Colin Lloyd made a remarkable comeback to retain his Antwerp Open trophy.

Trailing two sets down against Mick Manning, Lloyd blew away his opponent by comprehensively winning the next three sets.

Lloyd, from Witham, told the Evening Gazette: "When I was 2-0 down I stood there and thought 'I've played better than this' and took the next three sets 3-1, 3-0 and 3-0."

After beating Kevin Painter in last year's final, Lloyd was confident as he headed back out to Belgium in pursuit of holding on to his crown.

"My form was good going into the tournament.

"I felt nice and relaxed and it gave me that little bit of extra incentive to go out there and hopefully defend my title.

"It's nice to go back out there as champion."

The victory provided Lloyd, nicknamed Jaws, with eight world ranking points and takes him up to fourth in the world - his joint highest position.

Lloyd joins an elite band of players who have retained the Antwerp Open including Denis Priestly and Phil Taylor.

Published Friday, April 25, 2003

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