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England international Des Shipp has made match fishing history by becoming the first man ever to win the Parkdean Masters title twice following an epic victory in the final at White Acres in Cornwall.

Des, from Yate, near Bristol, added the 2011 crown to the title he first won in 2007 – but he was pushed all the way by rival Paul Yates. And after claiming the £25,000 first prize for the second time in a glittering match career, Des paid tribute to the man he beat to earn his unique double.

“I feel like I really needed that win. It was time I won something else. I’ve been close a few times and not managed to come through so I’m over the moon to have won it,” he said.

“Paul Yates is a brilliant angler – and I’ve been where he is now. I know how it feels to lose out in a big match so I feel really sorry for him. But this is a massive win for me.”

Bright sunshine and a cool South Easterley breeze made perfect viewing conditions for the spectators, but the match itself was a tough one for some of the anglers. For the first time, all 24 were pegged on the north side of Jenny’s, allowing the crowd unprecedented access to the competition.

Des, drawn on Peg 5, fed corn and fished worms during the four-hour contest. Alternating between fishing on the bottom and fishing shallow, he caught mainly carp to record a weight of 87lbs 8oz.

But it was an anxious wait for Des to find out if he’d done it. Paul, who was just three pegs away on 8, caught steadily using method feeder tactics from the off. He targeted White Acres stock of F1 carp, and averaged 12 to 15 fish an hour for the entire match.

With a large crowd gathering to watch the final unfold, the last hour was nail biting. Paul continued to catch – but Des was able to only land two fish, and was constantly looking over his shoulder towards Peg 8.

The key question was whether volume of F1’s in Paul’s keepnet would be enough to better the larger fish caught on Peg 5. The weight for Paul was 79lbs – and Des was certain he’d missed out again until the scales revealed he’d done it.

“I thought Paul had done me. There’s no way I thought the fish I had would go 80lbs and I thought I’d lost again. I’m so relieved,” added Des.

Paul said: “I just had no idea which of us had won it until the weigh in. It was a brilliant match and I know there’s nothing else I could have done. The fish kept on coming every chuck. The question was whether they were big enough to beat Des.”

Paul Holland, the last of the 24 competitors to make it through to the final, claimed third place from Peg 9 with 56lb 15oz. Wales international Lee Edwards was fourth, with 48lb 13oz from Peg 4.

Des said he plans to spend some of his winnings on a family holiday to Disneyland.