Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis won back to back World Championships with an amazing display to oust Andy ‘The Hammer’ Hamilton 7-3 at the Alexandra Palace tonight to be the Ladbrokes World Darts Champion 2012.

The 26-year-old Stoke star creates history by becoming the first man to defend the PDC World Championship title, at the first time of asking. Lewis led the match twice in the early stages, only for Hamilton to peg-back on both occasions, to leave the match finely balanced at two all. Lewis then took the next two sets to move 4-2 up, before Hamilton won the fifth without reply to keep in the hunt.

However, Lewis took the eighth set to restore his two-sets advantage, before edging the next two in deciding leg’s, to secure the £200,000 winner’s prize, and end Hamilton’s hopes of claiming his first major title. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet that I’ve won this brilliant Championship for the second time, said a delighted Lewis. “I hit the right finishes at the right times, which was the key to my win tonight.

Andy never gave up, and landed some superb checkouts of him own. “He’s played superbly throughout this Championship, and in my opinion, fully deserves a place in the Premier League. “The key to winning this title was probably my semi-final victory against James Wade. I looked down and out at 5-1 down, but I refused to give up, and that’s the reason why I’m standing here with the trophy .”

The final began with Hamilton missing a chance at double 10 for a 90 finish. Lewis almost snatched the leg, but his attempt at double 19 was off-target, and Hamilton returned to hold throw. Lewis, who came from 5-1 down in his semi-final clash against James Wade claimed the third leg against the darts after Hamilton missed two chances at double 10, but the 2007 Grand Slam finalist hit-back by landing double eight to win his fourth leg.

Hamilton held advantage of throw in the deciding leg, but Lewis took with a fantastic 122 checkout, completed on the bullseye, to establish an early lead. Hamilton, who defeated Simon Whitlock in the last four, by taking the last three-sets, secured an early break of throw at the start of set two, by hitting double 16. Lewis hit double 20 with his first dart to break in the second, before Hamilton took the third leg against the darts, courtesy of an accurate attempt at double eight.

The fourth leg saw Lewis miss a dart at tops for a 117 finish, allowing Hamilton to hit double six, to win the set, and level the match. Hamilton won the opening leg of the third set against the darts, before Lewis kicked-off of the second in blistering fashion with back-to-back maximums. Lewis, then hit another treble 20, followed by treble 19, but his attempt at double 12, for an unbelievable nine-dart finish was just high of the target – ending of hopes of achieving the feat, for the second final running.

The 26-year-old won the leg in 11-darts, and then won the next two legs which included an accomplished 14-dart finish, to lead the final for the second time. Hamilton took the opening two legs of the fourth set, which featured a superb 147 checkout, in the second. Lewis took the third on double top, only for Hamilton to seal the set in fine fashion, with a 105 finish, to level at two all.

The world number two broke throw at the start of the set five, only for Hamilton to reply with a 15-dart finish to take the second. Hamilton hit a 104 finish to take third leg, but a missed dart at double top for the set, allowed his opponent in to hit the same double to take it. Lewis then took the deciding leg with a 112 finish, to seal the set in style, and lead the final for third time. Lewis won the first leg of set six after Hamilton was off-target with a dart at double 16, but the number 17 seed made no mistake in the second, with another 104 checkout.

Lewis hit double 20 to take the third leg, and landed double 15 at the first time of asking in the next leg, to win the set, and move two-sets clear of Hamilton. Hamilton made a positive start to the seventh set by taking the opening two legs, which included a break of throw in the second. Lewis fired his seventh 180 of the match, but a missed dart at double top, gave Hamilton the opportunity to hit the same bed, and reduce the gap to 4-3.

Both players held throw comfortably at the start of set eight, before the third leg saw Hamilton miss a dart at bullseye for a 129 checkout to break. Lewis returned to hit double 10 and followed that by landing double 11 in the next, to move 5-3 up and restore his two-sets advantage. Hamilton defied a 177 from Lewis to take first leg of set nine on double five, before Lewis took the second, courtesy of a 67 finish.

Both players kicked-off the third leg with 180s before Lewis fired another maximum, to raise the crowd’s of a nine-dart finish, once again. Hopes were quashed when Lewis’ seventh attempt at a treble 20 was off-target, and then missed two darts at doubles to win it. However, Hamilton was unable to capitalise as he missed a dart at double four, and Lewis returned to land the same double and break throw.

Hamilton continued to fight, and won the fourth leg with a pressure 74 finish, to deny Lewis an opportunity of hitting double 14 for the set. The deciding leg saw Hamilton miss a dart at bullseye for the set, and that proved to be costly as Lewis stepped up to convert a 118 finish, to pull further clear at 6-3. Hamilton converted a 105 finish to make a winning start to the tenth set, and then hit double eight for a 2-0 advantage.

Lewis won the third leg by hitting double 10, before recording an excellent 13-dart finish to take the fourth, and move a leg away from the Championship. The deciding leg saw both players hit 180s before Lewis hit scores of 140 and 139 to reach a finish first, and leave a chance of claiming the title.

However, he missed two darts at double top, but Hamilton could not land the same double to complete a 125 checkout, and Lewis returned to hit tops with his first dart to win his second World Championship. Hamilton, who had to settle for the £100,000 runners-up cheque said: “I wanted to win so badly tonight, but it wasn’t to be in the end.

“I’ve learnt a lot about myself during this tournament, and I know that I will come back a better and stronger player.”

Result 2012 Ladbrokes World Championships

Andy Hamilton 3-7 Adrian Lewis (Best 13 Sets) (3-2, 1-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-2, 3-1, 0-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)

0-1 - Hamilton begins the final by holding throw on double 10. Lewis hit the same double to level, before the next two legs see both p layers break throw to see a deciding-leg. Hamilton held the advantage of throw, but Lewis claims it with a fantastic 122 checkout, completed on the bullseye, to take set one.

1-1 - Hamilton secures an early break of throw, only for Lewis to immediately break-back by hitting  double top, with his first dart. Hamilton breaks Lewis’ throw for the second time in the set and then hits double six in the fourth leg, to level the match.

1-2 - Hamilton takes the first leg before Lewis kicks-off the second with sensational back-to-back maximums. The world number two lands a seventh treble 20, followed by treble 19, but his attempt at double for a nine-dart finish, is just high of the target. Lewis continues the high scoring over the course of the next two legs, sealing the set with a 14-dart finish.

2-2 - Hamilton claims the opening two legs of set four, including a fantastic 147 checkout to take the second. Lewis hits double top with his first dart to take the third, but Hamilton levels the match with the aid of a 105 finish.

2-3 - Lewis breaks throw in the first leg before Hamilton cancels that advantage, by hitting a 15-dart finish to win the second. Hamilton takes the third with a 104, but a missed dart at double top to win the set allows Lewis to hit double top. The deciding leg see’s Lewis win it with a 112 finish, to lead the match for the third time.

2-4 - Lewis wins the first leg of set six, before Hamilton takes out a 104 finish - for the second time in the match - with his opponent waiting on 40. The world number two takes the next two legs on double 10, and double 15, took move two-sets clear.

3-4 - Hamilton wins the opening two legs, which includes a break of throw with an accurate dart at double 10. Lewis fires a 180 in the third, but a missed dart at double top, allows Hamilton the opportunity of landing the same double, to reduce the gap.

3-5 - Both players hold throw comfortably in the opening two legs, before Lewis takes the next two legs on double 10, and double 11, to take the set and move closer to his second World Championship title.

3-6 - Hamilton defied a 177 from Lewis to take the first leg, before Lewis took out 67 to win the second. Lewis hit superb back-to-back 180s to leave hopes of a nine-dart finish, for the second time. That was not to be, but he hit double four to break throw, however, Hamilton immediately hits-back with an excellent 74 finish, with Lewis waiting on double 14, for the set. The fifth leg see’s Hamilton miss a dart at bullseye, and Lewis records a superb 118 finish, to pull further clear.

3-7 - Hamilton keeps up the fight, and takes the first two legs, which includes a 105 checkout in the first. Lewis takes the third and follows that with a 14-darter to win the fourth. Both players begin the fifth leg, with 180s, before Lewis registers scores of 140 and 139 to reach a finish first. Lewis is off-target with chances to win the title, but Hamilton is unable to hit double top for 125 finish, to keep the match alive, and Lewis returns to hit double top to win the World Championship title for the second straight-year.