Andrew Gilding was in shock after beating Michael van Gerwen in the UK Open final despite not playing “particularly brilliant darts”.
Gilding defied the odds to clinch a maiden televised title with an unexpected 11-10 win over three-time world champion Van Gerwen at Butlin’s Minehead Resort on Sunday.
The 52-year-old was appearing in his first televised final and recovered from 9-7 down late in the piece to stop Van Gerwen from getting his hands on a fourth UK Open crown.
Van Gerwen checked out 170 to put him within a leg of victory and, after Gilding also survived a match dart in a nail-biting decider, he pinned double top to pick up the £110,000 prize, ending a six-match losing run against the Dutchman.
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