Canadian John Part won the 2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Championship with a 7-2 victory over qualifier Kirk Shepherd in the final at Alexandra Palace.

The 41-year-old lifted his third title to become a member of an elite group who have won either version of the world championship more than twice.

With previous victories in 1994 (the BDO crown) and 2003 he joined 13-time champion Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow (five titles) and John Lowe (three) as the only other player to have completed the feat.

Part won the very first leg and never looked back, claiming the first two sets 3-2 with the next two taken 3-0 as he won seven legs in succession.

Shepherd, the 21-year-old sheet metal worker from Kent and 500-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, ended that run by taking the lead in the fifth and fought back from 2-1 down to win his first set.

Part took the next but an extraordinary 160-finish by Shepherd after his opponent missed double eight made it 5-2.

It was only a brief respite, however, as the Canadian continued his dominance to close out the match with the next two sets.

"It is unbelievable, absolutely fantastic. I just came over and wanted to have a good performance," said Part.

"I've had a good year in 2007 and I knew I was playing good enough to get far into the tournament but never imagined winning it.

"It is harder when you are older. I was worried as it was getting hot and the fingers were getting slippy.

"He (Shepherd) seemed to be getting confident so I'm happy I closed it out when I did because he could have been a lot of trouble."

The runner-up was close to tears at the finish but said he was happy with his performance in the tournament overall, if not in the final.

"I have reached the final of the hardest darts competition in the world and I am so proud of that," he told Sky Sports 1.

"I would have liked to have played better but you can't take it away from John, a worthy champion.

"I didn't start off well - at 4-0 down against a player like John it is very hard to get back into it.

"I'll be back, this is the start of things."

Shepherd is due to be back in work on Wednesday but after picking up £50,000 - half Part's reward - for second place he admitted it may take him a while to return to the factory.

"I might pull a few sick days for a start," he added.