Deusser (32) just got the edge over fellow German and former FEI World Cup champion Ludger Beerbaum to secure his first World Cup title and bring the German tally of World Cup wins to 10.

Deusser moved into pole position at the end of round one after Olympic champion Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat lost his lead at the top of the leaderboard.

Only four combinations produced double-clear rounds with Britain’s Scott Brash, World No 1, having to settle for third while Germany’s Marcus Ehning was fourth and Guerdat was fifth.

“When I went into the second round, I knew I had to be clear and you could see I nearly knocked fence number one straight away. But I got my concentration and tried very hard although I have to admit I was happy when I was finished,” said the delighted new World Cup show jumping champion afterwards.

Ireland’s only rider Billy Twomey withdrew from the final rounds as he was four fences off the leader saying, “I decided to save Tinka for another day. There’s Grands Prix and Nations’ Cups on the horizon and considering her age (17), I feel this is the right decision.”

Joint-leader France’s Patrice Delaveau also withdrew which left Guerdat at the head of the leaderboard on a zero score as the final competition started. However, only six points separated the top nine combinations with Deusser carrying two points after the first two competitions.

Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer (Toulago), Beerbaum (Chiara) and defending American champion Beezie Madden (Simon) had four each. Next in line were Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten (VDL Groep Verdi) and Germany’s Christian Ahlmann (Aragon Z) were next on five while Ehning (Cornado NRW) carried six.

Course designer Frank Rothenberger challenged the riders with two tough rounds but the quality of jumping was exceptional, headed by Ehning’s spectacular first-round clear.

Ahlmann’s chances were dashed by a refusal at the first element of the double at six and he racked up a total of 12 faults. Van der Vleuten incurred a single time fault while Madden’s hopes were hit by a pole down at the middle element of the triple combination at fence eight.

Beerbaum’s clear was followed by a mistake from Schwizer at the oxer but second last-to-go, Deusser produced a flawless round to pile the pressure on Guerdat who caught a pole at the penultimate oxer. Guerdat went into round two in second carrying four faults along with Beerbaum with Brash close behind on five.

The second round featured a triple combination followed by a double of verticals and a strong pace required to keep inside the time allowed.

Van der Vleuten was removed from contention but both Brash (Ursula) and Beerbaum (Chiara) left all the fences intact to keep up the pressure on the final two riders.

Guerdat’s Olympic gold-medal winning gelding faulted at the triple combination in an otherwise perfect round to set the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Deusser, last to go, rattled the first fence with Cornet d’Amour but luck held and despite touching the second part of the double at fence nine and arriving deep at the next vertical, they crossed the timers with a clean sheet.

“It wasn’t until I won at Mechelen that I started to get enough points to come here, although if you told me before I came here that I would win the final, I wouldn’t have believed it. But when you have a good horse, you always have a chance,’’ said Deusser.

Cornet d’Amour is jointly owned by Stephan Conter of Stephex Stables, Belgium and America’s Hunter Harrison.

Runner-up Beerbaum paid tribute to Deusser saying: “The whole week could not have been better and well done to Daniel, his performance with his horse the whole way through was incredible – I have no problem to be second to that – well done.”