PART CLAIMS THIRD TITLE
John Part claimed his third World Championship on New Year's Day to end the Kirk Shepherd fairytale.
The Canadian claimed a 7-2 victory in the PDC World Championship final at the Alexandra Palace against the 21-year-old amateur Kirk Shepherd.
In a tournament filled with shocks, Shepherd overcame both Peter Manley and Wayne Mardle en-route to the final and the sheet metal worker from Kent looked to complete a major shock against the consistent Part.
But Part's experience and class shone through in the final and it looked as if the 1994 and 2003 World Champion would complete a white-wash as he ran into a 4-0 victory.
But Shepherd hit back with a 160 check-out to bring peg Part back to 5-2 but in truth, the unflappable Part was always in control and despite missing two match-winning chances in the ninth set, his double-ten clinched the title in front of the packed crowd at the Alexandra Palace.
The result also means that Part is now the only player to have won the title at three different venues, having won finals at the Lakeside and the Circus Tavern.
"It is unbelievable, absolutely fantastic," said the 41-year-old. "I just came over and wanted to have a good performance.
"I've had a good year in 2007 and I knew I was playing good enough to get far into the tournament but never imagined winning it.
"It is harder when you are older. I was worried as it was getting hot and the fingers were getting slippy.
"Kirk seemed to be getting confident so I'm happy I closed it out when I did because he could have been a lot of trouble."
Despite the defeat, Shepherd didn't appear downhearted and promised to be back.
"I have reached the final of the hardest darts competition in the world and I am so proud of that," said Shepherd.
"I would have liked to have played better but you can't take it away from John, a worthy champion.
"I didn't start off well - at 4-0 down against a player like John it is very hard to get back into it. But I'll be back, this is the start of things."
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