Teenager James Hubbard has been crowned the PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion.
The 19-year-old showed just why the future of the sport looks so bright, as he defeated Michael van Gerwen 6-3 to win the prestigious title.
In front of 9,000 fans at the O2, Hubbard displayed nerves of tungsten!
For the Dutchman, who started the final as favourite, it is heartbreak for a second successive year....you may remember, he was beaten by Team Unicorn star Arron Monk in the first World Youth Final which was played at the Alexandra Palace.
But there is no doubt – Hubbard thoroughly deserved his title and the little matter of a £10,000 winner’s cheque.
After five legs, he was averaging 105 and Van Gerwen had no answer.
Hubbard hit a 180 in winning the first leg in 11 darts, then broke the Dutchman’s throw and a 14 darter gave him a 3-0 advantage.
Van Gerwen finally got a leg on the board and just for a few minutes, it looked like the pressure was getting to Hubbard.
He missed five darts for a 5-1 advantage and saw Van Gerwen get the final back to 4-3 with the help of a second maximum.
But Hubbard held it all together and two more legs clinched him the PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship, as he hit the most important D20 of his career.
And on this evidence, it will surely be a long and successful career in the professional game for young James Hubbard!
Meanwhile the 2012 Unicorn Youth Tour continues this weekend with three more events in Reading.
PDC Unicorn World Youth Final:
Michael van Gerwen 3-6 James Hubbard
By STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC