HARUKI Muramatsu will represent Japan at the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship after winning through the inaugural PDJ Challenge Tournament in Yokohama on Sunday.
Muramatsu, 32, is one of Japan's top soft-tip players and defeated one of his closest rivals at the other version of the sport, Morihiro Hashimoto 6-2 in the final.
Hashimoto had been widely tipped to claim the World Championship spot as he had significantly more steel tip experience than his opponent, who had only previously played in one tournament of that nature.
But Muramatsu, from the northern city of Iwate, improved considerately as the tournament progressed and was a comfortable final victor as Hashimoto tired.
Hashimoto's quarter-final was arguably the match of the day, as he edged out Kenichi Ajiki 5-4 having spurned a 3-0 lead.
He had fewer problems in his semi-final though, easily disposing of Arashi Matsumoto 5-1 with Hashimoto's outstanding finishing proving crucial.
Muramatsu, by contrast, needed a final leg victory to beat Hirokazu Yoshida, who held a 3-1 advantage but could not close the game out.
Muramatsu used the experience from the match to good effect though as he strolled past a wilting Hashimoto in the final, winning four successive legs including finishes of 121 and 73 before coolly hitting double 16 to secure his place in Alexandra Palace's Preliminary Round.
"I couldn't beat Morihiro at soft tip, but I have done so at steel tip and am so happy," Muramatsu said.
"I am going to take on the world now and will do my best to win as many matches as I can."
The PDJ (Professional Darts Japan) Challenge Tournament final stages comprised the top four players from open qualifiers in the West and East Japan regions.
Quarter-Finals
Morihiro Hashimoto 5-4 Kenichi Ajiki
Arashi Matsumoto 5-2 Daisuke Akamatsu
Hirokazu Yoshida 5-2 Yuichi Okiyama
Haruki Muramatsu 5-2 Atsushi Takeuchi
Semi-Finals
Morihiro Hashimoto 5-1 Arashi Matsumoto
Haruki Muramatsu 5-4 Hirokazu Yoshida
Final
Haruki Muramatsu 6-2 Morihiro Hashimoto