SO close to global glory.

That was the tale back in June as Denbigh dartist Mark Webster made it through to the final of the Betway World Cup of Darts.

Along with partner Gerwyn Price, Wales reached the showpiece final versus The Netherlands, with the powerful team of Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld prevailing to take the crown.

Webster and Price had to average 100.14 and survive two match darts as Wales edged past Finland in a last leg decider during the first round.

The final match of the opening day of action in Frankfurt began with Finland moving into a 2-0 lead to put the pressure on Wales, before Webster rose to the occasion taking out 124 on the bull to break back immediately.

The match then went with throw, including a 141 finish from Finland in leg seven, before a deciding leg was required.

Finland then had two opportunities to win the tie, but Kim Viljanen missed two darts at tops to seal the victory and Webster stepped in to pin double five before speaking of his relief.

"That was tough!" said the left-hander, a finalist in 2010.

"The guys played so well, but fortunately I had Gerwyn with me, he was brilliant.

"The scoring from him was great and fortunately I was there to tidy it up at the end."

Price, who hit four maximums and a 177 during the game, was pleased with the win.

“It’s great to get over the line. I scored well, but this is a team game and Mark hit the most important double of the night," said the 32-year old.

Webster then helped move Wales into Sunday’s final day of action as the deadly duo saw off the Republic of Ireland in the second round.

The Denbigh ace took out 81 on the bull to see off William O’Connor in a 4-3 win.

Earlier, Gerwyn Price had given Wales a winning start in their encounter with the Republic of Ireland as he overcame Mick McGowan 4-3, despite missing eight match darts - with the Irish ace unable to take five match darts of his own.

“It got a bit messy and we just about managed to get over the line,” said Webster.

Wales faced the Russian pairing of Aleksandr Oreshkin and Boris Koltsov in the last-eight after they upset the odds to take out fifth seeds Australia in a doubles decider.

It was a comfortable clash for the Welsh lads, though, with Price setting the ball rolling by beating Aleksandr Oreshkin 4-1, before Webster took to the stage and whitewashed Boris Koltsov to wrap up a 2-0 win.

Wales booked a place in their first World Cup final since 2010 with a 2-0 victory over eighth seeds Belgium in the last-four.

Gerwyn Price opted to open the tie and he took on Kim Huybrechts as the semi-finals got underway in Frankfurt.

The Welshman opened the match taking out 105 on tops to grab the initiative. Price then broke the Huybrechts throw, hitting a maximum in the process before pinning tops for a 2-0 lead.

Huybrechts refused to give in, though, breaking back immediately with a delightful 118 finish to close the gap to a single leg.

Price, appearing in his second World Cup, then regained control of the match by breaking the throw for a second time, hitting tops for the third time in four legs.

Once again, the Belgian responded as he landed back-to-back 180s to set up a 41 finish on double 16.

A fifth consecutive break of throw in the match gave Price the win as he found double 14 to put a point on the board.

Webster then sealed Wales' spot in the final by beating Ronny Huybrechts 4-2.

The Denbigh ace broke the Huybrechts throw in the opening leg of the match, taking out 80 on double 10 for a 1-0 lead.

A second pinning of double 10 followed as the Welshman doubled his advantage in the next leg. Huybrechts then got his first leg of the match on the board, hitting a maximum before taking out 96 on double eight.

Webster responded by hitting his second 180 of the match and then taking out 65 on double 10 to move within a leg of the match.

Huybrechts responded again, holding throw and forcing Webster to throw for the match.

The 33-year-old sealed his country's path to the final by hitting a third 180 and then pinning double 10 for the fourth time in the match.

Ultimately, it was The Netherlands who won the Betway World Cup of Darts for a third time with a 3-1 triumph in the final.

Van Gerwen opened the final with a 4-0 whitewash of UK Open finalist Price, before Webster clinically saw off van Barneveld 4-1 to level matters.

The Dutch raced into a 3-0 lead in the doubles tie, before Price responded to van Gerwen's 107 checkout by taking out 100 with the aid of two double tops as Wales hit back, but double 16 sealed a 4-1 result.

Van Barneveld then came from a leg down to defeat Price 4-2 in the final's third singles tie, hitting a 136 checkout in the process of sealing his World Cup hat-trick and a share of the £60,000 top prize.

Webster said: "We believed we could win, but they hit the big shots at the right time.

"I'm really proud of what we've done, I've had a great weekend with Gezzy and enjoyed every minute of it."