Former Lakeside world champion Jelle Klaasen finally won his first PDC title with a 3-2 victory over Vincent van der Voort.
2006 Lakeside champion wins first title since switch to PDC
Former Lakeside world champion Jelle Klaasen finally won his first PDC title with a 3-2 victory over Vincent van der Voort giving him the John McEvoy Gold Dart Classic.
23-year-old Klaasen defeated Raymond van Barneveld to become the youngest BDO world champion in January 2006, but his move to the PDC has not gone as he would have hoped.
The young Dutchman has not been able to reproduce his form of old and has struggled to make a name of himself on the circuit.
However, he finally grabbed his maiden PDC title with victory in the John McEvoy Gold Dart Classic at Ireland's National Exhibition Centre in Killarney.
Klaasen had trailed compatriot Van der Voort 2-0 after a scintillating start, but Klaasen hit back to take the third set, and the fourth with a pressure 76 checkout in the deciding leg.
A tense final set eventually went Klaasen's way and he was delighted to have finally won a PDC title.
"I'm delighted," said Klaasen. "This means so much to me because I've worked so hard this year.
"I've had a very bad year-and-a-half but I'm back playing well again now, which is thanks to joining the PDC in January.
"It's been very hard for me. People in Holland said I couldn't play darts any more and that I couldn't get back to the top, but I've proven to myself - and hopefully to them - that I'm back again.
"It was hard playing someone I knew so well in the final, and when he went 2-0 up it made it even tougher for me. I didn't start too well and missed a few doubles but I didn't let him get any match darts so I'm very happy."
Probably more importantly for Klaasen, the victory lifts him high enough up the Players Championship Order of Merit to ensure he plays in the World Darts Championship in December.
"That is the best part about this win," he admitted. "I was eighth and now I'm probably first so I'm delighted that I have earned a place at Alexandra Palace."
Klaasen showed some of his old form in Ireland, beating the likes of Kevin Painter, Peter Manley, Ronnie Baxter and Colin Lloyd on his way to the final.
