Unstoppable Taylor Continues Spree
Posted on November 2nd, 2009
PHIL TAYLOR’S record breaking year continued with an 11-3 victory over in the European Championship final at the Claus Event Centre in Hoofddorp, Holland.
Taylor has now claimed all the PDC’s major ranking titles and the £50,000 winner’s cheque means he has won over £600,000 in prize money in 2009 alone – and he almost capped his latest win in perfect style, missing a dart at double 12 to win the final leg with a nine-darter before taking it out for his second 11-dart leg of the final to defend the title he won last year in Frankfurt.
“I’m delighted with that win as it was really hard work,” said Taylor, who had earlier defeated Jelle Klaasen in the semi-finals by the same score. “Obviously finishing with the nine-darter would have been perfect but Steve never gave up, and even after missing the nine-darter he hit me with a 180 that is probably the best one I’ve seen in my career – when your back’s against the wall like Steve’s was, to hit 180-ton-180 like that shows real bottle.”
The world number one stormed to victory after claiming seven legs on the trot to go 9-1 up in the contest, but he was quick to pay tribute to Beaton who claims a spot in the Grand Slam of Darts through his runners-up performance which came after his first tournament win in eight years at the Players Championship in Nuland last weekend.
“Steve has got his will to win back and he believes he can win tournaments now – it’s a different Steve Beaton and he looks like he’s enjoying his darts which is important,” said Taylor. “It’s great to play against people like Steve as it tests your ability and takes you to limits.”
Beaton picked up the £20,000 cheque which was rich reward after coming through a thrilling final leg decider in the semi-finals against James Wade, and sent out a warning that he was not finished there.
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European Championship Quarter Finals
Posted on November 1st, 2009
PHIL TAYLOR produced the highest ever average in a major tournament to knock Gary Anderson out of the 2009 European Championship in Hoofddorp, Holland to reach Sunday evening’s semi-finals.
Defending champion Taylor fired ten 180s as he compiled a 118.14 average in a devastating display against the Scotsman – who average 106.12 – and faces Jelle Klaasen in the first semi-final.
“I’m always striving to better myself,” said Taylor. “Gary hit a lot of 180s out there and I had to play that well to beat him.”
Klaasen defeated Colin Lloyd in the opening quarter-final of the day while Steve Beaton will face world number two James Wade in the second semi-final – Beaton seeing off Mark Walsh and Wade repeating his Premier League final win over Mervyn King, with the semi-finals begin at 7pm (6pm UK).
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European Championship Night 3
Posted on November 1st, 2009
DEFENDING CHAMPION Phil Taylor sent a warning out to the rest of the quarter-finalists in the 2009 European Championships with a 9-0 whitewash of Robert Thornton at the Claus Event Centre in Hoofddorp, Holland.
Taylor averaged 110.88 with three 11-dart legs in a performance that showed no mercy to the Scotsman – and he now faces Thornton’s fellow countryman and Jocky Wilson Cup teammate Gary Anderson in Sunday’s quarter-finals.
“No-one likes to see a fellow pro lose to nil but I just try my best and I’m here to win – that’s what I do, it’s my job,” said Taylor. “Whoever beats will have to play out of their skin – Colin Osborne did it at the Championship League and that gave me a kick up the backside which does you good every now and then.”
Mark Walsh came back from 6-1 down against world number three Raymond van Barneveld to beat the Dutchman 9-7 and set up a clash with Steve Beaton, who saw off Van Barneveld’s compatriot Michael van Gerwen by the same score.
“I knew that if I kept going at the same standard I would get chances and I capitalised on a couple of mistakes and it just shows that you cannot give up in this game,” said Walsh.
In the final match of the second round, James Wade beat Andy Hamilton 9-5 to face the man he beat in the Premier League final in May, Mervyn King, in the final quarter-final on Sunday afternoon.
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European Championship Day 3
Posted on November 1st, 2009
JELLE KLAASEN edged a thrilling second round clash with Jamie Caven to reach the quarter-finals of the 2009 European Championships at the Claus Event Centre in Hoofddorp, Holland.
Klaasen and Caven plundered 13 maximums between them but Klaasen thought he had missed the chance to progress when he squandered darts to win both 9-7 and 9-8 only for Caven to narrowly miss the bull for a dramatic 135 checkout to win. The Dutchman composed himself to take out double four though to end a high-scoring contest against the in-form Derby man.
“It’s always tough against Jamie – he is playing well and he beat me the last time we played at the UK Open he beat me so I knew it was going to be hard and I’m happy to get through,” said Klaasen, who faces Colin Lloyd in the quarter-finals – the man he beat in the first round in 2008 – after the Essex man opened the Saturday afternoon session with a 9-5 victory over Mensur Suljovic.
Scotsman Gary Anderson thumped Ronnie Baxter 9-1 to set up a meeting with the winner of Saturday night’s clash between defending champion Phil Taylor and Anderson’s fellow countryman Robert Thornton, while Mervyn King and Colin Osborne fought a high class battle in which King prevailed 9-6.
Saturday’s evening session begins at 7pm with Raymond van Barneveld taking on Mark Walsh in the opening match. In-form Steve Beaton takes on Michael van Gerwen before the Taylor and Thornton clash, with James Wade and Andy Hamilton bringing the second round to a close.
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European Championship Day 2
Posted on October 31st, 2009
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD and James Wade were made to work as they progressed into the second round of the 2009 European Championship at the Claus Event Centre in Hoofddorp, Holland.
Van Barneveld survived a final-leg thriller with Dennis Priestley while Alan Tabern came from 5-1 down to within one leg of the Premier League champion before Wade sealed the win.
“I got out of trouble out there really and I’ll have to step up a gear now,” said Wade, who meets Andy Hamilton in Saturday’s second round after the Stoke man cruised past Remco van Eijden with a 6-3 win.
Priestley never let the five-world champion feel at ease in front of his home crowd and came from 4-2 and 5-3 down to take it to a decider.
“Story of my life,” said Van Barneveld after being taken to the wire to set up a clash with Mark Walsh, who beat Kevin Painter 6-4 from 4-1 down himself. “But I’m through to the second round and that’s what counts really.”
Steve Beaton continues to be the form man, following his recent Players Championship win in Holland with arguably the performance of the tournament so far in knocking out last year’s runner-up Adrian Lewis 6-2. He now faces Michael van Gerwen after he beat fellow countryman Vincent van der Voort by the same scoreline.
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European Championship Day 1
Posted on October 30th, 2009
PHIL TAYLOR began the defence of his European Championship title with a 6-2 win over Toon Greebe at the Claus Event Centre in Holland.
The defending champion faces Robert Thornton in the second round in a dress-rehearsal for December’s Jocky Wilson Cup after knocking out the young Dutchman, who had chances to make the contest tighter in front of his home crowd.
“It’s always good to get through the first round as the short format can be a bit tricky,” said Taylor. “Now I can concentrate on the match with Robert on Saturday which I’ll be more relaxed as it is best of 17 legs.”
“The Jocky Wilson cup is going to be a great event and hopefully I can send a message out to Robert with a good performance.”
Taylor signalled his intent with three ton-plus scores in the opening leg, but Greebe levelled immediately with a 70 checkout. Taylor sprung into action in the third leg with two maximums leaving him with tops and followed with 180s in the next two legs to move 4-1 ahead.
The world number one moved to within one leg of victory in the sixth leg, but his 21 year-old opponent had chances to win it and then broke Taylor to reduce the deficit to three legs. Greebe then missed three darts at double 14 to close matters further still allowing Taylor to take out 81 on the bull to progress.
Gary Anderson had a fright at the hands of Co Stompe, who turned a three-leg deficit round to lead the Scotsman 5-4 before Anderson won the deciding leg to progress.
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2009 European Championship Preview
Posted on October 28th, 2009
THE £200,000 European Championship begins on Thursday night at the Claus Event Center in Hoofddorp, Holland.
Reigning champion Phil Taylor is amongst 32 players to line up in the tournament, which is the second staging of the European Championship.
Taylor took last year’s title with an 11-5 win over Adrian Lewis in the final in Frankfurt but suffered defeat in his last competitive outing – losing to Colin Osborne in the final of Championship League Darts last Thursday.
He begins his bid to hold on to the £50,000 title against 21-year-old Toon Greebe, from Den Bosch in Holland, on Thursday night.
“I was disappointed to lose in the Championship League Darts final but the good thing at the moment is that there is always another big event coming up.
“This is the next one and I’ll put that defeat behind me and focus on playing Toon. He’s a very good young player and it’s only the best of 11 in the first round, so it’s a tough start.”
Thursday also sees a number of high-profile clashes, including world number four John Part against Colin Lloyd, Wayne Jones against Holland’s Jelle Klaasen and Dutch ace Co Stompe against Gary Anderson.
Scottish star Anderson admitted: “It’s a hard game first but that’s the same for everyone and I’d have another four hard games if I go on to win the event.
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2009 European Championship Draw
Posted on October 26th, 2009
Phil Taylor will begin the defence of his European Championship title against Holland’s Toon Greebe on Thursday.
The £200,000 event will be held at the Claus Event Centre in Hoofddorp, Holland from Thursday October 29-Sunday November 1.
Taylor meets top Dutch youngster Greebe in the opening round, while the opening night also features Co Stompe against Gary Anderson, Jelle Klaasen versus Wayne Jones and Roland Scholten against Mensur Suljovic.
Number four seed John Part drew Colin Lloyd, Terry Jenkins meets Jamie Caven and Ronnie Baxter takes on Andy Smith, while in-form Wes Newton takes on Robert Thornton.
World number two Raymond van Barneveld faces Dennis Priestley, while James Wade drew Alan Tabern in a battle of the two top left-handers.
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Magical Taylor Rules Europe
Posted on November 3rd, 2008
PHIL TAYLOR claimed the PartyPoker.net European Championship title with an 11-5 win over Adrian Lewis last night.
Taylor produced a majestic weekend of darts in Frankfurt, recording two of the top three highest ever televised averages at over 113 in reaching the final.
He then came from 2-0 down to see off former protégé Lewis in the final and claim the £50,000 title, surging clear by winning seven out of eight legs in mid-game.
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PartyPoker.net European Championship – Second Round Round-Up
Posted on November 2nd, 2008
PHIL TAYLOR produced the second highest average in the history of televised darts in defeating Mervyn King 9-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
Taylor averaged a superb 113.92, bettered only by his own display against Wes Newton in this year’s Blue Square UK Open, to storm into the last eight in Frankfurt.
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Both poker and darts are highly popular pursuits. The games are available online, in fact, that there are organizations dedicated to making sure the rules of video poker and online darts are conformed. Similar to darts having the World Darts Federation, among others, and poker has the Tournament Directors Association. These rules are put into place in highly competitive tournaments, in which as many as hundreds or even thousands of people compete for cash prizes as well as prestige.
