Darts results: Leonard Gates beats Richie Howson to win the World Seniors Champion of Champions

The 'Soulger' had flown 6000 miles from his home in Dallas to take part in the Golden Ticket Qualifier on Friday evening, which he won to earn a shot at Phil Taylor in Saturday's quarter-finals.

Having then ended the Power's hopes of a first title on the World Seniors tour, he then edged past three-time Lakeside world champion Martin Adams 13-11 in Sunday's semi-finals before seeing off World Seniors Championship runner-up Richie Howson for the Blackpool title.

Gates looked to be storming towards glory in his first final on the tour when leading 10-5 but Howson, who got revenge on Robert Thornton earlier in the tournament for his defeat in the Circus Tavern showpiece, battled back trail to trail 12-10 but it was too little too late.

The American had earlier seen a 7-3 lead over Wolfie in the semi-finals evaporate to just 12-11 so it was understandable that he felt some finishing line nerves before finally sealing his moment of triumph.

Howson had earlier beaten David Cameron 13-11 in another hard-fought semi-final, which was level at 9-9 before the Owl decisively took charge of the closing stages.

World Seniors Champion of Champions: Tournament results

SATURDAY, MARCH 25
Time: 12pm-5pm
TV Channel: Channel 5

QUARTER-FINALS
Best of 19 legs

• Robert Thornton 6-10 Richie Howson
• David Cameron 10-5 Kevin Painter
• Phil Taylor 8-10 Leonard Gates
• Martin Adams 10-7 Trina Gulliver

SUNDAY MARCH 26
Time: 12pm-5pm
TV Channel: Channel 5

SEMI-FINALS
Best of 25 legs

• Richie Howson 13-11 David Cameron
• Leonard Gates 13-11 Martin Adams

FINAL
Best of 25 legs

• Richie Howson 10-13 Leonard Gates

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