The new World Darts Champion woke up on ‘Cloud Nine’ but he is also counting the cost of the history-making victory at the Alexandra Palace!
Adrian Lewis believes that it will be ‘weeks’ before the recognition of what he has achieved finally sinks in.
But he is going to enjoy every minute of being World Champion after settling a debt with the taxman!
The Unicorn ace explains: “I have had to sort out all my finances over the last few months and I owe the Inland Revenue £108,000, so the £200,000 prize money will come in very useful!”
Lewis, who at the age of 25 has become the youngest ever PDC World Champion, added: “I will also treat my family and save the rest! But it is important to me to go back to square one and have that clean slate with the taxman and that’s what I will do.”
Adrian Lewis, World Champion has a nice ring about it and the young family man from Stoke has been inundated with media interviews and requests since his epic 7-5 victory over Gary Anderson on Monday night.
And he accepts that his life will change forever.
“Yes, it is inevitable but what a great price to pay for being World Champion. Everyone will want to take a shot at me now, so it will be a testing and challenging 2011,” Lewis admitted.
But he also knows that he will have to change his lifestyle if he wants to stay at the top after giving Team Unicorn its 29th World Championship.
“I will have to lose some weight, look after myself more and get fitter,” revealed the new Ladbrokes.com World Champion.
“I realise now what I have to do. It will be hard but I have to change some things, that’s for sure,” he added.
He is now World No.2 behind Phil Taylor and of course the big news is that ‘Jackpot’ will face his former mentor on the opening night of the 2011 Premier League at the O2 Arena in London on February 10.
Team Unicorn’s James Wade holds onto the World No.3 spot, with World Championship runner-up Gary Anderson now No.4….and that of course means that both Raymond van Barneveld and Simon Whitlock will have to rely on wildcards for this year’s Premier League.
The top four men are guaranteed their spots and the four wildcard places will be revealed in the next ten days.
But the world of darts is still buzzing from Lewis’ fabulous achievement and of course, the history making 9-darter in the third leg of the final! The first time that has ever happened!
Lewis also paid tribute to Unicorn and his manager Keith Deller.
“Unicorn have just been brilliant with me for so many years and this World Championship is payback for all the support I have received from the company!”
As for Deller: “I guess you could say that he has been the final piece in the jigsaw. It is no coincidence that since he started looking after me, I got to the final of the World Grand Prix in Dublin and now this. He has the gift of the gab and has given me the belief to turn my ability into big wins!”
Lewis also accepts the pressure will remain on his shoulders.
“Before the critics were saying that I hadn’t won a big tournament….well, I have now won the biggest one of all….now they will say that I have to go on and win more! That is certainly my aim.”
But it seems the real inspiration came from his worst ever defeat.
“I remember beating Phil Taylor in Dublin but then losing the World Grand Prix Final to James Wade. I was on stage after the presentation watching James celebrate and I thought to myself = never again! If I got to another Final I would be the winner and now I am!”
January 3, 2011 – a date that will be etched on Lewis’ mind forever. It will surely be the first of many big darting titles for one of the sport’s great natural talents.
By STUART PYKE
Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC