Raymond van Barneveld sensationally marked his return to professional darts by winning a first PDC ranking title since 2013 on just his third day back on tour in Bolton on Saturday.
Five months on from announcing his intention to return to the sport and just over a week since claiming a PDC Tour Card at Qualifying School, the five-time world champion defeated Joe Cullen 8-6 in a captivating final at Players Championship 3.
Taking place at the Bolton Whites Hotel, where Van Barneveld lifted his first televised PDC title at the 2006 UK Open, the Dutchman took a huge step towards a return to TV stages, including the William Hill World Darts Championship, with the £10,000 winner's prize.
"I can't express how happy I am. Today it all went right, I had the focus I never had for the last two or three years," said van Barneveld, whose last individual PDC crown came at the 2014 Premier League.
"I was an amateur last week and one week later I'm winning a ProTour, that's what you can do if you believe in yourself.
"I was so focused on winning that Tour Card, then I came here to the Super Series and I thought 'wow, this is another level' and I asked myself 'can I do this again?'
"Yes, of course I can if I believe. It's all about belief. I have to thank my management team who are making sure I practice every single day, which I've never done before in my life.
"When I came here I thought 'this is my place, Bolton has been good to me.
"Joe played amazing in the final, he is a class player and I knew I had to take my chances."
A gripping final between two former postmen began with Cullen hitting a hat-trick of 13-darters to take three of the first four legs.
Van Barneveld, who had won the pair's last four meetings, responded in kind, taking three of the next four, the last of which saw him pin double 16 to level at 4-4 after Cullen wired double top for a 160 checkout.
Cullen - chasing his second title in three days - found the bullseye for a 119 checkout to break throw, but Van Barneveld once again hit back with a stunning 144 checkout to turn the tide.
Both players looked to be feeling the tension as missed doubles crept in, but it was the 53-year-old who held it together best on the outer ring as he tidied up 80 in two darts to go within a leg of the title at 7-6.
A dramatic 14th leg saw Cullen squander seven double attempts to force a last-leg decider, allowing Van Barneveld to eventually find a match-winning double three at the seventh attempt to clinch glory.
Players Championship 3 results
Last 16 onwards For all the results and detailed stats from the Super Series, head to Dart Connect (tv.dartconnect.com/events/pdc)
Last 16
- Joe Cullen 6-0 Daryl Gurney
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Devon Petersen
- Jonny Clayton 6-3 José de Sousa
- Danny Noppert 6-0 Eddie Lovely
- Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 Darius Labanauskas
- Alan Soutar 6-4 Keane Barry
- Glen Durrant 6-4 Peter Wright
- Ian White 6-3 James Wade
Quarter-Finals
- Joe Cullen 6-2 Krzysztof Ratajski
- Danny Noppert 6-4 Jonny Clayton
- Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Alan Soutar
- Ian White 6-1 Glen Durrant
Semi-Finals
- Joe Cullen 7-3 Danny Noppert
- Raymond van Barneveld 7-3 Ian White
Final
- Raymond van Barneveld 8-6 Joe Cullen
Raymond van Barneveld honours
- Career TV Titles: 26
- Non-TV Titles: 16
- Televised Nine-Darters: 5
PDC Televised Titles
- 2006, 2007 UK Open
- 2007 World Championship
- 2007 Las Vegas Desert Classic
- 2012 Grand Slam of Darts
- 2014 Premier League
- 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018 World Cup of Darts
Further Major Titles
- 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005 Lakeside Championship
- 2001, 2005 World Masters
- 1995, 2001, 2003, 2004 Zuiderduin Masters
- 2003, 2004 World Darts Trophy
- 2003, 2004, 2006 International Darts League
- 2007 Masters of Darts
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