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PHIL TAYLOR smashed apart the record books with TWO nine-dart finishes in claiming glory in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, defeating James Wade 10-8 to reclaim the £125,000 title.

Taylor became the first player in darting history to hit two nine-dart finishes in one game with a scintillating performance in the final of the tournament, as he won back the Premier League trophy. Having avenged last season’s semi-final loss to Mervyn King with a thumping 8-1 triumph, Taylor took to the stage in the final and hit his first Premier League nine-darter in the second leg against Wade.

He went on to achieve the feat again in the 15th leg of the final, halting Wade’s comeback in its tracks with his second nine-darter. Taylor also hit seven perfect darts in the next leg, settling for a ten-darter which edged him to the brink of victory before eventually sealing a 10-8 triumph.

“I’m a very proud man,” said Taylor. “I’ve won every title in the PDC and I don’t think I can ever do better than this – it’s the proudest day of my life. Everything I’ve done for the last 30 years has all come together. It’s been my dream to do this.”

The night was a joyous one for Taylor, whose bid to reclaim the title had been delayed by 24 hours due to a power cut on Sunday in the north London area. However, he showed few signs of that affecting him by producing the season’s highest average so far in seeing off King 8-1 in the semis.

King was restricted to only four darts at a double in the game, with Taylor’s accuracy on double top in the first five legs effectively ending any chance of a repeat of his victory at the same stage last year. King did take the sixth leg of the game, but Taylor replied with a 164 finish and swept to victory with an average of 107.98.

That was bettered in the final, as Taylor overcame Wade’s brave challenge to retain the title in a thriller. Wade won through to the final with an 8-6 defeat of Australian Simon Whitlock, and kicked off the final with a 180, taking the opening leg in 12 darts with a fine 136 checkout.

Taylor replied in style, opening leg two with a 174 score, which he followed up with a 180 and then a 147 finish of treble 20, treble 17 and double 18 to record the first nine-dart finish in a televised final. A classy 110, of single 20, bullseye and double top, put him 2-1 up before Wade levelled on double top after the World Champion missed the bullseye for a 132 checkout.

Taylor found an extra gear to take the next three legs, taking out 86 for the fifth leg, an 11-darter which featured scores of 177 and 180 to break throw and then double top for a 5-2 cushion. Wade left double top with a 171 score in hitting back, only for double 16 to give Taylor a sixth leg.

Wade hit a 180 and a 121 bullseye finish to take the tenth, only for Taylor to reply in kind with a maximum and an 82 checkout of bullseye and double 16 for a 7-4 lead. Wade took a key 12th leg on double ten before edging a scrappy 13th as the tension rose, with Taylor missing the bull and two darts at double eight before Wade landed double two to cut the gap to one leg.

The pair then traded maximums in the next, with Wade first to a finish and posting double top to square the match at seven-all. Taylor, rattled by Wade’s revival, kicked off the 15th leg with a 180, which he repeated on his second visit to the oche before landing a 141 finish to create history with his second nine-darter of the game – raising the Wembley Arena roof.

Taylor also set up a potential third nine-darter of the game when he opened the next with scores of 174 and 180, only to miss his eighth dart, at treble 17, with double eight for a ten-dart finish putting him into a 9-7 lead. However, three missed darts at double top for the match in the next allowed Wade to finish 64 on double top.

Taylor, though, found a tenth 180 of the game to open the next leg and finished 88 on double 14 for a 12-darter in taking back the coveted trophy – presented by famous actor, comedian and TV presenter Stephen Fry. “It’s absolutely incredible and possibly the greatest moment of my career,” said Taylor, who had claimed a 15th World Championship title in January and has dominated the sport for 20 years.

“I knew it was possible to hit two nine-darters in one game and I said to [former world number one and Sky Sports pundit] Rod Harrington in the break after six legs of the final that I thought there could be a second in our game. I was playing well enough and James was improving too. You put him under pressure and he hits you back hard to put pressure on you not to miss doubles.”

“I was nice and relaxed going into the final and am delighted to do that for the fans who turned out after the postponement yesterday and with an England football game on next door at Wembley.” Wade, who picks up £65,000 as runner-up, admitted: “It was an incredible game and in a way it’s a compliment that Phil hit two nine-darters to beat me.

“The score was 10-8 so those two legs were the difference and I don’t think that two nine-darters will ever be seen again in such a short format. Phil played better than me and that’s why he won. I’ve played better and know I can play better but I wasn’t good enough tonight and am not good enough to win tournaments against him at the moment.”

King bounced back from his semi-final loss to claim victory in the third place play-off, and a £50,000 prize, with an 8-7 win over Whitlock. Australian Whitlock had finished second in the league phase but was left with the £40,000 fourth place prize money after seeing King come from 7-5 down to take the win.

The trophy presentation by Stephen Fry capped a memorable night for the TV personality, who also commentated for Sky Sports alongside Sid Waddell and Rod Harrington for the Phil Taylor-Mervyn King semi-final.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Play-Offs
May 24 – Wembley Arena, London
Semi-Finals
Simon Whitlock 6-8 James Wade
Phil Taylor 8-1 Mervyn King

Third Place Play-Off
Simon Whitlock 7-8 Mervyn King

Final
James Wade 8-10 Phil Taylor
* Phil Taylor hits two nine-dart finishes

Sky Bet are offering 2/5 for Phil Taylor to win the 2011 PDC World Championships after he defeated Simon Whitlock 7-3 last night to claim his 15^th world title. Taylor, who won every televised event in the 2009 calendar except for the Premier League, is 12/1 to do the clean sweep of the 8 events in 2010. It’s evens for the Power to claim both the 2010 Premier League and 2011 World Championships and it’s 3/1 for Taylor to go on and win the next 3 world titles.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said: “With Taylor still hungry for success and the overall prize money on the increase, you can expect a bold bid from the world number 1 to go one better than 2009 and win every televised event.” (more…)

PHIL TAYLOR claimed his 11th StanJames World Matchplay title with an 18-12 win over Raymond van Barneveld at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Sunday night.

Taylor picked up his third successive Blackpool win and a £100,000 cheque with a thrilling performance to see off the Dutchman, who played his part in a superb final.

Van Barneveld stayed with Taylor for much of the game, but Taylor crucially pulled from 11-9 to lead by four legs – and held that advantage to close out victory.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” said Taylor. “I love this tournament and no matter how many times I win it it’s a tremendous feeling to get hold of this trophy.

“The final had a bit of everything. I was a brilliant game and there were times when I had to dig in and times when I was cruising.

“Barney gave me a great game but I’ve worked really hard to prepare for this. I love it when Barney challenges me and his career is back on track, so he’s got to see this week as a positive.

“I love this tournament, I love being in Blackpool and I scrapped my heart out to keep this title.”

Taylor landed a 180 in the game’s opening leg, but van Barneveld took out double two to lead, before hitting a 177 in the second only for Taylor to finish 79 in two darts.

Taylor missed double 11 in the next leg as van Barneveld landed double 18 to hold throw, and the cat and mouse continued as the players held for the next three legs to leave the scores tied at three-all.

Taylor secured the crucial first break in the seventh leg to lead 4-3, with van Barneveld hitting a 180 but missing darts at double 18 and double nine before the world number one pounced on tops to break.

Double eight in the next saw Taylor move 5-3 up, and the pair traded the next seven legs – with the Englishman landing an 11-darter and van Barneveld hitting two 13-dart finishes – before another key moment.

Van Barneveld set up a potential break to level in the 16th, with a 180 leaving 24, only for Taylor to finish 105 on double 16 for a 9-7 cushion.

The Dutchman replied with an 11-darter and was waiting on 67 for the chance to break in the next – but this time Taylor took out 135 to thrill the capacity crowd at the Winter Gardens and leave van Barneveld reeling.

Taylor kicked off the next with a maximum and broke once more for an 11-8 cushion, although he was off-target on the bull in the next before the Dutch ace landed a 136 checkout for his first break of throw.

A chance to hit back further passed van Barneveld by in the 21st leg, with a missed double 16 allowing Taylor back to the oche on double top, before he then won the next for a 13-9 lead.

Van Barneveld won three of the next five to give himself hope of a comeback at 15-12, but he could only watch in the next as Taylor landed double 16 before bursting his score on 65 as the Stoke legend moved a leg away from the win.

Opening scores of 140 and 180 from Taylor gave him the upper hand in the next, and he posted double 16 to complete another superb Blackpool triumph.

“As soon as I broke his throw I knew I just had to keep mine. Even when I was under the cosh I went out on some big shots; the 135 was an absolute belter and it hurt him.

“I had a 105 average and I’m over the moon, absolutely made up to win. I’ll celebrate this tonight but the European Championship starts on Thursday and I’m going to prepare for that.”

He added: “England might have lost the World Cup but this was England v Holland tonight and I’m delighted to have won it for my country as well!”

Van Barneveld had returned from a two-month break with a nine-darter in his win over Denis Ovens in the first round, and also saw off Alan Tabern, Co Stompe and James Wade to reach his first Blackpool final.

“He never seemed to miss doubles,” said van Barneveld. “You know that before the game and he just keeps hurting you, and that’s why he is the greatest.

“Phil keeps improving all the time and it’s so disappointing for me. I keep putting in more preparation and it never seems enough.

“I’m the number two at the moment, and players like James Wade, Simon Whitlock and Gary Anderson are all trying but he’s just too good for everyone.

“I hit a nine-darter in the first round and that is an achievement but it’s only one leg. I enjoyed this week but the final was disappointing.”

PHIL TAYLOR and Raymond van Barneveld will contest the final of the StanJames World Matchplay on Sunday following resounding semi-final defeats of Simon Whitlock and James Wade in Blackpool.

Reigning champion Taylor remains on course for an 11th World Matchplay title following a 17-4 defeat of Whitlock in a repeat of the World Championship final the pair contested in January.

While the Australian had given Taylor a fright in that game, he was unable to match the relentless barrage of scoring and clinical finishing from the world number one on the Blackpool stage.

“Simon didn’t play as well as I expected him to but I could only concentrate on winning and I’ve done that well,” said Taylor.

“Winning this is everything for me and I think it’s the final people wanted, especially after Raymond hit that nine-darter last week. He’s played superbly to reach the final and it should be a brilliant game – maybe the best final ever in this event.

“I get excited about playing Barney and I love playing him. He could do a couple of nine-darters in the final and so could I, but he’s a different Barney since his break and it’s great to see.”

Van Barneveld cruised into the final at the Winter Gardens for the first time in four attempts with a 16-8 win over 2007 champion James Wade.

Van Barneveld checked out 44 percent of his chances at a double, including three ton-plus scores, and broke Wade’s throw on ten occasions to win through to face Taylor for the £100,000 title.

“I have a target to win every big PDC tournament and I’ve not won this so it would be massive to win the World Matchplay,” said van Barneveld.

“I still feel pressure, especially from being the number one in Holland and being number two to Phil Taylor but it would be amazing to beat him and win this.”

StanJames World Matchplay
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 17-8 James Wade
Phil Taylor 17-4 Simon Whitlock

Final
7pm Sunday
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
Best of 35 legs

PHIL TAYLOR cruised into the semi-finals of the StanJames World Matchplay with a 16-4 defeat of Kevin Painter on Friday night, while Raymond van Barneveld ended his quarter-final hoodoo at the Winter Gardens.

Taylor, the reigning and ten-time World Matchplay champion, rarely broke sweat in a clinical demolition of Painter, who was restricted to only four legs and few more chances at a double.

Painter won seven successive legs to move from 2-1 to 9-1 up, before going on to seal victory in setting up a tasty semi-final with World Championship finalist Simon Whitlock.

“It’s another good win and I’m really looking forward to the semi-finals now,” said Taylor. “Simon’s been great for the past year and I’ll have to be on top of my game.

“My finishing was good against Kevin and I know I can step it up another level. Simon will have to be great and I think it will be a cracker.”

Whitlock had earlier overcome Jelle Klaasen 16-8 to reach the last four on his debut World Matchplay appearance, while James Wade’s win over Wayne Jones means that the 2007 champion takes on van Barneveld in Saturday’s semis.

Van Barneveld erased the memory of quarter-final defeats in the last three years with a 16-12 win over Co Stompe in an all-Dutch affair to remain in the hunt for the £100,000 title.

“There was a lot of pressure on me because for three years I lost in the quarter-finals so I’m really pleased to be in the semi-finals for the first time,” said van Barneveld.

“James is a world-class player but this is a great opportunity and I hope I win because I’m here to win this title.”

Saturday’s semi-finals will be the first darts matches ever to be broadcast in 3D, as around 1,000 pubs in the UK watch the action live on Sky Sports.

The semi-finals will also be followed by another first, the final of the PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship between America’s Stacy Bromberg and England’s Tricia Wright.

The event sees a £10,000 first prize on offer, the highest ever paid in the women’s game, alongside the inaugural title, while the runner-up will take home £5,000.

StanJames World Matchplay
Quarter-Finals
James Wade 16-12 Wayne Jones
Jelle Klaasen 8-16 Simon Whitlock
Co Stompe 12-16 Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter 4-16 Phil Taylor

Saturday July 24
Semi-Finals
7.10pm James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
9.00pm Simon Whitlock v Phil Taylor

JAMES WADE and Simon Whitlock booked their place in the semi-finals of the StanJames World Matchplay with victories in the opening quarter-final clashes at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Wade, the 2007 champion, remains on course for a second World Matchplay title after defeating Wolverhampton battler Wayne Jones 16-12 in their last eight clash.

Wade held his nerve despite one of Jones’ finest televised performances to put himself into the semis, where he will meet Raymond van Barneveld or Co Stompe.

“It was an exceptionally hard game for me because Wayne has a good record against me and it was psychologically hard,” said Wade. “But there was a bit of the old James Wade there and it’s getting better.

“I made a break early on but didn’t kill him off as quickly as I could, but I know I’ve got three more gears to find yet.

“It would be amazing to win this tournament again and it’s about time I won another big title because it’s over a year, so we’ll see what happens this weekend.”

Whitlock, meanwhile, continued a successful World Matchplay debut by seeing off Holland’s Jelle Klaasen 16-8.

Klaasen hit four ton-plus finishes in the opening nine legs of the game, but Whitlock – playing on despite suffering from ‘flu – took command by winning nine in a row on his way to the win.

“My finishing was very good when I needed it to be and it was the important thing,” said Whitlock.

“I’m still feeling poorly with the ‘flu but hopefully after an early night and some rest I’ll be nearly recovered by the time I go on stage for the semis.”

Whitlock will meet either Phil Taylor or Kevin Painter in the semis, as the two old rivals lock horns in Friday night’s second quarter-final, following the all-Dutch affair between Stompe and van Barneveld.

StanJames World Matchplay
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session
James Wade 16-12 Wayne Jones
Jelle Klaasen 8-16 Simon Whitlock

Evening Session (7pm)
Co Stompe v Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter v Phil Taylor

PHIL TAYLOR powered into the quarter-finals of the StanJames World Matchplay, turning on the style with a 13-4 win over Steve Beaton in Blackpool

Taylor, the ten-time World Matchplay winner, followed up Tuesday’s tournament record average in a win over Barrie Bates with a scintillating showing against Beaton.

Former World Champion Beaton led 2-0 and missed four darts to win the third leg – with Taylor winning the leg and reeling off eight in a row to take command before completing victory.

He ended the game having landed nine 180s and finished almost 60 percent of his chances at a double, setting up a tasty quarter-final with long-term rival Kevin Painter on Friday night.

“When I was 2-0 I had to dust myself off and get into it, and the third leg seemed to let me back into the game,” said Taylor. “I was well under pressure in those early legs but I fought back and I’m delighted to win.”

Painter secured his place in the last eight for the first time in ten attempts in Blackpool with a dogged 14-12 win over Mark Walsh, who led 4-1 early on but eventually paid for missed doubles as the former World Championship finalist progressed.

“Kevin has done fantastically this week, especially to come back like he did against Colin when he was dead and buried,” added Taylor. “He’s rode his luck and played superbly against Mark Walsh, he showed a lot of bottle and it will be a great game.”

Jelle Klaasen and Simon Whitlock also set up a quarter-final with victories on Thursday night, both reaching the last eight for the first time in Blackpool.

Klaasen edged out Gary Anderson 14-12 in another tight contest, with the Scot overturning a 6-2 deficit to lead 9-7 and 12-11 before the Dutch ace took the final three legs for victory.

Whitlock, meanwhile, defeated plucky Bristol newcomer Steve Brown 13-10 in their last 16 clash, with the world number 49 leading 8-7 before the Australian pulled through to take the win.

Friday’s quarter-finals will also feature the all-Dutch affair between Raymond van Barneveld – a loser at this stage for the past three years – and Co Stompe, and 2007 winner James Wade’s meeting with Wayne Jones.

StanJames World Matchplay
Second Round – Thursday
Jelle Klaasen 14-12 Gary Anderson
Kevin Painter 14-12 Mark Walsh
Phil Taylor 13-4 Steve Beaton
Simon Whitlock 13-10 Steve Brown

Quarter-Finals – Friday
1pm Start
James Wade v Wayne Jones
Jelle Klaasen v Simon Whitlock

7pm Start
Co Stompe v Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter v Phil Taylor

Best of 31 legs

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD’S brilliant start to the StanJames World Matchplay continued with a 13-5 demolition of Alan Tabern at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The Dutch star hit a nine-darter in Saturday’s first round win over Denis Ovens, and produced a clinical performance to see off left-hander Tabern with an average of almost 104.

He now faces fellow countryman Co Stompe in the quarter-finals on Friday, as he bids to claim his first major title for three years.

“I’m enjoying myself and it’s great to be on stage again after two months off,” said van Barneveld. “If I keep playing like this I don’t fear anyone.”

Stompe had also continued a strong start to the tournament with a 13-9 defeat of Mark Webster earlier in the night, setting up a tasty quarter-final with the five-time World Champion.

“Before the tournament I looked at the draw and wanted to get through to play Raymond in the quarter-finals,” said Stompe. “We’ve only played once on TV before, when he hammered me in Las Vegas, but Friday will be different.”

World number three James Wade, the 2007 champion, and Wolverhampton’s Wayne Jones also won through to set up a tasty last eight battle on Friday.

Wade overcame another Dutchman, Vincent van der Voort, 13-10 to remain on course for a fourth World Matchplay final, while Jones ended the hopes of local favourite Ronnie Baxter with a 13-9 triumph.

The second round concludes on Thursday with the remaining four games, including reigning champion Phil Taylor up against Steve Beaton and the eagerly-awaited contest between Gary Anderson and Jelle Klaasen.

StanJames World Matchplay
Second Round
Wednesday
Wayne Jones 13-9 Ronnie Baxter
Co Stompe 13-9 Mark Webster
Vincent van der Voort 10-13 James Wade
Alan Tabern 5-13 Raymond van Barneveld

Thursday (7pm)
Gary Anderson v Jelle Klaasen
Kevin Painter v Mark Walsh
Steve Beaton v Phil Taylor
Simon Whitlock v Steve Brown

PHIL TAYLOR avoided a scare from Barrie Bates before starting the defence of his StanJames World Matchplay title with a 10-5 defeat of the Welshman at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The ten-time World Matchplay winner trailed Bates 5-4 after missing a host of doubles in the early legs.

However, he reeled off five straight legs to assume command of the match, and closed out victory with a tournament record average of 114.99.

“I couldn’t seem to break his throw early on and then I was missing doubles,” said Taylor. “His finishing was superb and he put me under pressure.

“At five-all I had to hold my darts and I did that, broke Barrie and pulled through for the win. It was a really good game to be involved in, the crowd enjoyed it, Barrie played well and pushed me hard.”

Taylor now meets Steve Beaton in the second round on Thursday, after the former World Champion swept aside Blackpool debutant Paul Nicholson 10-3 in his opener.

The night had begun with one of the finest comebacks ever seen on the Winter Gardens stage, as Kevin Painter came from 8-2 down to defeat 2005 champion Colin Lloyd 11-9.

Painter included checkouts of 105 and 104 in pulling back into the game, before punishing one missed match dart from Lloyd to take out 94 under pressure to level at nine-all, and then took the next two for a remarkable win.

“When you’re playing someone like Colin and you’re 9-5 down in a first to ten game, you’re virtually gone,” said Painter. “At 9-5 down a lot of players would have lost 10-5 but I never give up and I kept going, hoping that he’d give me a couple of chances.”

Painter now meets Mark Walsh in the second round, after the number eight seed avoided a scare against Mark Dudbridge.

Dudbridge, the 2004 finalist in Blackpool, hit back from 5-0 down to lead 10-9, but failed to close out the win as Walsh edged through.

The second round begins on Wednesday, with Raymond van Barneveld looking to follow up Saturday’s nine-darter with victory in his clash with Alan Tabern.

Blackpool’s Ronnie Baxter meets Wayne Jones, while left-handers James Wade and Mark Webster meet Dutch pair Vincent van der Voort and Co Stompe. (more…)