Durrant makes it a hat-trick to feel on top of world

GLEN Durrant won the BDO World Championship for the third year in succession with a 7-3 win over fellow Englishman Scott Waites at the Lakeside.

Waites held a 3-2 lead as the early stages were tightly contested, but Durrant then raised his game significantly to rattle off five sets in a row and claim the first prize of £100,000.

The 48-year-old from Middlesbrough is the first player to win the BDO title three years in a row since Eric Bristow in 198486.

“That means the earth and back and to do it against an absolute Lakeside legend like Scott Waites, that really was the icing on the cake,” Durrant said.

“I thought for four or five sets there he was much the better player and I just kept finding that double like I did against Jim Williams (in the semi-final) and I think I got just a little bit lucky.

“Just remember Eric Bristow won it when it was a unified organisation. I know I’m not playing Michael Van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Gary Anderson, the works. All I can do is beat legends like Scott Waites and Jim Williams so I’m mega-happy.”

Waites, who was also looking to win his third BDO title, added: “I am gutted about losing but we went into the break at three apiece and to be honest Glen didn’t give me much of a chance after that.”

After the first six sets were shared, with both players recording eight 180s, Waites won the first leg of the seventh set with a 160 checkout.

However, he still lost the set to fall 4-3 behind and Durrant continued to hit doubles when it mattered most to ease to an historic victory.