‘Duzza’ beat Mark ‘Gladiator’ McGeeney 7-6 in a match of unbelievable drama to join Eric Bristow, Raymond Van Barneveld and Martin Adams as the only men to successfully defend this crown.
Stockport’s McGeeney missed doubles for the match before Durrant sealed it and the champion said: “I was gone, there was only going to be one winner.
“The names of Bristow, Barney and Wolfie are legends and it just so special.”
Durrant banks the £100,000 first prize and insisted he will return in 12 months time, once more reaffirming he will not be going to the PDC’s Q School.
“I will be back here looking to win again,” said Middlesbrough’s Durrant. “I know everyone back home will be so proud of me.”
After a brilliant fight back from McGeeney who trailed 6-4, the match went to a nail-biting final set in which Gladiator led 2-0.
But Durrant brought it back to 2-2 and then somehow held his nerve to land a sizzling checkout of 149 to go 3-2 ahead before securing the title on double three.
McGeeney, who won £35,000, said: “I don’t think we both played to our best but we entertained.”
They did that alright in a match of 25 180s, with Durrant hitting 15 of them and the champion ended with an average of 93.97 against McGeeney’s 86.31.
It stayed with throw for the opening eight sets for 4-4 and then finally the match swung Durrant’s way as the defending champion won the ninth set to lead the match for the very first time and then when he moved 6-4 in front, he did his famous shuffle on the oche to celebrate.
But McGeeney was far from finished and he came back to 6-5 as Durrant missed seven doubles in the 11th set and then the drama just grew in the next set as Gladiator took the match to the unforgettable decider.