ALAN TABERN'S win in Sunday's Peachtree Open Players Championship capped a remarkable weekend in his career.
The St Helens-based star picked up his second win of the year on the PDC Pro Tour in Atlanta - despite him arriving in the USA on Friday to find his suitcase, which contained his darts and clothes, had gone missing.
The suitcase eventually arrived on Saturday evening, meaning he had a darts shirt and, more importantly, his darts for Sunday's Players Championship event.
However, he also enjoyed success in other events in Atlanta on Saturday - having borrowed a set of darts from Manchester's Steve Cusick.
"I was absolutely over the moon to win on Sunday and it rounded off a great weekend," said Tabern.
"It started badly when I arrived and my bag was missing, but I borrowed a set of darts from Steve for the Cricket and the Pairs events on the Saturday and it was weird.
"I was playing Darin Young in the Cricket, and to be honest he was giving me advice on how to play the game while we were playing!
"But I beat him, then I beat Steve Brown, who apparently is very good at Cricket, and kept on winning.
"By the time I beat Roland Scholten, Kevin Painter and then Andy Jenkins in the final it was a running joke - and then Andy and myself reached the final of the Pairs event!"
Tabern only turned professional in 2005, but his win in Atlanta took him above Peter Manley to 12th in the PDC Order of Merit.
"I've gone above Peter in the Order of Merit now and there's a bit of a gap above me in the rankings," he said. "But I'm not defending any prize money from the World Grand Prix two years ago, so that's a bit of a bonus from me.
"I'm hoping to break into the top ten and push towards the top six because it would be a dream to be involved in the Premier League. I'm a big believer in fate and what will be will be."
He will compete in both Players Championship tournaments in Holland this coming weekend, and then takes part in the inaugural Championship League Darts - coming in alongside Phil Taylor and James Wade in the opening group for the tournament.
"I'm looking forward to the Championship League Darts," he said. "It's an exciting new event and a challenge to be in the first group.
"I want to play against these players, it will make me a better player whatever the result, and I'm looking to have a successful tournament."
Click here to read the Peachtree Open Players Championship Report