00:00Man Slam champion, how special does that feel?
00:02It's a special feeling.
00:05It's been a tremendous week, 10 days.
00:08The hard work has paid off and I can go home as champion.
00:12A brilliant final, so many big moments,
00:14but that 1.60 finish to go 11.9 up,
00:16did you feel that was a turning point for you?
00:18Yeah, I felt like it was a turning point
00:21because I got back into the lead
00:23and then went on to it.
00:26I'm going to the last break, 15.10.
00:30I knew I was only a leg away,
00:31but I just had to keep focusing
00:33and get that one leg off the line, which I did.
00:36And 14 games, 14 wins on the Grand Slam stage.
00:39What is it about this tournament that brings the best out of you?
00:42Yeah, I think I said it last year.
00:43It's just like a little Champions League knockout.
00:47Obviously, to win all three games and remain unbeaten
00:50and then obviously come out of the group stage,
00:52that's when the longer format comes into play
00:55and then that's when you see the best out of me.
00:57And you knew after beating Danny
00:59you'd become the new world number one after the tournament,
01:01but to mark that achievement by lifting the title
01:03must make it extra special.
01:04Yeah, obviously I've been checking the rankings
01:07and obviously with Luke Bunsen,
01:08he'd only be 500 quid behind me,
01:11but I've managed to pull away
01:13and make that a smaller gap.
01:16And yeah, we carry on next week in Minard.
01:19And also the first time you've retained a Premier PDC title,
01:21so another milestone moment for you.
01:23Yeah, it's not easy going back-to-back in any competition
01:26and I've done it here.
01:28And yeah, it's been, like I said, a great 10 days
01:31and the hard work's paid off.
01:33Thanks, Luke.
01:33Well done.
01:34Cheers.
01:34Luke, congratulations.
01:36I remember coming in, you said you wanted to defend one
01:38because you hadn't defended a major.
01:40Was there an extra pressure?
01:42What was that feeling like knowing that you had defended one there?
01:44Yeah, I wouldn't say there's any pressure coming into it.
01:46Obviously, it was not an easy group to get out of,
01:50but I managed to get out of it with all three wins.
01:54And then, like I said there, the longer format comes in,
01:56that's when you see the best out of me.
01:58And yeah, it's all paid off.
02:01And again, you refuse to say it now,
02:03but what does it feel like knowing statistically
02:04you are now the best in the world?
02:06Yeah, I am the best in the world.
02:08I can finally say it.
02:09World number one, you are the best in the world.
02:12And then, obviously, to top it off,
02:14going back to back makes it even more special.
02:16Again, on stage, you and Luke there with Polly at Sky,
02:20in a league of your own,
02:21do you agree that you two are literally right now
02:23the best two players by far better than anyone else on the planet?
02:27Yeah, I think we are.
02:28The finals show it, the stats show it.
02:31And like Luke said there,
02:32if everyone's getting bored of me and him,
02:34then someone needs to stop us,
02:36otherwise we're going to keep winning one and two.
02:38We're always going to meet in the final
02:40if we get past our opponents
02:41and we'll make it continue.
02:42And Luke said there, he wants the world title.
02:44Have you got one eye on that repeat final
02:46with him at Alexandria Palace?
02:48Yeah, well, obviously, if it goes all to plan,
02:50then me and Luke will obviously meet in the final.
02:53But we've still got, obviously, minded next week
02:55for myself a few exhibitions,
02:56just keep the arm going
02:58and obviously I'll focus on to the worlds.
02:59Gotcha.
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