International Darts Open - Report Final

GLORY FOR NORRIS IN HILDESHEIM
ALAN NORRIS claimed his first European Tour title by defeating Jelle Klaasen 6-5 in the final of the HappyBet German Darts Championship in Hildesheim - securing a SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts spot in the process.

The 44-year-old had won his maiden PDC title at a Players Championship last October, and picked up his second triumph 12 months later with a brilliant comeback win against Dutch ace Klaasen. The victory saw Norris claim the 25,000 pound first prize as the winner of the year's final PDC European Tour event, and also ensures that he will qualify for next month's Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.

Those prizes, though, could easily have gone to Klaasen in a thrilling final which the Dutchman began in scintillating form with an 11-darter in the opening leg and a 132 bull finish to break throw and double his lead. Norris hit back in leg three but then saw Klaasen finish 134 to regain his two-leg cushion at 3-1. Norris capitalised on three misses from the 31-year-old in the fifth leg by landing double ten and after his rival moved 4-2 up it was the Englishman who pulled level with brilliant legs of 13 and 11 darts before pinning double 18 to go ahead for the first time at 5-4. Klaasen took the tenth leg to force a decider, but was unable to take out another 132 finish and Norris stepped in to check out 72 for the triumph - avenging his quarter-final loss to the Dutchman at the 2016 William Hill World Darts Championship.

"It's nice to get one back over Jelle after Ally Pally, but I'm sure he'll be disappointed as he's probably played the best darts this weekend," said Norris. "He's incredible, I was leaving finishes and he was taking out massive checkouts, so I'm really pleased to win this."

The final day at Halle 39 had started for Norris with victory over Ian White, who raced into a 4-1 lead before seeing the Bo'ness-based thrower fight back to win the next five. Norris then overcame Steve West in the quarter-finals with a 6-2 win before overcoming Mensur Suljovic in a decider to book his spot in a first European Tour final, as the Austrian paid for missing his chance to close out the win in leg ten.

Klaasen was also appearing in his first European Tour final, having begun the day with wins over Cristo Reyes and Joe Cullen before coming from 4-1 down to punish Dave Chisnall's missed doubles and take a 6-4 semi-final triumph. Suljovic had been bidding to win his second European Tour title of the year, following his first ranking triumph last month, and was joined in the semi-finals by Dave Chisnall, who has appeared in two finals this year.

Mark Webster's run to the quarter-finals, where he lost out to Chisnall, was not enough to see the left-hander snatch qualification for the Unibet European Championship.
Daryl Gurney also reached the last eight with a memorable win over world number one Michael van Gerwen in Sunday afternoon's third round, avenging his loss to the Dutchman in February's Dutch Darts Masters final. Gurney raced into a 5-1 lead in the clash before van Gerwen pulled back to 5-4, but a crucial slip from the Dutchman allowed his rival to close out the win and deny him a chance to win a seventh European Tour title of the year.

Steve West and Joe Cullen, who are both enjoying fine years, also won through to the final session, with Cullen overcoming number two seed Peter Wright 6-3 in their third round clash to claim his first win over the Scot for more than two years. West had survived a match dart against Kim Huybrechts before he edged into the quarter-finals, while Webster progressed in another deciding leg at the third round stage as he overcame Terry Jenkins.

The year saw1.15 million pound in prize money paid out in tournaments held in Germany, Netherlands, Austria and Gibraltar, with van Gerwen's six wins accompanied by one win apiece for James Wade, Phil Taylor, Suljovic and Norris.

The top 32 players from the final European Tour Order of Merit now progress to compete in the Unibet European Championship at the Ethias Arena in Hasselt from October 28-30, live on ITV4.








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