Steve Brown secured his maiden title on the PDC ProTour with a 6-3 win over Ian White in the opening UK Open Qualifier of the year at the Barnsley Metrodome on Saturday.
First PDC win for Brown in Barnsley gets him into UK Open
Steve Brown secured his maiden title on the PDC ProTour with a 6-3 win over Ian White in the opening UK Open Qualifier of the year at the Barnsley Metrodome on Saturday.
The Bristolian picked up the £6,000 first prize in his first final since turning professional in 2007, defeating Stoke's White with a blistering average of around 104.
Brown had been taken all the way in three of his earlier matches, winning 6-5 against Michael Rosenauer, Scott Rand and Jamie Caven.
He also overcame Darren Whittingham and Colin Osborne, as well as taking the notable scalp of Premier League star Simon Whitlock with a 6-3 semi-final triumph before taking on White.
"It feels like a dream, it's unbelievable," said Brown. "I've imaged the moment in my mind a million times but the feeling of winning it is unbelievable.
Determined
"It's my first final and I was determined not to let the moment pass me by. I wanted to make sure every dart I threw counted, and I did the job.
"I played pretty well all day. I got through three 6-5 matches and took out a few big shots to win those matches and that gave me some confidence.
"Coming into the final I knew it was Ian's final too and I thought if I could get in front he might buckle. I did get in front but he put in a couple of big finishes back at me."
A promising run from White saw him defeat his Stoke practice partner and world champion Adrian Lewis 6-1 in the semi-finals.
White also overcame Dave Chisnall, Kevin McDine, Terry Temple, Steve Maish and Dennis Priestley in reaching his first PDC final since reaching the 1997 News of the World decider.
Bolton place
His £3,000 ensures his place at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton in June for the UK Open's televised finals, which will feature the leading 96 professionals from the eight UK Open Qualifiers.
St Helens' Chisnall continued his consistent start to life on the PDC circuit with a third successive quarter-final, and was joined in the last eight by Wes Newton, Jamie Caven and Stoke's Mark Frost.
Chisnall had been pushed hard in his preliminary round clash with PDC Unicorn Women's World Champion Stacy Bromberg, who hit five 180s and a 164 finish before going down 6-3 to her male opponent.
