Dominant Taylor Retains Euro Crown
Posted on August 2nd, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR claimed a third successive PartyPoker.net European Championship with a super 11-1 defeat of Wayne Jones at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken on Sunday night.
The world number one followed up his 11-10 win over Terry Jenkins in the semi-finals with a superb display to see off Jones by dropping just one leg in the final.
When Jones missed one dart to take the first leg on double top, Taylor pounced on double eight to break throw and set the tone for the final, with finishes of double seven, double four, double three and double seven putting him into a 5-0 lead at the first break.
Double six put him further ahead and he took advantage of a missed double 12 from the Wolverhampton man to lead 7-0 before a miss at double top allowed Jones to take out 116 on double 18 to get on the scoreboard in superb fashion.
Taylor replied in style, opening the next leg with a 180 and taking out 81 for a 12-darter, before finishing 121 for a 9-1 cushion.
Jones hit a second maximum of the game to leave a finish in the 11th leg, but Taylor clinically dispatched 84 for an 11-darter before sealing the win on double 14.
“I’m delighted to win another title, especially so soon after winning the World Matchplay last week,” said Taylor.
“While the World Matchplay is one game a day, this is one of the hardest tournaments to win because you’ve got tough short matches early on and three games in one day to win it.
“You have to be mentally and physically fit as well as playing well and I loved every minute of it.
“Terry had me on the ropes in the semi-finals but I was delighted with my last leg. I calmed myself down and started off with the 177 and that killed him in and probably won me the match.
“Going straight into the final did me a favour because I had momentum and I kept Wayne under pressure all the way through. It’s been a perfect summer for me.”
Taylor had opened the day with a 10-4 quarter-final win over Mark Walsh, which followed his earlier victories over Co Stompe and Andy Smith.
The £50,000 first prize adds to the £100,000 he picked up for winning the World Matchplay, as well as ensuring a clean sweep of the summer’s major ranking titles after also claiming June’s UK Open.
Jones had overcome Colin Lloyd 11-10 in the semis to reach his first major PDC final and his first televised final since the 1999 World Masters.
The Wolverhampton man picked up £20,000 following a fine tournament in Germany, as he followed his quarter-final run in the World Matchplay by defeating Adrian Lewis, Robert Thornton, Raymond van Barneveld and Lloyd.
“To lose the final by such a big margin is obviously disappointing for me but it’s a very memorable weekend,” said Jones. “Phil was superb and there wasn’t a lot I could do about him.
“But to beat some of the world’s top ten this weekend has been fantastic, I’m playing well and finally enjoying being on the big stage.”
Jones also qualifies for November’s Grand Slam of Darts in his home town of Wolverhampton, and added: “That’s a massive boost on top of reaching the final. I love playing in front of my home fans and can’t wait to do it again later this year.”
PartyPoker.net European Championship
Quarter-Finals
Terry Jenkins 10-6 Jamie Caven
Colin Lloyd 10-7 Ronnie Baxter
Phil Taylor 10-4 Mark Walsh
Wayne Jones 10-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Semi-Finals
Wayne Jones 11-10 Colin Lloyd
Phil Taylor 11-10 Terry Jenkins
Final
Phil Taylor 11-1 Wayne Jones
SEMI-FINAL REPORTS
WAYNE JONES 11-10 COLIN LLOYD
WAYNE JONES edged past Colin Lloyd in a deciding leg thriller to reach his first major PDC final at the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
The pair had both enjoyed a fine weekend at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken, with Jones enjoying the best victory of his career by knocking out Raymond van Barneveld in the last eight.
Lloyd had seen off number three seed James Wade in the first round and averaged over 100 in wins over Michael van Gerwen and Ronnie Baxter – but crucially missed one match dart, at double seven for a 122 finish, to win the decider against Jones.
Lloyd had actually made the running for much of the match, recovering from Jones winning the opening leg to take the next three, following up finishes of double ten and double 16 with an 11-dart finish.
He missed double top for a 4-1 lead as Jones took the fifth on double 16, although Lloyd won the next two to edge into a 5-2 cushion.
Lloyd then hit a second 180 of the game in leg eight, only to see a miss at double 11 punished as Jones took out double 18, before regaining his clinical range on the doubles by taking out 110 for a 6-3 lead.
Jones hit a 180 and double eight to take the tenth, and three misses from Lloyd allowed him back to the oche in the next for the same finish before double 16 saw him level after hitting two 180s in the 12th leg.
He also hit a maximum in the next, but missed double 18 to move into the lead as Lloyd edged 7-6 up on double five.
The next two were shared before a 72 finish from Jones saw him level, and four missed doubles from Lloyd allowed him to regain the lead for the first time since the opening leg by finishing double 16.
Lloyd battled back to take out 104 to level and double top to lead 10-9, only for Jones to check out 86 and force a decider.
The pair traded high scores in the final leg, with a 140 from Jones leaving him 61 before Lloyd returned for 122 – hitting two treble 18s but missing double seven for the win as Jones came back and took out 61 on double eight for the victory.
“I’m really pleased with that and to be in the final is brilliant for me,” said Jones, who reached the 1999 World Masters in his only previous televised final.
“I enjoy playing Colin anyway and this was another good game. It swung both ways and he had a chance at the end, but luckily I got the opportunity and took it.”
Lloyd said: “It was a real battle of a game and Wayne dug in well. It’s nice to see him playing well on the big stage.
“I snatched at the double seven in the decidng leg and it could have been different for me, but I’ve played some good darts this weekend and am happy with how I played.”
PHIL TAYLOR 11-10 TERRY JENKINS
PHIL TAYLOR’S bid for a third successive PartyPoker.net European Championship title continued as he edged out Terry Jenkins in the deciding leg of a thrilling semi-final at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken.
Taylor had looked set to pull clear for victory when he produced a typical mid-game surge to move from four-all to lead 8-5 and 9-6, but Jenkins fought back to take the match all the way.
The world number one, though, took victory with a brilliant 12-darter in the deciding leg of the match to progress to a final with Wayne Jones.
Taylor hit the first of three 180s in taking the opening leg in 13 darts, a feat he repeated in the third leg, while Jenkins hit double top in the second leg and took a 12-darter in the fourth, which featured two maximums.
The next four also went with throw to leave the scores locked at four-all, before Taylor pulled away with legs of 13, 11 and 15 darts to put daylight between the pair.
Jenkins had been waiting on 40 in the 11th leg, and got a chance at the same bed in the next to halt Taylor’s progress and pull back to 7-5.
A 125 finish gave Taylor the next leg, while Jenkins hit his fifth maximum of the contest in an 11-darter to win the 13th and stay in touch at 8-6.
Double four put Taylor two legs away from victory, but Jenkins found his best form to win the next three and level the game, with a 122 bullseye finish for a 12-darter to break throw for the first time instrumental in him getting back into the game.
He then missed the bullseye to take the lead, as Taylor posted double 16 with his third dart to move 10-9 up, only for Jenkins to finish 71 and send the game into a decider.
Taylor kicked off the final leg with a superb 177 – his fourth of the match – before Jenkins could only muster 21 in his first visit, and further scores of 82 and 137 left him 105 for the win, which he clinically took out on double 16.
“Phil was tremendous and it was a great game to be a part of,” said Jenkins. “We both hit lots of big scores but he made it so hard for me to break him because his finishing was great.
“The 177 to start the last leg was great from him and that hurt me, but I’m not too disappointed because I’ve practised hard for the past three or four weeks and my form is coming back.”
Tags: European Championship, Results, Review
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