Stephen Bunting secured his maiden World Sequence title with an 8-4 victory over Gerwyn Value within the closing of the Bahrain Masters.
The 39-year-old knocked out Chris Dobey within the quarter-finals and world primary Luke Humphries within the semi-finals, earlier than comfortably defeating Welshman Value.
Earlier on Friday, Value, 39, precipitated a shock when he beat newly-crowned world champion Luke Littler 6-2 within the final eight.
Littler, 17, received his first senior trophy in Bahrain final yr however couldn’t match Value’s efficiency as he averaged a event document 115.31.
Nevertheless, it was Bunting, competing in Bahrain for the primary time, who emerged victorious within the closing.
He stated on ITV that reaching a career-high world quantity 5 has made him “very robust”.
He added: “I’m taking part in the most effective I’ve ever performed. I am extra constant than ever earlier than and now I am believing I can win titles.
“The hypnotherapy behind the scenes, the psychology previously, it is taken numerous exhausting work.”
The Englishman has continued to impress since profitable his first televised PDC title on the Cazoo Masters in February 2024.
He reached the semi-finals of the world championship at Alexandra Palace final month, however fell quick in opposition to teenage sensation Littler.
In entrance of a sell-out crowd in Sakhir, nonetheless, Bunting brushed apart fellow debutant Dobey 6-0, earlier than overcoming reigning World Matchplay champion Humphries 7-6.
Value, the 2021 world champion, booked his place within the closing with a 7-4 victory over Scotland’s Peter Wright within the final 4.