Sousa defeated PDC’s seventh ranked player, James Wade, in the final and won a prize of £125,000 (140,000 Euros), as well as climbing to 16th place in the ProTour ranking.

This is the best result ever of the 46-year-old Azambuja native, who only two years ago, after winning the ProTour card, dedicated himself to the sport full-time.

“It was a big difference in my life. Five years ago, I was sitting on the sofa watching these players on TV and wishing one day I could come here and play with them. And look at me! I won the Grand Slam! A dream come true. It’s fantastic,” said José de Sousa in a statement to the PDC broadcast moments after lifting the trophy.

Portuguese darts player José de Sousa wins Grand Slam

Sousa qualified for the Grand Slam 2020 by winning the European Darts Grand Prix in October, and finished the group stage of the tournament played in England in second place, with two wins (5-4 against Polish Krzysztof Ratajski and 5 -1 to England’s Lisa Ashton) and a defeat (5-2) to England’s Michael Smith.

After beating Dave Chisnal 10-7 in the round of 16, he crossed paths with the PDC Order of Merit fourth place again, but this time he beat Michael Smith 16-14.

In the semi-finals, the player, who has represented Phioenixdarts since August, defeated the renowned Australian player Simon Whitlock 16-12.

Known on the circuit as the Portuguese ‘The Special One’, for his brilliant career over the last two years, José de Sousa has thus won the first televised event in his career, joining the European Darts Grand Prix won in October in Germany and the Players Championship in Barnsley and Dublin in 2019.