JAMIE HUGHES won his first senior PDC title at the inaugural Czech Darts Open in Prague on Sunday, securing a Betfred World Matchplay debut in the process.

Having won his PDC Tour Card for the first time in January, Hughes took just five months to taste success on the PDC stage, defeating Stephen Bunting 8-3 in the final at the PVA Expo. The win also secures a maiden appearance at the World Matchplay for a resilient Hughes, who plied his trade on the PDC Challenge Tour in 2018 having failed to win a Tour Card at his first attempt.

“It’s an amazing feeling to win my first title, I’ve worked so hard for this moment,”said Hughes, who defeated Devon Petersen, Adrian Lewis, Ron Meulenkamp, Ian White and Simon Whitlock to reach the final.

“I’ve been playing well for a while now, better than I played this weekend strangely enough, and now I’ve finally got the results to show for it.

“To make the World Matchplay so soon is fantastic for me and now I can’t wait to show the world what I’m about on one of the biggest stages in world darts.”

The final of the ninth European Tour event of 2019 was played out by two European Tour final debutants, and it was Bunting who struck first with a break of throw in the opening leg after nervy missed darts at double from Hughes.

Sunday June 30th

Third Round
Keegan Brown 6-4 Danny Noppert
Mensur Suljovic 6-3 Ted Evetts
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Chris Dobey
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Jermaine Wattimena
Ian White 6-1 Andrew Gilding
Jamie Hughes 6-3 Ron Meulenkamp
Mervyn King 6-4 Corey Cadby
Gerwyn Price 3-6 Simon Whitlock

Quarter-Finals
Keegan Brown 6-2 Mensur Suljovic
Stephen Bunting 6-3 Daryl Gurney
Ian White 5-6 Jamie Hughes
Mervyn King 4-6 Simon Whitlock

Semi-Finals
Keegan Brown 4-7 Stephen Bunting
Jamie Hughes 7-3 Simon Whitlock

Final
Stephen Bunting 3-8 Jamie Hughes

Prize Fund:

Winner: £25,000
Runner-up: £10,000
Semi-Finalists: £6,500
Quarter-Finalists: £5,000
Last 16: £3,000
Last 32: £2,000
Last 48: £1,000
Total: £140,000