Monaghan Shane McGuirk made Irish sporting history on Sunday evening at Lakebecoming Ireland’s World Darts Champion after a 6-3 victory over the legendary Paul Lim in the final of the WDF World Darts Championship.
After a nervy opening, Lim missed darts in the first set and McGuirk punished him by forcing him to move one ahead. The Irish ace seemed to calm down from there, winning the next three sets unanswered to take a 4-0 lead for the second time. But Lim wasn’t done yet. He fought back and won three of the next four sets to maintain a 5-3 lead. However, when a final break halted the Singaporean’s momentum, McGuirk was able to refocus and secure a set 9 victory.
“I can’t believe what happened right after it happened. I just thought to myself, ‘You’ve got the lead, you’ve got the start you need, just keep doing the work and eventually it will come.’ Fortunately, it happened to me during a competition. over,” McGuirk later told the media. “I knew it after [last] break, just get out and try to end it.
Considering it was the first World Cup final for both players, there was understandable nervousness on stage. “The first set was very nervous for both of us and I got away with it,” admitted the new world champion. “Then I calmed down, swam a little bit, and then he started counterattacking and I thought, ‘Come on, let’s do it.’ I can’t believe it. I’m the world champion.”
Andy Baetens became world champion at Lakeside last year, and the Belgian has since earned a PDC Tour Card at Q-School, performing solidly, if unspectacularly, on tour in his debut campaign. Will McGuirk, who has already proven himself on the Challenge Tour, now follow suit and charge for a Tour Card at Q-School next January? Time will tell.
