'I can't believe I'm World darts champion' says Shane McGuirk

SHANE McGuirk has spoken of his “disbelief” after becoming the first player from the Republic of Ireland to win the World darts title.

The Monaghan man – knows as The Arrow – won the WDF title at the Lakeside club in Surrey, beating Singapore’s Paul Lim 6-3 in the final on Sunday evening and pocketing the top prize of £50,000.

Veteran Lim was the first player to throw a nine-dart finish at the World Championship way back in 1990.

The 29-year-old, who hit nine maximums and averaged 90.31, said: “I can’t believe it. I’m world champion.

“I can’t believe what’s just after happening.

“I just kept thinking to myself, ‘you have the lead, you have the start you needed, just keep going and eventually it will come’. Lucky enough it did come for me at the end.

“I knew after the [last] break, just come out swinging and try to get this over and done with.

“The first set was very nervy for both of us and I got away with it.

“After that, I settled, I cruised a wee bit and then he started fighting back and I was like, ‘come on, let’s get this done’.

Meanwhile, women’s world number one Beau Greaves claimed her third title in a row, beating Sophie McKinlay 4-1 in the final.