The Airlie Beach Darts Christmas Open Final saw Jamie Woods and Dom Friend battle it out in a best of nine sets for the Christmas crown.
First up, though, was the third and fourth place match up, a best of seven sets between Andy Peel and Seumas Rose.
Andy took the first set 3/2, but Seumas bounced back to take the second set 3/1. And so the story went in the second and third sets with Andy claiming the third 3/1 before Seumas replied in kind in the fourth with the same scoreline of 3/1.
But it was in the fifth and sixth where Andy made his move, claiming both 3/1 3/1, and with it, the match by four sets to two.
Then it was onto the final: Jamie Woods claimed the first two sets and was looking strong early doors.
Dom replied in devastating fashion however, winning the next three sets on the bounce to make it three to two to Dom.
Jamie struck back in the sixth to level the match at three all, and everyone was sensing that this one was going down the wire.
Dom stuck to his task and wasn’t fazed, winning the seventh set to again put Jamie under pressure to win the next set to stay in the match and this year’s Open.
Class players always find a way, and Woodsy mustered every ounce of his skill to level the match again at 4 sets all to take it into the deciding set much to the joy of everyone watching.
But a dogged Dom Friend was not going to be denied his second Xmas Open title -- he found a way.
It was an incredible turn of events, and an incredible win by Dom. Congratulations to both men on a great afternoon’s entertainment, and a great note to end a huge season on.
Thanks to participants, Mika Airlie Beach for hosting us this year, and this year’s sponsor, Dyson Automotive.
Contributed with thanks to Jamie Maher
Dom Friend lifting the Xmas Open for the second time at Mika Airlie Beach
