European Championships Night 1 Review

30-Jul-2010

REIGNING PartyPoker.net European Championship winner Phil Taylor made a winning start to the defence of his title with a 6-2 win over Co Stompe on Thursday night.

Taylor has won the previous two stagings of the European Championship and was in clinical mood at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken as he bids to claim Sunday’s £50,000 first prize.

Stompe gave Taylor some edgy moments in the opening five legs, but three missed darts to level the game in the sixth allowed the Stoke legend to put daylight between the duo before winning the next two without reply to seal victory.

“It was a difficult game but a very good game too,” he said. “I kept putting him under pressure and it worked for me.

“Co played well but I picked up on him missing doubles and under pressure he was doing that.

“The Dutch players are very competitive and Co epitomises that. He works hard at his game and it showed because he made me work very hard.”

Taylor will now face Andy Smith in the second round on Saturday, after the Studley-based thrower knocked out Paul Nicholson 6-3 in Germany.