Duff caps off incredible week with 2022 WDF Lakeside World Championship triumph defeating Tricole in Men's Final
WDFNeil Duff was confident all week that his daughter's 18th birthday would see the best present of all being a World title and he has done it.
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Duff sealed the 2022 WDF Lakeside World Championship defeating Thibault Tricole 6-5 in a thrilling final with a 87.73 average in a result that not many would have expected barring the Northern Irishman at the start of proceedings.
He joins Beau Greaves, Bradly Roes and Eleanor Cairns in sealing the World titles at Frimley Green this week in a successful opener from the WDF.
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Tricole sealed an opening break and consolidated with a 180 followed by double four. He missed 129 for the set but returned for double four to seal it.
Tricole held with Duff missing 58 for a break to begin set two. Both hit 140’s to start Duff’s throw with Tricole following up again. He hit 41 to break throw and go 2-0 up.
Tricole missed 120 for the set but again Duff was well back and the Frenchman sailed into a 2-0 sets lead.
Duff finally got a leg to hold and begin set three. A 71 checkout saw Tricole level up but Duff finally went one away from a set back at 2-1 down.
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Duff missed 114 but Tricole couldn’t hit 112 which allowed the Northern Irishman back for a set. Duff missed a 93 checkout for an opening break and Tricole held.
Tricole hit double eight to go 2-0 up and sealed the set to go 3-1 up. A 94 and 82 s aw Duff go 2-0 up as he looked to hit back again and hit an 80 checkout to make it 3-2 in sets.
Tricole hit double eight to begin the requisite set. He hit a 140, 180 and 145 and pinned double 18 to make it 1-1. He pinned double 17 to go 2-1 up.
Tricole skied multiple darts to break but Duff missed three at double five which allowed the Frenchman to go 2-2 and he was throwing for a 4-2 sets lead. But an 81 checkout saw Duff level up.
Duff left double 10 to hold throw but Tricole hit an 80 checkout. Duff missed 101 to break back but Tricole hit 86 and was 2-0 up.
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Duff missed 132 on the bull but returned to hold and make it 2-1 after going back-to-back 180’s, he hit double four to make it 2-2. Duff missed 84 on the bull for the set and hit double 17 to go 4-3 up.
Duff hit a 180 and an 80 checkout to break and lead the eighth set. He missed a 140 checkout on double 10 and was punished with 96 to make it 1-1. Tricole went 2-1 up with a hold. Duff made it 2-2 with a 121 on bull. But Tricole sealed a hold on double 20 to make it 4-4.
A 62 checkout saw Tricole lead in the ninth set and he pinned another 180 but missed 120 only to return with 42 going begging for Duff. He hit double five to go 2-0 up.
Duff hit a 180 and double 16 to make it 2-1. He hit another maximum and 111 checkout to make it 2-2. It was another leg, another 180 and he hit double 10 to go one set away.
Tricole hit a 96 checkout to hold and begin a potentially pivotal set and double 20 to go one away from sending it all the way. He hit double eight to make it 5-5.
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Duff missed 60 for an opening hold but Tricole missed 44 which allowed Duff back for double 20. A 140 and 52 checkout saw Duff go one away.
A 171 saw 50 set for Duff but Tricole had a shot at 81 which he pulled and ‘The Duffman’ hit double 20 for the title.

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- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
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- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
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