Stewart Anderson was crowned the Just World Indoor Singles champion for a second time after beating surprise package Simon Skelton in a tense-filled, but brilliant final at Potters.

Anderson last won the title in 2013 and after winning the Scottish International Open back in November, he came into this event as the clear form pick. Winners of back-to-back WBT events are rare beasts as they tend to struggle to replicate their form of the previous tournament, but Anderson sparkled like a beacon throughout, dropping his first set of the event in the final, and was a deserved champion, although he was pushed all the way by Skelton.

The 11-5 6-8 2-0 scoreline attested to a nerve-crunching showpiece, one which Anderson looked in control after securing a first-set advantage. But the way Skelton came roaring back, determined not to go down without a fight, made for a thrilling battle between two players who were not prepared to give an inch.

Anderson was never behind in winning the first set, which was concluded after 10 ends, but Skelton bagged an early treble on the first end of the second set and added a single, which suddenly swung the balance of the match.

A double followed by successive singles had Anderson level after five ends and doubts must have started to creep into the Nottingham ace’s mind, but Skelton showed incredible battling qualities to come through against Nick Brett in the semi-final and was at it again, matching Anderson all the way.

Level pegging after nine ends, he secured a crucial single on the next, but still needed to win the final end and clenched his fists in delight as he triggered a three-end lottery.

He then produced a superb opening drawer to put the pressure firmly on Anderson, and after he missed with a drive, he struck again with his next weighted delivery and although Skelton bowled in with his next, Anderson produced a top quality drawer to take a 1-0 lead.

The second end was virtually the same, with Skelton getting in first, but again Anderson blasted him off, with his opponent drawing within two feet to lie shot, again. Anderson went wide on the backhand and the expression on the ninth seed’s face suggested he wasn’t going to get in, but his red bowl just touched off the green shot to win him the end and the match, and boy did he celebrate, running down the rink and punching the air in delight.