Andrew Gilding won the 2023 UK Open against all the odds with a sensational last-leg victory over huge favourite Michael van Gerwen - surviving a match dart in the process.
The 52-year-old reigned supreme in Minehead with an 11-10 win in the final to pocket £110,000 and mark his biggest ever payday on the finest weekend of his career with Van Gerwen claiming £50,000.
Van Gerwen was the huge favourite going into the semi-finals with Gilding beating youngster Adam Gawlas, before the Dutchman's triumph over Dimitri Van den Bergh in front of 5000 fans booked the unexpected final.
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Gilding beat Darren Webster, Ricky Evans, Luke Woodhouse, Brendan Dolan, Martin Schindler and Gawlas on his way to the Minehead showdown with one of the greatest ever.
Three-time world champion Van Gerwen then raced into an 8-5 lead in the first to 11 chase, with Gilding digging deep to make it 10-10 before finding the vital darts in the tense decider.
Gilding is now up to 24 in the world rankings thanks to the huge payday, with eyes on taking the rest of the year by storm with his newfound form.
Speaking to Mark Webster on ITV Sport in front of the delighted UK Open crowd, Gilding said when asked about his career resurgence: "I just stopped being lazy! I started practising more and taking is seriously."
He cheekily added when asked what is next: "Well now I've got to win them all haven't I!"
A fan wrote online: "And that is why we just love the darts. Absolutely phenomenal achievement by Goldfinger and so magnanimous in victory."
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