WOODHOUSE CLAIMS MAIDEN EURO TOUR CROWN IN KIEL

LUKE WOODHOUSE was determined not to let a golden opportunity “pass by” after winning the Baltic Sea Open.

Woody celebrated a breakthrough European Tour crown after beating Ryan Joyce 8-4 in the final and pinning a magnificent 160 finish to seal the deal.

The world No.19 pocketed the £35,000 top prize in Kiel to cap a remarkable month, having arrived in Germany fresh from winning his maiden senior PDC title at Players Championship 18.

The Worcestershire thrower thrashed Ricky Evans 7-2 in the semi-finals having earlier seen off WDF world champion Jimmy van Schie 6-3 in the quarter-finals.

He said: “It was such a tough game. I don’t think me and Ryan played our best darts but when those two treble 20s went in I was just like, please hit double tops.

“It went in and it’s probably not a final for the ages but I will take it.

“English saying, like buses, ain’t it? You wait for one for ages and two come along at once.

“I am so happy to be playing good darts. I am enjoying my darts at the moment. To win this is unbelievable.

“It was a good chance today for both of us and I didn’t want it to pass me by so I just tried to be ultra-focused.

“Luckily today I came out on top. I am hoping I can kick on and the World Matchplay is around the corner. I am hoping the confidence can carry on into that.”

Joyce was magnanimous in defeat and praised Woodhouse’s consistency after falling short.

He added: “He was just pretty good early on. He is a solid player and very dependable.

“It is hard to play against him. I knew it was going to be a tough final.

“I tried my best but it just didn’t happen today.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.