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LEWIS BREAKS WIZARD'S SPELL TO SCOOP PARTYPOKER.NET EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP JACKPOT ADRIAN LEWIS won his third major title in style with a superb 11-6 win over Simon Whitlock in the partypoker.net European Championship final in Germany on Sunday night.

The 28-year-old from Stoke, twice a runner-up in the event, followed up victories over Andy Hamilton and Michael van Gerwen on the final day of the 200,000 pound tournament by producing a superb showing against reigning champion Whitlock in the decider. The two-time World Champion took six of the final's first seven legs to assume command at 6-1 and he also led 9-3 after taking out a 125 finish before Whitlock threatened another fightback.
The Australian had come from 9-3 down in his quarter-final with Jamie Caven to take victory and took the next two legs, but was only able to win three in reply against Lewis, who held his nerve to claim the £50,000 first prize.

"It means a lot to me and it's very special to win this title," said the 28-year-old. "I've had some ups and downs for the last 18 months and I'm on the up again.I know that I've got more gears too, and I'm getting there, and it's great to be winning again. I've been working hard, got my rhythm back and the results are coming for me now.I went into the final full of confidence after beating Michael, I knew I was playing well and I did a job on Simon. I've lost a couple of times in the final to Phil Taylor, so to win this is a massive achievement."

Lewis took out 106 to win the final's opening leg, and though Whitlock hit a second 180 of the game to level, Lewis landed a 12-darter to move 2-1 up, tops in the next two legs, 11 to win the sixth and 81 for an 11-darter in moving 6-1 ahead of the Australian. Lewis also hit a 180 in the eighth leg, but missed two darts to extend his lead as Whitlock hit back on double nine before he also posted double eight to step in and pull back to 6-3.
Lewis, though, continued his heavy scoring with 'maximum' scores of 180, 174 and 180 in taking the next three legs, hitting a 125 checkout in the process as he moved 9-3 up. He added his fifth maximum of the game in leg 13, but missed his chance to home in on the victory as Whitlock broke by taking out 60 and then finished double six to kick-start his challenge.
Double three moved Lewis to the brink of victory at 10-5, after he had scored 171 earlier in the leg, and he landed another 180 in the next only to see miss one match dart, at double seven, as Whitlock finished double ten for a 14-darter to keep his hopes alive. Lewis, though, kicked off the next leg with a 177, and despite missing one further match dart, at double five to take out 89, the Australian was unable to check out the bull for a 161 finish to continue the fightback as the world number three returned on double five to seal the title.

"I tried my best but Adrian was superb tonight," said a gracious Whitlock. "I had a couple of chances here and there that I missed, and he was too good. That was Adrian at his best and it's great to see him back playing so well. When he's on form it's always going to be hard to beat him but I tried my guts out. I've played really well throughout this tournament and I'm thrilled to bits to have reached the final. It's not bad being the runner-up and I had a great go at defending my title, but Adrian was the better player and he was just too good in the final."

Whitlock had ended the hopes of both Huybrechts brothers during the event, following up his first round defeat of Kim by ending Ronny's thrilling run in the semi-finals - after the Belgian knocked out Stuart Kellett, Phil Taylor and Robert Thornton.

"Ronny played really well against me and what a great tournament he had," added Whitlock. "Beating Phil Taylor and Robert Thornton is huge for him and he'll kick on from here."

Huybrechts - who only turned professional in January when he won a Tour Card at Qualifying School - will actually return to his 'day job' in Antwerp on Monday at 8am when he is back organising the distribution of industrial-size coffee machines.
"It's been a brilliant weekend," said Huybrechts. "I did my best in the semi-final but Simon was too strong and he deserved to win. I'm so happy with how this tournament has gone for me. To get to the semi-finals is a great achievement."

Van Gerwen, meanwhile, had to settle for reaching the semi-finals as he bidding to win yet another title this year - but his run to the last four included a sensational win over Jelle Klaasen in Sunday afternoon's quarter-finals.
He also hit nine 180s and a 150 checkout in his semi-final with Lewis, but paid for allowing the Stoke ace into leads of 4-1 and 8-3 as the world number three eventually sealed victory with a 160 finish.

"It was a great game for everyone watching but I'm very disappointed to lose," said van Gerwen. "I missed five darts to level at four-all, which was important at the end, but it's a plus for me that I came back like I did. I threw a great 150 finish to stay in the match when I was 10-7 down, but then he hit a 160 in superb style and there's not much you can do against that. He was more dominant than me today, but I'm looking forward already to the World Matchplay in a couple of weeks."

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