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Both Hankey and O’Shea started out slowly with low scores in back and forth legs that led to one set apiece by the end of the second set.

The Count faired a bit better in the next 4 sets, taking three of them in stride to lead Silverback 4-2 at the break.

Hankey got off to a rough start after the break, but O’Shea was again missing doubles and The Count took the first leg.

O’Shea woke up a little to take the next leg and come all even, and managed to take out an 86 to go a leg up.

Hankey fired off a 180 to start the 4th leg though, followed by a 100 from O’Shea. A disappointing 59 from Hankey gave O’Shea another throw and 100 more. Hankey picked it up a bit again with a 98, O’Shea with 140.

Hankey needed a 164 checkout, but missed, giving O’Shea a chance at his 161, but he also missed.

Hankey missed his next out as well, giving O’Shea a chance to close 62 which he did not pass up, taking the leg and the set to bring himself up just one set behind Hankey at 4-3.

Hankey pulled another 180, with O’Shea answering with a 100. Hankey missed closing his 121, and O’Shea missed his 166 finish. With 64 to close, Hankey again failed to take the leg, but O’Shea was more on the mark and closed his 32 with D16 to grab the leg.

Hankey again hit the maximum, with O’Shea answering with a T40. Hankey missed his out with a bounced dart to let O’Shea have a chance, but O’Shea missed his D20 to win. Hankey wasn’t as giving with his next trip to the oche and took the leg to bring it level in the eighth set with 1 each.

The next leg was a bit slower, and Hankey left himself with 81 to O’Shea’s 198, but again doubles elluded him. Having 12 to finish his next trip, he closed it in 1 dart to go one leg ahead.

Back and forth low scores from both players led to O’Shea having a chance at a 170 checkout, but he missed the first T20 to leave himself a 72. Hankey also missed his outs once again to give O’Shea another trip to the oche, but he again came up short leaving 40.

Hankey’s third trip to win the leg came up successful and he took the leg and the set to lead in sets 5-3.

Tony grabbed a 50 closeout in the first leg of the ninth set to take the first leg, but missed his 101 close out to take another. Hankey, needing 10 to even it up, hit the D5 with his first dart.

O’Shea pulled back to take the third leg, but again Hankey took the next one in their back and forth battle. It was again O’Shea’s turn for the leg win, this one bringing him another set to leave them at 5-4.

O’Shea couldn’t close his 141, giving Hankey a shot at a 91 close out, and he didn’t miss to grab the first leg of the 10th set.

Needing a 64 checkout, O’Shea once again couldn’t find the aim, but misses by Hankey let him again attempt a finish, but he busted for no score with his first dart.

Hankey closed his 20 with D10 on the first dart giving him a 2-0 lead in legs, and took the next leg with a 24 checkout to take the 10th set and a 6-4 lead.

With the pressure on, O’Shea led off with a 140, but O’Shea closed out in the end to take the leg.

Hankey then failed to close a 64 checkout, leaving O’Shea a chance to finish his 138, but he also missed and was left with the same 40 as Hankey.

Missing three darts to close his 40, Hankey gave O’Shea another throw, but he also came up short with missed darts.

Putting both players out of their misery, Hanky hit the D20 to get them out of the leg and bring them leval at 1-1.

Hankey came up to the oche needing to close his 130, but again missed, but O’Shea faired no better failing to take his 144. Hankey didn’t fail his next trip and closed with D20 in one dart and now leading 2-1 in legs and having the next throw.

Opening what could be the winning leg with a lackluster 60 saw O’Shea pulling himself up and gnabbing a 140. Hankey again succumbed to the pressure with a 59, but O’Shea couldn’t continue to apply the pressure and only hit 49.

Hankey seized the opportunity and hit another on time 180, but O’Shea was not to leave quitely as he answered with a 140 of his own.

The Count gave himself another 140 with his next throw, and O’Shea answered with a 140 of his own.

Hankey missed his 62 closeout though, giving O’Shea a chance to close 40, and in two darts he did to bring them level in legs once again.

O’Shea had the throw, and opened with a 140. Hankey got 100 with his three, O’Shea then responded with a 135 followed by Hankey’s 43.

Feeling a glimmer of hope, O’Shea threw another ton to leave himself 126, and Hankey hit 60 which failed to leave himself an out.

O’Shea missed his out and was left with an 85, and with the third dart closed it to take the set bringing them to a 6-5 set score.

Hankey again found the 180 in the first leg of the twelth set, but O’Shea picked up steam to hit one of his own. Hankey failed to close a 100 finish, hitting only 40, but would have another trip to the oche as O’Shea wasn’t on an out.

He missed his next trip to the oche though and left O’Shea another chance at the leg, but O’Shea couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity. Needing only 10, hankey hit D5 with his first dart.

The second leg of the set saw O’Shea with the throw, getting 120 with only two darts as he suffered another bounce out. Hankey responded with a ton of his own.

O’Shea answered with his own 100, and again Hankey replied with 100. O’Shea then hit 135 to up the odds levaing himself with 146, Hankey not ending up on an out.

O’shea missed doubles yet again leaving 60, Hankey threw and only scored 60 to leave 181.

O’Shea missed even more doubles giving Hankey another throw, and he hit 135.

Requiring 32, O’Shea came up short and only hit 16. Hankey needed 76 and didn’t fail this time ending on double top for the leg.

Having the throw, Hankey threw a disappointing 60, but O’Shea lowered the bar with a 40 of his own.

Next throw, Hankey hit a respectable 140, O’Shea hitting a maximum as both players looked more like world class darters.

At the end of the leg and requiring 120, Hankey failed to hit the last crucial dart for D20, but Silverback pulled out his double when given the chance leaving himself in the fight.

O’Shea opened the leg’s throw and hit 140, followed by a dismal 40 by The Count.

O’Shea then hit 81, and Hankey 99. Next O’Shea threw a 140 followed by a score of 28 from Hankey.

Requiring 140 for a win, O’Shea failed to sink the double leaving 100, and Hankey scored only 96.

O’Shea took the 4th leg to stay in the match.

Hankey looked to make a show by opening up the leg with a 180, and O’Shea could respond with only a 60.

Hankey then hit a depressing 60 of his own, with O’Shea hitting a ton.

Hankey again reached down deep to pull out a maximum, and O’Shea could answer with only 81.

Needing 81 to win, Hankey could only get 41, but he would get another trip to the oche as O’Shea was not on an out.

Requiring 40, Hankey missed with all three darts giving O’Shea a chance to close 144.

Lackluster darts prevailed and misses were the rule of the day as O’Shea missed.

Hankey could not close either though, and Silverback would get yet another try at the leg.

Finally with his third dart, Tony O’Shea took advantage of the plentiful opportunities afforded him and he hit his double to take the leg and the set and a 6-6 tie.

This brought the crowd to their feet cheering O’Shea on, and when the cal to order was given the darts resumed.

Having 80 to win the first leg Hankey managed to hit a double to get the edge, but at the end O’Shea needed only 164 for the win, but again missed.

Requiring 116, Hankey also missed scoring a 60.

Needing 72, Hankey hit 16, 16, D20 to take the second leg.

Third leg, O’Shea had the throw and put in a disappointing 60, followed by 140 from Hankey.

Next throw, O’Shea could only garner 94 with Hankey hitting another of his maximums for a 180 score.

O’Shea then hit 97, with Hankey answering with 65 of his own to leave himself with 116.

O’Shea hit 100, and with his attempt at the win Hankey came up short once again with 60.

Needing 150, O’Shea only managed 134, and Hankey didn’t pass up the opportunity and took out his double.

The fourth leg saw Hankey throwing first, putting in a 60, and O’Shea saw his darts going astray with a low score of 15.

Hankey was out for blood though and hit a 140, but O’Shea proved he wasn’t out with a 140 of his own.

Hankey threw another 140, with O’Shea lowering his throws a bit with 85.

Neither player produced on the next throws, but Hankey saw himself with a chance to win, but yet again failed to take advangage giving O’Shea a shot to win.

O’Shea missed the bull to win, and Hankey then took the leg, the set, and the BDO World Championship with his next trip to the oche.

The scores may have been lackluster, but the competition and spirit of the game made up for the darts as the emotions flew.

Taking his second Lakeside World Final Trophy, Hankey was obviously taken aback, his wife joined him onstage to accept the check.

Being called Champion was what Hankey wanted, and by BDO standards he was just that today.

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