Deller's win at city darts tournament

Former world darts champion Keith Deller walked away the winner from the Wolverhampton leg of the Legends Challenge after a big run at the city's Rileys Bar.

But former five-time world champion Eric Bristow crashed out of the 16-man, one night tournament in the first round after a stunning fightback from Wednesfield teenager Ash Khayat.

And Deller took advantage to go all the way and beat former pro Darrell Thorpe, a 44-year-old contracts manager from Bennett Street, Bilston, 5-1 in the final to take the £1,000 grand prize last night.

Thorpe, who has played professionally for 18 months, could only take one leg in the first to five.

But he said: "I was pleased with my performance – and I will never forget the night I played Keith Deller."

Deller added: "I wasn't playing any mugs here, so the buzz is the same as winning any tournament."

Another player who will never forget last night is 18-year-old Khayat, a student from Cannock Road in Wednesfield, who came from behind FOUR times to pip 'the Crafty Cockney 'to the post.

He said: "I am chuffed, he's an idol of mine."

Bristow added: "I gave it away but the lad played well."

Khayat was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Thorpe 4-3, while Deller romped to a 5-0 victory over Alan Cockagne, a 47-year-old works manager from Millichip Road, Willenhall.

Cockagne had made it through with a first round victory over Ken West, a 53-year-old from Charles Avenue, Albrighton, by a narrow 5-4 scoreline.

The night had started with a similar story for Deller romped to a whitewash against Martin Matthews, a 37-year-old from Bilston.

Anthony West, son of earlier entrant Ken and a 13-year-old schoolboy from Albrighton, was also up but was edged by Simon Pritchard, a 39-year-old unemployed man from Warner Road, Codsall.

Elsewhere in the first round Adam Duffield, a 22-year-old unemployed man from Cotterills Road, Tipton, was comprehensively beaten 5-1 by teenager Paddy Thomas, a 17-year-old from student of Leacroft Avenue, Bushbury.

Another young prodigy went through after 18-year-old Jimmy Handley, a barman from School Lane, Bushbury, took a 5-4 win from Wayne Speed, a 27-year-old van driver from Selwyne Road, Bilston.

But a third teenager suffered disappointment as Jake Jones, a 16-year-old schoolboy from Trent Vale in Stoke-on-Trent, was beaten 5-0 by Kevin Bell, a 43-year-old dye caster from Thompson Avenue, Parkfields.

Eventual finalist Thorpe went through with a 5-0 win over Chris Sheldon, a 38-year-old gold buyer from Brooklyn Grove, Coseley.

As Deller progressed without reply and Bristow's conqueror Khayat went out in the quarter-finals, Pritchard progressed with a 5-4 win over Bell and Handley knocked out Thomas by 5-3.

Come the semis and Handley became the only win to give Deller a proper game all evening, before losing 5-3, while Thorpe beat Pritchard 5-1.

The 14 local players had won weekly heats at the venue to earn a spot in the grand final.