Adrian Lewis claimed his first PDC title since April 2017 as he beat Raymond van Barneveld 8-3 in the final of Players Championship Eight.
A repeat of the 2016 World Darts Championship semi-final saw two of the games big names return to some sort of form after difficult spells and could be a sign of bigger things to come for both men.
There were big names such as Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross and Mensur Suljovic all missing from the tournament, but it was still a welcome return to form for both of these darting giants.
- Chisnall wins Players Championship Seven
- Barney's Premier League struggles
- Van Barneveld sets out retirement plan
Two-time world champion Lewis reeled off six straight legs in the final to claim the £10,000 first prize and 25th PDC title of his career - but more importantly end that long wait to taste victory once again.
Dropping no more than three legs all tournament, Lewis took some big scalps such as Mark Dudbridge, Mark Webster and Glen Durrant, before clinically dispatching Vincent van der Voort 6-2 in the quarters and averaging just over 110 in a 7-1 hammering of Jonny Clayton.
After losing five ranking event finals on the spin, Lewis could have been forgiven for feeling the nerves against Barney, but a 138 checkout to break throw in the opening leg set him up for a stunning victory, with a 149 finish helping along the way.
"That was one of the hardest games I've ever played, it was a bit like going back in time," Lewis told www.pdc.tv.
"Raymond is still one of the world's best players, he's having a tough time at the moment because the Premier League can be so difficult when you're on a losing run.
"It can be hard to pick yourself up when you start dreading it, so fair play to Raymond today he showed a lot of fight to reach the final.
"These floor tournaments are the hardest ones to win so I'm delighted to get back to winning ways and now I'm looking forward to getting back where I know I should be."
Barney looking near his best
BARNEY'S DONE IT!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 17, 2019
Raymond van Barneveld comes through a dramatic deciding leg, taking out 104 to defeat Keegan Brown 7-6 and reach the final of Players Championship 8!#PDCProTour pic.twitter.com/ccCuu2v7kQ
Barney is, of course, retiring at the end of the season, but showed glimpses of his best with back-to-back checkouts of 110 and 118 in the final, but it was not enough to stop a rampant Lewis.
The five-time world champion at least ended a run of six straight losses this weekend, but his wait for a first title since the 2014 Premier League goes on, but there were at least some positives to take out of a first ranking event final appearance since 2015.
"I was really fighting today, it's really good for me to reach this final," said Van Barneveld. "Of course this gives me extra belief that anything is possible, but I want to say well done to Adrian.
"I have a lot of respect for the way he has battled back over the last year or so, and now I have to do the same in my final seven months in the game."
Players Championship 8 results
Sunday March 16, Robin Park Tennis Centre, Wigan
Last 16
Ian White 6-1 Nathan Rafferty
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Robert Marijanovic
Adrian Lewis 6-2 Luke Woodhouse
Vincent van der Voort 6-2 Alan Tabern
Andy Boulton 6-3 Mervyn King
Keegan Brown 6-3 Cristo Reyes
Jan Dekker 6-0 Harry Ward
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Martin Schindler
Quarter-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Ian White
Adrian Lewis 6-2 Vincent van der Voort
Keegan Brown 6-1 Andy Boulton
Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Jan Dekker
Semi-Finals
Adrian Lewis 7-1 Jonny Clayton
Raymond van Barneveld 7-6 Keegan Brown
Final
Adrian Lewis 8-3 Raymond van Barneveld
