Walton suffered the agony of being the first seed to fall in the championships as “The Thorn” proved to be a real pain in the Yorkshireman’s side.

“I really didn’t expect to win, John is such a class player but he just didn’t get going. He is a hard man to beat but I think winning the World Masters a couple of months ago helped a lot and has given me confidence.

“The fact I have played here before certainly makes a difference. So many players come to these championship for the first time and are overawed by the whole occasion. I hope I can have another good run this year and improve on my quarter final placing last time I was here,” said Thornton.

The Scot said that he had been lucky in the lead-up to the championship:

“Although there has been a lot of snow in Scotland, luckily it did not stick where I live and my train journey down to the south east only took five and a half hours after track work was completed. If I had travelled the previous day it would have taken me 16 hours and six train changes. Perhaps luck is on my side this week?” suggested the man from Ayrshire.

The 2001 world champion was punished for poor finishing in the opening set. After winning the toss Walton drew first blood but Thornton moved into a menacing 2-l lead, John Boy levelling in the fourth leg, the Scot sweeping back to take the set on double tops.

Thornton – a quarter finalist in his previous appearance at the championship - hit his second maximum as he sailed through the second set 3-0, his precision finishing a decisive factor.

With his back firmly wedged against the wall, the gritty South Yorkshireman moved up a gear, taking the opening leg of the fourth set but a first time double eight saw the Scot levelling the set.

He followed up with double 18 for a 2-1 advantage, Walton missing a crucial double seven for a match-saving 93 checkout. Thornton missed double tops and then double 10 but luckless Walton missed a further two doubles.

The 30-year-old Scot stepped up to the oche and fired for double five, nudging the wire before planting the winning dart in the same double to bid John Boy “goodnight.”