GERWYN PRICE is targeting a positive end to a difficult year after overcoming a ruptured Achilles tendon to claim his first European Tour title on Sunday.
Price picked up the International Darts Open crown in Riesa after defeating Simon Whitlock 8-3 in the final to become the fourth new winner on the continent in 2018.
The Welshman's tough debut Premier League campaign was compounded by suffering the freak leg injury in June but Price can now see light at the end of the tunnel following his return to form in Germany.
If I can do a Rob Cross and win the Worlds I wouldn't mind!
"I'm thrilled to bits to win this, it means the world to me," said Price, whose last PDC triumph came in May 2016.
"It's been a long road to recovery and there'es still a long way to go because it was a bad injury.
"I'm probably going to be limping for the next six months but I will keep battling on and take each tournament as it comes.
"My aim is to finish the year strong, if I can do a Rob Cross and win the Worlds I wouldn't mind!"
Price recorded wins over John Henderson, Daryl Gurney, Ryan Searle, Steve West and Whitlock to clinch the £25,000 prize ahead of a busy end to the year for the former UK Open finalist.
The Welsh ace's win at the weekend has seen him join the provisional qualifiers for the bwin Grand Slam of Darts, while he is also set to star in the Unibet World Grand Prix, Unibet European Championship and Players Championship Finals ahead of the William Hill World Darts Championship.
"To climb the rankings and go above some of the greatest players in the world like Raymond van Barneveld is a great feeling," added Price, who is now up to 12th on the PDC Order of Merit.
"If you fear your opponents then you won't win anything and over the last two years I've learnt not to fear the bigger players.
"I'm scoring like a demon but I'm just missing opportunities because I'm not practicing enough at the moment.
"I'm out of the boot now so I will be able to put more hours in on the practice board and touch up on the doubles."