RITCH PICKINGS
150/1 outsider Ritchie Edhouse almost doubles career earnings as he lifts ‘dream’ European Championship darts title
English ace thanks missus for 'kicking my butt' as he lands first major title
RITCHIE EDHOUSE admitted it was a “dream come true” as he became a shock winner of the European Championship.
The World No 39 crushed Jermaine Wattimena 11-3 to win his first major title in Dortmund on Sunday night.
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‘Madhouse’, 41, rattled off NINE legs in succession, three ton-plus finishes and wrapped it up in style with two double 18s.
Basildon-born Edhouse was a 250-1 outsider and picked up £120,000 - having only had £153,000 on his ranking after two years of prize money.
He had never previously been beyond the last 32 in any major tournament.
He said: “It’s just a dream come true, I don’t know what to say.
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“I just wanted to get a couple of rounds under my belt and see what happened.
“The missus kicks my butt all the time. It’s a step up and confidence breeds confidence and hungry.
“It’s a busy time and the confidence will be up so we’ll see what happens.”
Earlier Edhouse had beaten Gary Anderson 10-5 in the quarters and then Luke Woodhouse 11-5 to reach the final.
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Meanwhile, Luke Humphries' quarter-final conqueror Wattimena was philosophical after falling at the last hurdle in the finest tournament display of his career.
The Dutchman led 2-0 and 3-2 before his finishing fell apart.
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He said: "The better player won at this moment.
"On the stage we are enemies but after that we are good friends.
"I'm really happy with this result. I'm proud."
Wattimena had pipped fellow Dutchman Danny Noppert in a 11-10 semi-final thriller.
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