DENNIS PRIESTLEY picked up a third PDC Pro Tour victory of 2008 with a 3-1 victory over Raymond van Barneveld in Sunday's Irish Players Championship.
Priestley, 58, followed up earlier wins this year in Bristol and Canada with a fine performance to warm up for the Sky Poker World Grand Prix in style.
He had reached the quarter-finals of Saturday's Players Championship on his return from a month out of action to undergo radiotherapy treatment during his ongoing battle with prostate cancer.
Sunday saw him battle through the field at the Citywest Hotel to claim the £5,000 title at the expense of Dutch ace van Barneveld.
He was pushed all the way by Spain's Carlos Rodriguez in round one, and defeated John MaGowan, Louis Blundell, Colin Monk and Jelle Klaasen to reach the semi-finals.
Priestley then came from a set down to defeat Mervyn King 3-1 in the last four, and made an ideal start to the decider by winning the first two legs for a one-set advantage.
Van Barneveld edged the second set in a deciding leg with an 82 finish, despite a third maximum of the game from Priestley, and the Dutchman took the opener to set three.
But Priestley opened the next leg with a 174 score and took out double eight to level before winning the set on double five.
He then took two successive legs in the next, punishing misses from the Dutchman in the fourth set's opener, to seal the win.
"I'm very proud and very tired!" said Priestley, who moves back to tenth in the PDC Order of Merit as a result of his success.
"I'm drained and it's been two long days, but I pushed myself through and was very determined.
"It's a big confidence boost ahead of the World Grand Prix. I play Denis Ovens on Monday and I can't wait to get on stage now, and hopefully continue this form."
Van Barneveld marked his return to action following a two-month break with a third Players Championship final of the year.
He had been knocked out in the last 16 on Saturday, but powered past Brendan Dolan, Kevin McDine, Robert Thornton, Denis Ovens, Colin Lloyd and Jamie Caven to reach the final.
King knocked out Saturday's Players Championship winner Phil Taylor in the last 16, making him the only player to record two wins over the 13-time World Champion so far in 2008 after a win in Scotland in April.
Leicester's Jamie Caven followed up his run to the final of a Players Championship in Wales last month with a semi-final appearance in this event, including World Championship runner-up Kirk Shepherd, Roland Scholten and Ronnie Baxter among his victims.
2004 World Grand Prix winner Colin Lloyd was a quarter-finalist for the second successive day, losing to van Barneveld on Sunday.
Jelle Klaasen reached the last eight of a Players Championship for the second time this year, while Adrian Lewis also reached the quarters.
Irish Players Championship (Sunday)
Preliminary Round
Nick Fulwell 3-0 Jim Leighton
First Round
Steve Beaton 3-0 Andy Howarth
Stuart Dutton 3-2 Ian Jopling
Phil Taylor 3-2 Sam Rooney
Nick Fulwell 3-0 Jon Archer
Kevin Painter 3-0 Chris Sargeant
Mark Lawrence 3-1 Darren Johnson
Mervyn King 3-0 Chris Oprey
Gary Barnett 3-2 Ian Critchett
Andy Smith 3-0 Kevin Harris
Chris Thompson 3-1 Alan Caves
Andy Hamilton 3-2 Felix McBrearty
Alan Warriner-Little 3-2 Shane Passey
Barrie Bates 3-0 Lee White
Simon Whatley 3-0 Nigel Birch
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Tony Blundell
Stephen Hardy 3-0 Steve Cupitt
Wayne Jones 3-1 Steve Cusick
Jan van der Rassel 3-1 Jacko Barry
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Darren Sutton
Colin Monk 3-0 Scott Kirchner
Chris Mason 3-1 Robert Watson-Lang
Louis Blundell 3-0 Andy Mason
Dennis Priestley 3-2 Carlos Rodriguez
John MaGowan 3-0 Andrew Davies
Alex Roy 3-2 Ken Dobson
Jim Withers 3-2 David Platt
Steve Grubb 3-2 John Part
Gary Mawson 3-1 Karl Loiseau
Jelle Klaasen 3-2 Vincent van der Voort
Andy Pearson 3-1 John Quantock
Peter Manley 3-0 Gary Storey
Dave Honey 3-2 Tony Ayres
Robert Thornton 3-1 Mick McGowan
Dave Askew Bye (Alan Green Withdrew through injury)
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Brendan Dolan
Kevin McDine 3-0 John Dawes
Denis Ovens 3-0 Nigel Peden
Robbie Newland 3-1 Darren Latham
Peter Wright 3-2 Colin Osborne
Steve Evans 3-1 Matt Sheehan
Mark Walsh 3-0 Peter Aleman
Danny King 3-0 Dave Ansell
Colin Lloyd 3-0 Dave Ladley
John Kuczynski 3-0 Dennis Smith
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Danny Pinhorne
Lionel Sams 3-2 Co Stompe
Alan Tabern 3-0 Michael van Gerwen
Matt Clark 3-0 Steve Maish
Chris Cooper 3-1 Adrian Gray
James Barton 3-1 Martyn Turner
Wayne Mardle 3-1 Steve Musson
Mark Frost 3-1 Wayne Atwood
Kirk Shepherd 3-0 Stuart Holden
Jamie Caven 3-0 Geoff Daniels
Roland Scholten 3-0 Jonathan Overton
Lee Holden 3-1 John Jenkinson
Wes Newton 3-0 Aaron Turner
Tony Eccles 3-0 Ian Eames
James Wade 3-0 James Keogh
Joe Cullen 3-0 Darin Young
Mark Dudbridge 3-1 Lee Williams
Shane O'Connor 3-2 Geoff Whitworth
Ronnie Baxter 3-2 Ben Burton
Bob Crawley 3-0 Steve Brown
Second Round
Steve Beaton 3-0 Stuart Dutton
Phil Taylor 3-1 Nick Fulwell
Kevin Painter 3-0 Mark Lawrence
Mervyn King 3-0 Gary Barnett
Andy Smith 3-1 Chris Thompson
Andy Hamilton 3-1 Alan Warriner-Little
Barrie Bates 3-1 Simon Whatley
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Stephen Hardy
Wayne Jones 3-1 Jan van der Rassel
Colin Monk 3-0 Terry Jenkins
Louis Blundell 3-2 Chris Mason
Dennis Priestley 3-1 John MaGowan
Alex Roy 3-0 Jim Withers
Steve Grubb 3-0 Gary Mawson
Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Andy Pearson
Peter Manley 3-2 Dave Honey
Robert Thornton 3-1 Dave Askew
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Kevin McDine
Denis Ovens 3-0 Robbie Newland
Peter Wright 3-1 Steve Evans
Mark Walsh 3-1 Danny King
Colin Lloyd 3-0 John Kuczynski
Andy Jenkins 3-2 Lionel Sams
Alan Tabern 3-1 Matt Clark
Chris Cooper 3-1 James Barton
Mark Frost 3-2 Wayne Mardle
Jamie Caven 3-1 Kirk Shepherd
Roland Scholten 3-2 Lee Holden
Tony Eccles 3-1 Wes Newton
James Wade 3-1 Joe Cullen
Mark Dudbridge 3-0 Shane O'Connor
Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Bob Crawley
Losers £75
Third Round
Phil Taylor 3-1 Steve Beaton
Mervyn King 3-1 Kevin Painter
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Andy Smith
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Barrie Bates
Colin Monk 3-1 Wayne Jones
Dennis Priestley 3-2 Louis Blundell
Alex Roy 3-2 Steve Grubb
Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Peter Manley
Raymond van Barneveld 3-2 Robert Thornton
Denis Ovens 3-1 Peter Wright
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Mark Walsh
Alan Tabern 3-1 Andy Jenkins
Mark Frost 3-2 Chris Cooper
Jamie Caven 3-0 Roland Scholten
James Wade 3-0 Tony Eccles
Ronnie Baxter 3-2 Mark Dudbridge
Losers £150
Fourth Round
Mervyn King 3-1 Phil Taylor
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Andy Hamilton
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Colin Monk
Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Alex Roy
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Denis Ovens
Colin Lloyd 3-2 Alan Tabern
Jamie Caven 3-2 Mark Frost
Ronnie Baxter 3-2 James Wade
Losers £300
Quarter-Finals
Mervyn King 3-0 Adrian Lewis
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Jelle Klaasen
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Colin Lloyd
Jamie Caven 3-0 Ronnie Baxter
Losers £600
Semi-Finals
Dennis Priestley 3-1 Mervyn King (1-2, 2-0, 2-1, 2-1)
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Jamie Caven (2-0, 1-2, 2-1, 2-1)
Losers £1,250
Final
Dennis Priestley 3-1 Raymond van Barneveld (2-0, 1-2, 2-1, 2-0)
Winner £5,000
Runner-Up £2,500
News Updates
First Round
Andy Hamilton edges out Ireland Open Classic winner Felix McBrearty in five sets.
Steve Grubb defeats John Part 3-2, winning the final two legs of the deciding set to knock out the World Champion.
Phil Taylor comes from 2-1 down to win against Sam Rooney.
Ronnie Baxter also has to come from behind, having trailed 2-0 against Ben Burton before taking three successive sets for the win.
American John Kuczynski avenges Saturday's defeat to Dennis Smith with a 3-0 first round win.
Jelle Klaasen sneaks past fellow Dutchman and MasterDarts stable-mate Vincent van der Voort 3-2.
Second Round
Jamie Caven upsets Kirk Shepherd's 22nd birthday celebrations with a 3-1 victory.
Kevin Painter and Mervyn King progress to board two final with straight sets wins over Mark Lawrence and Gary Barnett.
Wins for Robert Thornton and Raymond van Barneveld mean they will meet in the last 32.
Jelle Klaasen and Colin Lloyd also progress with 3-0 wins, over Andy Pearson and John Kuczynski.
James Wade defeats Joe Cullen 3-1 and now meets Tony Eccles, who knocked out Wes Newton.
Phil Taylor takes 3-1 win over Nick Fulwell - who went close to a nine-darter against the world number one.
Andy Smith wins 3-1 against Chris Thompson, while Barrie Bates and Adrian Lewis set up board four final with wins.
Peter Manley's narrow win over Dave Honey sets up last 32 meeting with Klaasen.
Alan Tabern sets up board final with Andy Jenkins with 3-1 win over Matt Clark.
Mark Frost knocks out Wayne Mardle 3-2.
Peter Wright follows up win over Colin Osborne by defeating Steve Evans to set up board final with Denis Ovens.
Andy Hamilton wins 3-1 against Alan Warriner-Little.
Dennis Priestley's win over John MaGowan completes the round two action.
Third Round
Raymond van Barneveld is first man into the last 16 with five-set win over Robert Thornton.
Mervyn King takes 3-1 win over Kevin Painter to reach fourth round.
Adrian Lewis reaches last 16 with 3-0 win over Barrie Bates.
Colin Lloyd wins 3-1 against Mark Walsh.
Jelle Klaasen books place in last 16 with victory over Peter Manley in straight sets.
Jamie Caven, the runner-up in a Welsh Players Championship last month, eliminates Roland Scholten 3-0.
James Wade and Ronnie Baxter set up fourth round contest with wins over Tony Eccles and Mark Dudbridge respectively.
Phil Taylor sees off Steve Beaton 3-1 to move into last 16 and remain on course for second successive final.
Alan Tabern overcomes Andy Jenkins to set up fourth round game with Lloyd.
Fourth Round
Ronnie Baxter sneaks past Saturday's runner-up James Wade with a 3-2 win.
Jamie Caven also needs five sets before defeating Mark Frost to set up quarter-final with Baxter.
Raymond van Barneveld overcomes Denis Ovens 3-1 to reach quarter-finals.
Colin Lloyd's narrow win over Alan Tabern puts him into the last eight for a second successive day.
Mervyn King knocks out Phil Taylor 3-1, meaning he is the only player to record two wins over the 13-time World Champion in 2008, following his victory in the Scottish Players Championship in April.
Jelle Klaasen's good run continues with a 3-0 win over Alex Roy to put him into the quarters for only the second time in Players Championships this year.
Adrian Lewis exacts revenge over Stoke rival Andy Hamilton for Saturday's last 16 defeat with a 3-1 victory.
Dennis Priestley reaches second successive quarter-final with 3-0 win over Colin Monk.
Quarter-Finals
Jamie Caven avenged his defeat to Ronnie Baxter in the final of the recent Welsh Players Championship with a straight sets quarter-final win.
Raymond van Barneveld moves into semis with 3-0 win over Colin Lloyd, who goes down in the quarters for a second successive day.
Mervyn King books semi-final place with straight sets win over Adrian Lewis.
Dennis Priestley's impressive form over the weekend continues with a straight sets win over Jelle Klaasen to put him into the semis against King.
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld defeats Jamie Caven 3-1 to reach his first Players Championship final since April. He took the first set 2-0, with Caven levelling by taking set two in a decider. Van Barneveld then edged the next two to book his place in the final.
Dennis Priestley booked his place in the final with a 3-1 win over Mervyn King. King won the opening set 2-1, before the Yorkshireman levelled with back-to-back legs. Priestley took the third set in a deciding leg, and repeated the feat to seal victory in the next.