Burnham-On-Sea darts star Gary Anderson won the the first UK Open title of his illustrious career by defeating Australian sensation Corey Cadby 11-7 in Sunday night’s final.
The two-time world champion, who has also won a pair of Premier League titles, last reached the final of this tournament in 2010 but finally added this major TV crown to his trophy cabinet.
It is a big achievement for Gary, considering he nearly pulled out of this season’s Premier League due to injury. However, his body help up during the event at Butlin’s Minehead resort to take the £70,000 first prize in front of the ITV4 TV cameras.
The Burnham-On-Sea player’s triumph ends his growing wait for another big win, which dates back to when he claimed the second of his two world titles at the start of 2016.
The UK Open tournament was played behind closed doors all weekend without spectators due to the adverse winter weather conditions caused by Storm Emma.
Anderson had earlier defeated world champion Rob Cross 10-5 in the quarter-finals before overcoming David Pallett 11-7 in the evening’s semi-finals but found himself 4-1 down against the confident 22-year-old opponent Corey Cadby.
He hit back to lead 5-4 with a four-leg burst of his own, before finishing a key 108 to lead 8-6.
Cadby, who beat Gerwyn Price and Robert Owen earlier in the day, hit back before finishes of 70 and 91 moved Anderson to the brink of a victory which he sealed with a 14-dart leg on double 18.
Anderson said: “It’s fantastic for me. I’ve come here to win the tournament and managed to do it, and it’s great.”
“In the last three games I’ve been lucky – it’s been a struggle. Corey is good and I’ve got a lot of time for him, he’s a class act.”
“I knew exactly what to expect and he’s going to be about for a long, long time.”
“It’s getting harder every year with all the youngsters coming through and they’ll take it in their stride.”
Pictured: Burnham’s Gary Anderson playing in Sunday’s UK Open final (ITV)
