Fourth time's the charm: Deta Hedman seals final elusive piece of darting puzzle with WDF World Championship triumph at Lakeside

The greatest ever female player never to win a World Championship...until now as Deta Hedman at the fourth attempt has become the oldest World Champion in darting history. She defeated Lerena Rietbergen 4-1 in sets on Sunday afternoon to achieve the last piece really of her darting puzzle.

Hedman is one of the most successful players ever male or female but while she has never slowed down during a career that began in 1973, 'The Caribbean Queen' fell at the final hurdle at the Lakeside in 2012, 2014 and 2016 and perhaps had the toughest draw out of any of the top names.

She had Mikuru Suzuki or Kirsi Viinikainen in her section to start so if she was to win her first world title, it would very much be the toughest way to do so. But she found a way in also seeing off Sophie McKinlay and Priscilla Steenbergen.

Then a certain Lerena Rietbergen awaited who was top seed and had a great tournament but Hedman had too much after losing the opening set and achieves darting destiny. Ironically Mitchell Lawrie could become the youngest World Champion next and Hedman is the oldest at 66. A player who has won multiple World Masters and nearly every title there is to win, she finally has the one that matters most.

Rietbergen was emphatic to start the final taking the first set 3-1 with a best of an 18-darter to break throw in the form of a 64 checkout with Hedman missing darts to hold. But the tables turned.

Rietbergen won another leg to start set two with a 65 checkout but despite leaving 89 on Hedman's throw, she didn't get a go as Hedman made it 1-1 and after a poor leg, Hedman broke before going on to take out 60 for the set.

But in the next set, Rietbergen had a mini fightback only to be quelled by Hedman. She made it 2-2 but sitting on double 20 Hedman with her back against the wall managed to produce hitting a 112 checkout to seal the set.

Hedman headed further into the ascendancy as Rietbergen held with a 66 checkout for a 15-darter but she spurned chances to hold and Hedman after holding herself went 2-1 up throwing for the set to go 3-1 up and one away from the title.

Rietbergen couldn't hit back on Hedman's throw merely leaving 147 in the event that Hedman didn't produce but she only whittled it down to 82 and Hedman who left nine returned to seal the set and go one away hitting double four.

Rietbergen pinned double 10 to seal the opening leg of the next set to break as she aimed for a fightback with Hedman now one away. But Hedman broke back immediately with a 180 and double 20 for a 17-darter to make it 1-1.

Hedman held from there to go one away with a 67 checkout and she sealed the winning pinning double 20 with Rietbergen only waiting on 85 after Hedman had already missed the chance to win prior.