Glen Durrant admitted it was the “icing on the cake” to join legend Eric Bristow as a three-times successive BDO World Champion.
The Boro battler produced a devastating burst of form to outgun Scott Waites 7-3 at Lakeside.
Duzza, 48, picked up the £100,000 after winning four consecutive sets after a cagey opening from both players.
He said: “Just remember Eric Bristow won it when it was a unified organisation. I know I’m not playing Michael van Gerwens tonight, I’m not playing Michael Smith, Gary Anderson.
“All I can beat is legends like Scott Waites and Jim Williams, I’m mega happy.
“That means the earth and back and to do it against a Lakeside legend Scott Waites, that really was the icing on the cake.
“I thought for four or five sets there he was much the better player. I just keep finding that double like I did against Jim Williams in the semi-finals. I think I got just a little bit lucky.
“When I went back at three each it was really important to try and break him and when I did that, hold my throw at 5-3 I was feeling a lot more confident then.
“But the guy is just the ultimate when it comes to Lakeside, he’s a giant. I’m so impressed to beat him, I’m dead happy.
“I’ve been under pressure for three or four years as the top seed. Every tournament I go to and you lose I think it’s the end of the world.
“But when you’ve got people like Dennis Coleman right behind me, to have my wife and daughter here. I spoke to my mam and dad before I come stage. My brothers have been messaging me. I’ve got the best family.
“I thought Scott had the crowd. But just when I needed my friends and family, they were right there. Man, I’m mega happy.”
Durrant will now attend a funeral for his pal Lee Beck today, who passed away aged 50 on Boxing Day. The thoughtful oche ace will help pay for the event.
But also hopes to get the day off work, adding: “Genuinely I thought winning the first one was just the ultimate. I fell to my knees when I won that. But I don’t think I’ve ever had a better feeling in darts than that winning double there, absolutely amazing.
“I’ve got a funeral at 10.30 tomorrow morning. I really want to be there for Lee Beck a friend I lost. Then I’ve got a meeting I have to go to for work at 1.30pm. I hope the boss is going to text and say don’t bother!”
Both players failed to hold throw in the opening four sets. But both then held to leave the match tied up at 3-3 and hard to call at the first break.
After then it was all Durrant, producing the more consistent scoring with a 95.19 average, just under four points ahead of former two-time winner Waites and a high-class 46 per cent checkout rate.
Waites did produce the highest checkout of the match with a cracking 160 but was only just-scored by the excellent Duzza.
Waites, who picked up £35,000, added: “I am gutted about losing but we went in the break at three apiece and Glen didn’t give me a chance after that.
“I missed a few doubles and he didn’t and that’s why he’s champion and I’m not. My darts just didn’t go straight away. Glen’s did and that’s why he’s champion.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)