Alan Warriner was crowned the 2001 Paddy Power World Grand Prix champion in Dublin tonight after brushing aside the brave challenge of Roland Scholten.
Warriner, who had lost in four world finals before this event, controlled the game from the outset and a clinical 157 checkout sealed an emotional 8-2 victory for the Lancastrian.
In an enthralling encounter Scholten took the opening leg but Warriner hit back straight away to level the score.
The pencil-slim Dutchman worked himself into a good position in the next leg but he missed the shot at double 10, one of his favourite shots.
Warriner clinched the leg with a 100 checkout and he went on to take the first set with his first attempt at double 10.
The "Ice Man" looked cool and composed at the oche and he went 1-0 ahead in the second set.
But Scholten, who averaged 86.9 on his way to the final, started to settle down and two impressive finishes levelled the score in sets at 1-1.
The score was locked at 1-1 in the third when Scholten produced a brilliant checkout of 156 to move ahead.
But Warriner responded in the next leg with a 158 finish and, after Scholten had failed to nail double 10, he clinched the set with double 16.
The next four legs were shared but when it came to the crunch Warriner held his nerve to finish with 82 and move 3-1 ahead.
Warriner, who averaged 106 in his first-round win over Andy Jenkins, moved 2-1 ahead in the fourth set and he out-scored his opponent in the fourth leg to put himself in a good position.
The number two seed missed his first two attempts at double top but Scholten squandered three opportunities and Warriner eventually won the set with double five.
A 116 checkout gave Scholten the first leg of the sixth set but Warriner reeled off the next three legs to move into a 5-1 lead.
He also clinched the seventh set by the same scoreline to move within two of victory.
Scholten, who destroyed a rejuvenated John Lowe 7-1 in the semi-finals, could not lift his game and Warriner coasted to a 3-0 success in the eighth.
The Dutch star reduced the deficit by taking the ninth set but Warriner was not to be denied and he wrapped up victory with a fabulous checkout. -PA