Warwickshire^s Trina Gulliver cruises to eighth world darts title in 10 years

Gulliver quick to regain crown as queen of darts

TRINA GULLIVER is looking forward to fresh triumphs after re-establishing herself as the queen of world darts.

The 40-year-old Warwickshire star has appeared in all 10 BDO finals but, after a run of seven consecutive triumphs at The Lakeside, she had to settle for runner-up honours in 2008 and 2009 as she was edged out by Anastasia Dobromyslova and Francis Hoenselaar.

But she made no mistake this time, taking just 18 minutes to romp to a 2-0 verdict against Wales’s Rhian Edwards before admitting: "My house has been so empty without this trophy.

"All of the titles are really special but it feels particularly special to win it back again. I don’t like giving things away and losing the title for the first time hurt.

"I’ve practised really hard and to be back on form feels fantastic. I’ve done everything right in my preparation this year and not to win would have just been bad luck. But Rhian is a great player and I needed to put her under pressure straight away."

Gulliver had the advantage of throwing first and hit double 10 after missing two attempts at double tops.

Edwards had first throw for a double in the next leg but the consistency she had shown in previous matches was missing as she fluffed three chances.

Gulliver narrowly missed double 18 for a 147 finish but closed out the leg with her next throw. And the ‘Golden Girl’ powered in a 180 in the next, clinching the set with double two.

Edwards, who has been throwing her husband’s darts after losing her own, powered down to the double in the opening leg of the second set. But she missed another three attempts, and Gulliver pounced with a 76 checkout to break the advantage.

The second seed then followed up with a superb 117 finish, completed on double tops, racing ahead in the next leg but missing two darts for double eight before making sure at her next visit.

Gulliver, who picked up a cheque for £6,000, declared: "I’ll be here for a while yet trying to win as many titles as I can. I’m settled in my life and I think that is showing through in my darts."