Live leg-by-leg report and highlights from the William Hill World Darts Championship final as Peter Wright defeated Michael van Gerwen 7-3 at the Ally Pally.
It's taken Peter Wright many years to reach the top of the sport but he never stopped believing. Every defeat he suffered at the hands of MVG in a final he kept saying "I'll get him next time" and finally, on the biggest stage of them all, he did it.
At the age of 49, he's the decade's first sporting world champion and if this doesn't teach you never to give up on your dreams, then nothing will.
The line-up for the Premier League Darts season has also been announced along with two of the nine 'Challengers' - as the format of 2019 is repeated.
The nine permanent players are Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, Nathan Aspinall, Rob Cross, Michael Smith, Daryl Gurney and debutant Glen Durrant following his incredible debut season in the PDC.
As you might have guessed, Fallon Sherrock gets the call to be a Challenger while John Henderson will also return to Aberdeen to try and recreate that unforgettable of last year. You can click here for all the dates.
Let's now hear from the first sporting world champion of the decade, who almost gave up the sport five years ago before reaching his first final and is now reaping the rewards for his determination never to give up on his dreams.
He said: "The chances I used to give Michael, he gave me then. Champion of the World sounds amazing. You should never give up, it doesn't matter how many times you get beaten. I've done it."
Michael van Gerwen, who averaged 102.88 and threw most 180s, was left to rue the difference in the finishing but was also very gracious in defeat.
He said: "Of course I'm very disappointed. Everything I missed he took out, his finishing was phenomenal and I can only blame myself. I had six darts to break throw in the fifth set and if you don't take chances like that, you don't win, simple as that."
Sensational scenes at the Ally Pally as Peter Wright ends his long wait to become world champion...and finally beats Michael van Gerwen in a major final at the 10th attempt to do it.
And in truth, he didn't just beat him - he thrashed him with a quite stunning display and never looked fazed despite the defending champion also averaging well over 100 in a high-class final that was level at 2-2 before Snakebite won five of the next six sets.
It also brings a historic tournament, which will be remembered largely for Fallon Sherrock's exploits, to a fitting conclusion as Snakebite becomes the oldest ever first-time winner of the trophy aged 49, eclipsing Gary Anderson's previous record by five years.
Also it's Scotland who can celebrate having the first sporting world champion of the decade!
Averages
180s
Doubles
100+ Checkouts
Sky Bet latest odds: Wright is finally favourite to win his first world title at 4/7 after establishing a two-set lead yet again while MVG is 11/8. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
100+ Checkouts
Sky Bet latest odds: MVG is hanging in there but still heads the betting at 4/7 while Wright is 11/8. Can you call it? Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
High Checkout
Sky Bet latest odds: MVG is still favourite despite Wright edging back into the lead overall. The Dutchman is 4/7 while Snakebite is now 11/8! Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
High Checkout
Sky Bet latest odds: MVG's storming comeback sees him reclaim favourtism at 4/11 while Wright is out to 9/4. But what a match! Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
High Checkout
Sky Bet latest odds: Wright was the outsider at the start of the contest but the bookies now make both players 10/11! Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
High Checkout
Sky Bet latest odds: MVG is still favourite at 8/15 despite losing the opening set while Peter Wright can be backed at 6/4. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
100+ Checkouts
1915: Let's get this party started! Peter Wright and Michael van Gerwen are back on this stage together for the first time since the 2014 final. Will it be a different result this time - and indeed different to the other eight major finals between the pair?
1900: We're now just around 10 minutes from the players making their way to the oche. Let's just remind ourselves of some of the high points from the semi-finals...
1830: Right, in light of all the form, stats and H2H record already discussed below, who is going to be crowned the first world champion of the decade?
After most of his defeats to MVG, Peter Wright often utters the words "I'll get him next time" and I think tonight will finally be the night it happens. The stars appear to be aligning in terms of his form and stats eclipsing those of MVG at just the right time, plus there's a different air of confidence about him. He says he's "learned from his mistakes" and I believe him.
As I wrote in my final preview, he's 9/4 for glory while the 7-5 and 7-6 scorelines are both available at 10/1 in what should be a very close match as usual. If you're not convinced about Wright having the bottle to get over the line, then how about over 12.5 sets at 9/2 in stead?
A pair of Wright specials I like the look of his evens about him making three or more 100+ checkouts and also the 3/1 available for him to hit most 180s and most 100+ checkouts at 3/1, which still pays out even if he loses of course.
Finally, if you are completely disagreeing with this and think MVG will come out all guns blazing and destroy his opponent then you may fancy the audacious 20/1 on Wright firing less than 6.5 180s. Van Gerwen himself only managed three in nine sets against Nathan Aspinall so even the very best can struggle for the maximums on an off day.
Here's a poll of what some our followers are saying on Twitter...
1820: So what have the players been saying ahead of this repeat of the 2014 final?
Peter Wright: "I want to play the best player in the world, the number one, the guy who wins all the titles - or the titles I have given him. But he will be playing a different Wrighty, and this Wrighty will be up for MvG. I have not been in the final since 2014. I was not ready to be world champion then, he deserved to be world champion and has done a fantastic job being the world champion. But this time, I think I am ready; I know I am ready. I have learned a lot in all of those years, have matured more. I have learned from mistakes - and MvG will be playing a new Wrighty, not the old Wrighty... it is my time, that is why I am here."
MVG: "Most of the time when he (Wright) plays me, he sort of blows it up, misses darts at doubles. That is a good thing for myself. Until the semi-final, I had a higher tournament average than he did, and everyone is saying he is playing quite well, so that must say what my standard is. He has to do better if he wants to beat me, he knows that. Against me, he is not allowed to miss those doubles, so we will see what is going to happen and I need to make sure I play a bit better than him."
1810: As far as the whole 2019 season is concerned, Michael van Gerwen as already enjoyed another historic season.
His previously mentioned victory over Wright in the Champions League of Darts saw him complete the 'Green Sweep' of major PDC titles at the age of just 30 and there's just no stopping his desire to win even more.
Van Gerwen's recent triumph over Gerwyn Price at the Players Championship Finals also notched up his 51st individual career TV title and his 50th in the PDC.
It was also his fourth TV crown in just over a month having also triumphed in the World Grand Prix, Champions League and World Series of Darts Finals while it's was also his eighth of 2019 following his successes at the Masters, Premier League, Melbourne Masters and New Zealand Masters.
Wright's fans should be hopeful is the fact he headed to the Ally Pally on the back of a superb six months in which he landed four titles and also setting the highest average for a broadcast match.
Van Gerwen has obviously fared better this season and his recent triumph over Gerwyn Price at the Players Championship Finals notched up his 51st individual career TV title - 50 of which in the PDC since 2012!
It was also his fourth TV crown in just over a month having also triumphed in the World Grand Prix, Champions League and World Series of Darts Finals while it's was also his eighth of 2019 following his successes at the Masters, Premier League, Melbourne Masters and New Zealand Masters.
However, although MVG and Price have earned most of the darting praise over the past six months, Wright has also enjoyed more than his fair share of success.
We landing four titles - including three in a row back in July - while he also also set the highest average for a broadcast match. with a mark of 123.5 against Krzysztof Ratajski.
1755: Here's how their overall careers compare...
Not only has the 2017 UK Open champion lost all nine of their previous battles with a prestigious title on the line, dating back to their first in the 2014 Ally Pally final, Wright has also suffered heartache in three of his other four to Phil Taylor (World Matchplay 2017), Gary Anderson (Champions League 2018) and most recently Gerwyn Price at the Grand Slam of Darts.
Precious few darts fans - if any - would therefore begrudge Snakebite reaching the pinnacle of the sport at the age of 49. And as we mentioned earlier that would make him the oldest first-time winner of the PDC World Championship.
1735: So, as you'll already be well aware, Michael van Gerwen has dominated their head-to-head meetings, especially in major finals with nine victories out of nine. The first was the 2014 World Championship and four of the following eight were particularly galling from Snakebite's point of view...
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Having already suffered the pain of losing a last-leg decider in the inaugural World Series of Darts Finals in 2015, history repeated itself on one of the sport's biggest occasions when Wright missed six title darts in the climax of the 2017 Premier League season.
It happened yet again in this year's Champions League of Darts final - this time blowing a 10-7 lead and also spurning three title darts to lose 11-10.
Will these battle scares prove telling if this final goes the distance once more?
1720: Before we get stuck into those head-to-head records, I want to share with you an interview my colleague Dom Newton-Collinge conducted with legendary MC John McDonald, who has only missed one session of darts since the World Championship moved to the Ally Pally.
1710: We've already heard from two legends of the Sky Sports commentary box but what about the voices of the sport on the radio?! During our time at this year's World Darts Championship, I also caught up with Paul Nicholson and Chris Mason, who bring darting drama to life for those travelling around the country or for those who don't have Sky at home. Well, as Chris even explains in the interview, some fans like their commentary so much they press mute on Sky!
1700: Here's those promised tournament stats and, surprisingly, it's tonight's underdog Peter Wright who pretty much bosses the categories...
TOURNAMENT STATS (MVG first)
You can of course says the amount of 180s that Snakebite has hit compared to MVG as well as the astounding number of 100+ checkouts is partly down to him playing more legs of darts in closer matches but on the flip side, that obviously makes the higher average even more impressive.
1650: Before we move onto their overall tournament statistics and head-to-head record, here's a couple of interviews we prepared specially for the occasion with two of the commentators who, as ever, have called the darting drama brilliantly over the past three weeks. Wayne Mardle and, of course, John Part.
1640: By contrast, Peter Wright's route to the final has been far more dramatic and taxing...
If you believe in sporting fate, then you've got to look back on his remarkable recovery against Noel Malicdem and wonder if he's destined to win his first world title.
On the brink of defeat he required 302 in six darts and did just that with three treble 18s followed by a stunning 140 checkout with his opponent waiting on 42 for the match.
He did actually ponder whether this luck - or brilliance depending how you look at it - may be written in the darting stars somehow.
After labouring past Seigo Asada and surviving a stirring comeback from Jeffrey de Zwaan, who trailed 2-0 in the fourth set after losing the first three, to win 4-3, Snakebite went on to record a personal best world championship average of 105.86 against Luke Humphries and threw four more 100+ checkouts, including a 170 and a 161, to take his tally to 13 for the tournament.
He added another two during a bad-tempered 6-3 win over Gerwyn Price in which the post-match debate was dominated by the lack of a handshake and the Iceman's "OTT" reaction (his words) to Snakebite attempting to engage in some light-hearted banter after winning the first set.
Thankfully the pair have now made up, with Price apologising for his behaviour and also sharing a genuinely comical exchange they've had on WhatsApp.
1630: Let's take a look at how Michael van Gerwen booked his place in his fourth World Championship final as he bids to continue his 100% record once he's got this far...
You may have forgotten now - it's that long ago - but MVG threw the first of the tournament's eight 170 checkouts on opening night and that's about as dramatic as it's got for him.
Despite losing the opening set in that match against Jelle Klaasen, he won 11 on the trot before the dogged Darius Labanauskas gave him some cause for frustration en route to the semi-finals. But even that was mostly for the game-delaying cut finger.
MVG was also well below his best in the semi-finals against Nathan Aspinall, who will be frustrated he couldn't punish him with a disappointing performance of his own.
If anyone can save their very best for when it matters most, it's van Gerwen, but Snakebite's supporters also have plenty of reason for optimism.
1600: Happy New Year and welcome to our live blog of what could well be a fittingly historic end to a PDC World Championship that's already provided no shortage of landmark moments, drama, shocks and crowd-pleasing thrills.
Obviously the Queen of the Palace Fallon Sherrock dominated nearly all of the global headlines with her astonishing history-making victories against Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic but the entertainment didn't stop there, with a record eight 170 checkouts, over 800 maximums, 31 matches going the full distance and a couple of agonising nine-darter attempts.
So how can history be made tonight?
Well, if Peter Wright finally beats Michael van Gerwen in a major final at the 10th attempt then he'll become the oldest first-time winner of the PDC World Championship at the age of 49!
The current holder of that accolade belongs to Gary Anderson, who eclipsed Dennis Priestley by one year when defeating Phil Taylor in 2015 aged 44 while the Power is the oldest ever champion having lifted the last of his 14 in 2013 at 52.
Success for Snakebite would therefore be quite something when you consider Raymond van Barneveld's career came to and end at the age of 'just' 52 on the opening weekend of this tournament, which feels like a lifetime ago now.
But, even if Michael van Gerwen defends the title for the first time in his career, at least we can still say we've witnessed the crowning of the first sporting world champion of a new decade.
In the coming updates before the action gets under way at 7pm, we'll be going through each player's route to the final, their head-to-head record and tournament statistics, as well as my prediction - for what it's worth!
But in the meantime here are tonight's match odds from Sky Bet...
Click here for more Sky Bet title and match odds
If you want to look back on how the tournament has unfolded then click the link below for all the results which includes all the reviews - and highlights - from every day.
Final scores in sets