* SULJOVIC

WHAT DRAMA!

Seven perfect darts from Suljovic, but he loses the leg!

He leaves himself 32 after 9, before squandering three more at double.

That's seven missed darts at double in two legs. Anderson pins D4 to level. The Austrian is visibly frustrated!

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ANDERSON *8-9 SULJOVIC

Reprieve for Anderson! He followed up his sixth maximum by wiring the bull for a 170 outshot, but then missed a further two at D8.

Suljovic spurned four darts for a three-leg lead, before Anderson finally put away D8. That could prove expensive!

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WATCH: SULJOVIC'S 118 FINISH!

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ANDERSON 7-9* SULJOVIC

Suljovic breaks! He kicks off the leg with his seventh maximum, but Anderson almost salvages the leg after missing tops for an exhibition 134 finish.

However, the Austrian returns to take out 59 for a 14-dart break of throw.

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THE STATS!

Suljovic leads on the averages and the 180's. Who would have predicted that after 15 legs?

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ANDERSON *7-8 SULJOVIC

Great way to respond from Mensur Suljovic. He conjures up the first ton-plus checkout of this final- converting a 118 kill on D19 to regain the lead at the third interval!

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ANDERSON 7-7* SULJOVIC

DRAMA!

Both players miss the bull for 12-dart legs after trading maximums, before they both spurn a multitude of opportunities to close out the leg, with each player busting their score.

However Anderson pins D2 with his last dart in hand to eventually clean up the leg. That could be crucial!

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ANDERSON *6-7 SULJOVIC

Suljovic is scoring superbly here. He registers his fifth maximum to leave 32 after 12 darts and completes a 13-dart hold on D16 to edge back ahead!

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ANDERSON 6-6* SULJOVIC

Both players leave 96 apiece after 12 darts, but Anderson can't threaten the checkout and Suljovic misses D14 to break. Anderson returns and converts D1 with his last dart in hand to salvage the leg!

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ANDERSON *5-6 SULJOVIC

This is sensational from Mensur Suljovic. He crashes in his fourth maximum and rounds-off a 12-dart hold on D16. He's averaging 109!

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SUPER STANDARD SO FAR!

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ANDERSON 5-5* SULJOVIC

Magnificent Mensur!

What a game of darts this is so far. Suljovic piles in his third maximum and completes an effortless 81 checkout to break back in 11 darts.

Anderson averaging 105.7 to Suljovic's 106.16. This has all the hallmarks of a Winter Gardens classic!

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ANDERSON *5-4 SULJOVIC

Relentless scoring from Anderson. He kicks off the leg with five perfect darts and converts a classy 84 finish on D6 to register his second 12-darter of the contest!