Glen Durrant becomes only the fifth man to retain the World Masters after triumphing at Lakeside

By Alex Moss
4 DECEMBER 2016 • 8:11PM 

Glen Durrant made a successful defence of the Winmau World Masters after edging past Mark McGeeney 6-3 in the final at Lakeside this evening.

The BDO number one, who won the World Masters for the first time last year, became only the fifth man in the event’s 43 year history to retain the title.

Duzza raced into a 4-0 lead against McGeeney in the final, before his fellow England international fought back by winning three of the next four sets to close to 5-3 behind.

However, a 146 checkout helped Durrant send the ninth set into a deciding leg, where he took out 100 for a 12 darter to clinch back-to-back World Masters titles.

Durrant made the most of missed doubles from his opponent in the first two sets, clinching both sets 2-0 despite his best leg in that run being an 18 darter.

The third set saw Duzza start to hit some form, with consecutive 13 darters on tops completing another whitewash set.

A third consecutive 13 darter on double tops gave Durrant an early advantage in set four, before McGeeney put his first leg on the board to send the fourth set into a deciding leg.

The defending champion then continued his sequence of impressive legs with a 12 darter, checking out 87 on double 18 to go 4-0 up in sets.

McGeeney, who had beaten two world champions in Scott Waites and Scott Mitchell on his way to reaching his first major televised final, stopped the rot by winning the fifth set in straight legs.

A 96 checkout on double eight gave him the first leg with throw, before making the most of Durrant being stuck on double one to break the throw and cut the holder’s lead to 4-1.

Duzza came back out after the interval in style with an 11 darter and, after McGeeney forced a decider in the set by checking out 52, then took out 96 to go 5-1 up.

Needing just one more set to retain the title Durrant missed doubles at checkouts of 140 and 136 in the seventh set, as McGeeney claimed successive legs to reduce his arrears.

Durrant moved to within a leg of victory with a 70 checkout at the start of set eight, before McGeeney hit back again with back-to-back 16 darters to cut the gap to 5-3.

In the final leg of the eighth set Durrant had missed a match dart at double 16, and when McGeeney held throw with a 14 darter at the start of set nine it looked like the comeback was on.

But a brilliant 146 checkout got Duzza back on level terms in the set, before a 100 checkout on double 16 sealed his second World Masters title and the £25,000 top prize.

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