TAUNTON darts ace Justin Pipe reached his first PDC final in more than four years after a terrific string of performances in Barnsley today (Tuesday).

Taking part in Players Championship 19, Pipe beat world number eight Mensur Suljovic 6-3 in the last 16 before seeing off Ryan Joyce (6-2) and Ron Meulenkamp (7-4) to reach the final.

There he was up against Peter 'Snakebite' Wright, the world number five, who landed a crucial early break of throw.

The next seven legs all went with the throw and 'The Force' then missed two darts at a double when 5-3 behind.

The Taunton player refused to give in, breaking the Scot to keep the match alive at 7-5, but Wright won the next leg to seal victory and the £10,000 prize.

Reaching the final was an excellent achievement in itself for six-time award winner Pipe and he performed admirably once there, with the fourth highest average (103) in a Players Championship final this year.

Pipe, 47, had earlier beaten Grand Slam champion Gerwyn Price in the very first round of the tournament and his return to form is looking very nicely timed with some big events coming up.

Peter Wright said of his opponent: "It's good to see Justin reach the final, he's been working very hard to get his game back. He let me off early on and I capitalised."