Darts: Joiner Waites cashes in

Scott Waites, a joiner from Halifax, claimed the Grand Slam of Darts at the second time of asking on Sunday night after a gritty and incisive fightback against world No 2 James Wade.

Wade raced into an 8-0 lead leaving his opponent concentrating on damage limitation rather than capturing the prestigous title and the 100,000 cheque that went with it.

Waites, a beaten finalist last year, produced a marvellous comeback, winning 16 of the final 20 legs to claim the biggest title of his career.

The 33-year-old, who began the final with a 180 before Wade took charge, said: "When I won a leg and then another and five on the bounce I thought 'I can get back into this'.

"I started to hit my doubles and the next thing I knew I was level.

"It's an absolutely incredible feeling."

His triumph helped to erase the pain of his 16-2 defeat by Phil Taylor in the 2009 Grand Slam final.