PHIL TAYLOR defeated Adrian Lewis 11-8 in the final of the PartyPoker.net European Championship to claim his fourth European title in a row.

The Power saw off the World Champion in a tense final thanks to a crucial break of throw in the 18th leg, with Taylor popping in a 180 before taking out 164 to move 10-8 ahead.

Both men hit two 140s in the next leg, but it was Taylor who was first to the double and hit double ten to claim the £50,000 winner’s cheque with a 109.29 average.

“It’s a great feeling and a great end to a fantastic event,” said Taylor. “The crowd were unreal and stuck behind the players throughout. The atmosphere has been brilliant. Adrian’s semi against Raymond was one of the best I’ve ever seen – he’s had a tougher day than me to get to the final.

“I’m looking forward to having a great holiday now and this trophy is down to 30 years of dedication,” added the World number one.

Lewis was on a high after winning a thrilling semi-final against Raymond van Barneveld, clinching a place in final with a 121 checkout against the throw in a deciding leg after hitting a nine-darter in the 17th leg before the Dutchman battled back.

“This is the best atmosphere I’ve played in and I hope we come here again,” said Lewis. “Phil was fantastic and thoroughly deserved the win. The 121 to win the semi was better than the nine-darter really but I’ve had a great weekend here and I’m full of confidence going into Dublin and beyond.”

Lewis jumped 2-0 ahead in the final but was pegged back to 3-3 by the Power and the Stoke pair continued to trade blow-for-blow with Taylor winning the bull before the match looking all the more crucial as they found themselves level at 8-8, before Taylor’s crucial 18th leg.

Earlier in the evening, Lewis pipped Van Barneveld in a final-leg decider of a pulsating semi-final that had it all. A nine-darter in the 17th leg from Lewis saw him move to within one leg of the match, but he missed a dart in the 18th leg to clinch it and six more darts in the 20th leg as the tension became almost unbearable. The momentum and the darts belonged to Van Barneveld, but with the Dutchman sitting on 24, Lewis took out 121 to reach the final.

Taylor and Whitlock had a lot to live up to and it was the World number one who prevailed as the Australian struggled on his doubles.

Taylor took the opening two legs before Whitlock registered, but when the Power moved 5-1 ahead, Whitlock had missed darts to win three of the legs. An 11th dart leg from Taylor made it 6-1 before Whitlock stopped the rot to take the eighth leg, but again, Taylor powered away from the Australian with three more legs to move within two of the final. Whitlock finally strung consecutive legs together, but with 14 missed darts at doubles during the match he found it hard to keep up with Taylor, who joined Lewis in the final with a 13-darter and a sixth break of throw.

The final
Phil Taylor 11-8 Adrian Lewis

Semi-finals
Adrian Lewis 11-10 Raymond Van Barneveld – ADRIAN LEWIS HITS NINE-DART FINISH
Phil Taylor 11-4 Simon Whitlock

Quarter-finals
Adrian Lewis 10-8 Kim Huybrechts
Raymond van Barneveld 10-8 James Wade
Phil Taylor 10-7 Paul Nicholson
Simon Whitlock 10-6 Peter Wright

AS IT HAPPENED – semi-finals and final

ADRIAN LEWIS v RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
0-1 Van Barneveld off and running with a 180 from his first visit in a 15-dart leg.
1-1 Lewis levels with a solid throw.
1-2 Second 180 from Van Barneveld, Lewis has the first dart at a double but he misses double 14 for a 121 and Van Barneveld holds with a 13-darter.
2-2 Brilliant response from Lewis with a 150 checkout.
3-2 Lewis follows that with his first 180, a 140 leaves him with 41 and Van Barneveld out of sight. Lewis misses seven darts for the leg, Van Barneveld misses double 12 for a 138, Lewis then hits double one at the third attempt.
4-2 A 177 from Lewis leaves 24 and he takes a third consecutive leg.
5-2 Van Barneveld almost seals an 11-darter, Lewis leaves 62 and Van Barneveld misses three more at double 16, Lewis let’s him off the hook, but Van Barneveld misses three more, eight in total, and Lewis does punish him for a double break of throw.
6-2 Lewis takes 12 darts to leave tops and hits double ten for five on the trot.
6-3 Van Barneveld stops the rot with a 60 checkout
7-3 After a second maximum, Lewis misses tops for a 160 checkout, he busts when he returns to take it out but it matters not as he takes a four leg lead into the second break.
7-4 A 156 finish from Van Barneveld straight after the break
8-4 Van Barneveld looks for 170 to top the 156, but only manages the first 180 and Lewis holds.
8-5 A 25 checkout from Van Barneveld keeps him keen.
8-6 And he’s more than keen now as he breaks the Lewis throw after the World Champion misses a dart for a 76 checkout.
8-7 Fifth 180 for Van Barneveld who misses two darts for the leg, Lewis misses the bull for a 90 checkout and Van Barneveld closes the gap further.
9-7 Lewis hits his fourth 180 and a 12-darter comes with a fluid 99 checkout.
10-7 Fifth 180 from Lewis puts Van Barneveld under pressure, and he’s on a nine-darter. The treble 20 is in, as is the treble 19 – and he nails the double – ADRIAN LEWIS HITS A NINE-DARTER.
10-8 But it’s not over as Lewis misses tops to win, Van Barneveld has tops to break, hits the wrong bed but adjusts brilliantly.
10-9 Van Barneveld checks out 68 to hold.
10-10 Lewis opens the door on more than one occasion but Van Barneveld can’t capitalise – Van Barneveld needs 154 but cannot take it. Lewis misses three for the match though. But he hits tops going for big 20 and misses two at double 16. Three more missed by Lewis and Van Barneveld levels the match.
11-10 Lewis responds with his seventh 180, Van Barneveld on a 161 – leaves 24. Lewis on 121 – and he hits it!

PHIL TAYLOR v SIMON WHITLOCK
1-0 Taylor first on the scoreboard with a break despite Whitlock hitting the first maximum.
2-0 Taylor misses three darts for two in a row but Whitlock cannot respond with two missed darts at tops, Taylor hits double 14 at the fourth attempt.
2-1 Whitlock in the board with double 16.
3-1 Taylor misses double 16 for the leg but Whitlock cannot pressure him and he returns to close with ease.
4-1 Taylor hits his first maximum and is the first to miss tops for the leg – but comes back to take a three leg cushion into the break.
5-1 Whitlock has now missed darts to win three legs, Taylor takes out 96.
6-1 Taylor takes out 90 now to put five legs between them.
6-2 Taylor misses double 11 for a 142 checkout and Whitlock breaks.
7-2 A 177 from Taylor puts him right in the leg, he leaves 32 behind, Whitlock couldn’t take out 140 and Taylor has his five leg cushion back.
8-2 Taylor misses two at double 16 and but Whitlock cannot manage 108 and Taylor is 8-2 up at the second break with his fifth dart at double 16.
9-2 Whitlock’s double trouble continues with three more missed for the 11th leg and Taylor pinches it.
9-3 Whitlock’s fourth 180 puts him in the leg and Taylor misfires, but again the Australian misses a double. Taylor left on 120 but cannot take it out and Whitlock does win one back.
9-4 Taylor misses two darts at double eight for his tenth and Whitlock bites back to hold.
10-4 Taylor hits double 16 for a 64 checkout to move within one of the match.
11-4 When Whitlock needed a solid leg he cannot find it and Taylor takes the darts, Taylor leaves tops with Whitlock not on a finish, and he takes that out to reach the final against Adrian Lewis.

The final
PHIL TAYLOR v ADRIAN LEWIS
0-1 Taylor misses two darts for the leg and Lewis takes 121 out on the bull.
0-2 Bull again for Lewis for 130 – misses. Taylor on 119, leaves 60 back. Two more missed doubles from Lewis but then two more missed doubles from Taylor, Lewis takes it.
1-2 11-darter from Taylor after hitting the first 180 of the match
1-3 Lewis hits his first 180 – his 26th of the tournament – misses two at tops for the leg but comes back and takes it.
2-3 Taylor with an 80 checkout to bounce back.
3-3 Another Taylor 180 sees the Power break Lewis’ throw
3-4 Taylor misses four darts for the leg and Lewis takes out 102 to break back.
4-4 Both men hit 180s but it was Taylor’s that was decisive, leaving 24 which he takes out at the first attempt.
5-4 Taylor holds to lead for the first time in the final
5-5 Lewis misses a dart for 121, but Taylor is on a bogey behind. Lewis misses two at double 16 but nails double eight to level at the second break.
6-5 Taylor with a 180, Lewis responds with a 171, but Taylor takes out 121 to slam the door.
6-6 A great 134 from Lewis leaves 73, Taylor puts the pressure on but Lewis takes it out.
7-6 Taylor takes out 83 on the second dart.
7-7 Rough break for Lewis as his second dart plugs into the first; Taylor steals the darts and leaves 134. Lewis responds to leave 79 – Taylor leaves tops but Lewis wins a key leg on double 11.
8-7 52 checkout from Taylor on the second attempt at tops.
8-8 Lewis leaves 56 from 101, Taylor leaves 44 with a 140 but Lewis takes it out.
9-8 Taylor hits a 13-darter to nudge in front.
10-8 Massive moment in the match – Taylor hits a 180 then takes out 164 and suddenly he is throwing for the title.
11-8 Lewis fires back at Taylor though; two 140s gives him a chance to break with 98 with Taylor left with tops. Lewis cannot take it and Taylor hits double ten to win his fourth European Championship title.

Source PDC/Chris Sargeant

PHIL TAYLOR won his 12th Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay title with an 18-8 demolition of James Wade at the Winter Gardens on Sunday night.

Taylor claimed a fourth successive World Matchplay victory but only his second major ranking title since last summer with a brilliant display of darts.

After trailing 2-1 early on, he won eight successive legs to lead 9-2 and take control of the game, and held off Wade’s fightback – after the left-hander won five out of seven legs in mid-game – to retain the Blackpool title.

He dedicated the victory to former mentor Eric Bristow, the five-time World Champion who brought Taylor onto the professional circuit in the late 1980s and has remained a driving force in his amazing career since.

“I’m overjoyed to win this,” said Taylor. “I didn’t think I’d win anything this year so to keep this title is brilliant.

“This is probably the second biggest title behind the World Championship, and so many other players would love to win it, but I’ve won it four years on the trot now.

“I’m grateful to Eric Bristow for his support and this is dedicated to him. He’s been texting me for the last few weeks when I’ve been losing my Premier League and UK Open titles, he’s been pushing me and he’s always behind me.”

There were few signs of what would follow in the early exchanges as Wade opened the match strongly.

He won the opening leg on double top, and after Taylor checked out a brilliant 135 in the second leg the left-hander won the third in 11 darts for a 2-1 lead.

However, he missed one dart to win each of the next two legs as Taylor firstly levelled on double four before breaking on double two to edge 3-2 up.

Legs of 12 and 11 darts, which included scores of 180 and 174 as well as a 90 finish, moved Taylor 5-2 up, and despite a 180 from Wade in the eighth he landed double top to lead by four legs.

Taylor then broke throw again with a killer blow, following an earlier 180 with a bullseye finish of 86 as Wade waited on 32 – and the reigning champion posted another maximum and a 100 finish for successive 12-darters in leading 8-2.

An 87 finish gave Taylor an eighth successive leg before Wade finally hit back, finishing 100 for a 12-darter to win his third leg of the game.

Taylor, though, replied in style with legs of 13, 13 and 14 darts to take the next three and a 12-3 lead, before double 12 put him ten legs clear.

A double six from Wade saw him hit back, and he powered in 180s in the next two legs in reducing the gap to 13-6 to threaten a fightback.

But he saw a chance to win the 20th go begging, with Taylor missing double top for a 110 finish only for the left-hander to miss the same bed and allow the Stoke legend to win his first leg in four on double five and go 14-6 up.

Taylor also shaded the next leg after Wade missed double 19 for a 158 checkout, but the left-hander followed up a double top finish by opening the 23rd leg with back-to-back 180s to set up a potential nine-darter.

He hit a seventh treble 20, but was just off-target on treble 19 before returning to win the leg in 12 darts, pulling back to 15-8 in the match.

However, that would be his final winning leg, as Taylor hit a brace of double top checkouts to move 17-8 up before posting a 74 finish to claim the title on double 16.

“I got so far in front that I started to relax and I thought there was no way he was going to come back,” admitted Taylor.

“Then he started clawing back, I lost one session 4-1 and started to panic a bit, but I took advantage when he hit bad shots, and tried to keep putting the pressure on him.”

Taylor had been priced at 7/4 to take the title with sponsors Sky Bet ahead of the tournament, having found himself odds-on for the majority of events in recent years.

“I doubt I’ll be that price again in a hurry!” Taylor joked. “But it’s not about trying to prove anybody else wrong, it’s about trying to prove myself right, trying to believe in myself and still win major tournaments.

“I know I’m still capable and I showed that tonight.”

Wade admitted: “I wasn’t good enough. I played alright later in the game but the first half was diabolical and Phil showed why he’s the best player in the world.

“It’s a shame that I didn’t play well at the start of the game. I missed a few shots but Phil out-played me and deserved to win.”

Waites made up for his defeat to Phil Taylor in last year’s final with a thrilling fightback to claim the biggest win of his career.

The joiner from Halifax will return to his day job at 8am on Monday, having left Wolverhampton £100,000 richer following a brilliant week at the Grand Slam of Darts.

He had overcome Steve Beaton 16-9 in Sunday afternoon’s semi-finals, and produced one of the sport’s finest comebacks to claim the prestigious trophy.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” said Waites. “When I went 8-0 down I just wanted to get back into the game and make the scoreline respectable.

“But when I got closer to James I started to believe I could win it – but it’s not sunk in yet and probably won’t for some time. It feels so good to be called the Grand Slam of Darts champion.”

Despite Waites opening the match with a 180, the first of three in as many legs, it was Wade who made the early running, hitting double top to break in the first leg, a 107 finish in the third and a 110 checkout in leg five.

A pair of double tops moved Wade 7-0 up in a stunning start, with Waites twice punished for missed doubles as the left-hander took complete control.

He also won the eighth on double ten to extend the lead further before Waites finally got off the mark on double 12.

Waites hit a 180 and double 18 to break in the tenth, before taking the next three to pull back to 8-5.

Wade slowed the fightback with a 90 finish, only for Waites to hit double top in the next and a 13-darter before checking out 68 to incredibly reduce the gap to just one leg.

The world number two landed a 180 and double ten to take the 18th leg, and after Waites missed the bull in the next a 97 finish saw him edge away again at 11-8.

Wade, though, missed three darts at double 12 in the next as Waites began a run of six successive legs which saw him grasp control, following up finishes of double 18 and double 16 with a superb 121 checkout to level.

Wade missed two darts to steal the next as Waites recovered from twice wasting his chance to land double four and move 12-11 up, before landing double nine in the next and a 180 in moving three legs clear.

Wade finished 70 to stem the tide, but a ninth 180 of the game in the next from Waites left him double eight, and he would then follow another maximum by hitting the same bed to complete a remarkable triumph.

“James’ finishing was phenomenal from the start – I hit three 180s and was 3-0 down!” Waites added. “When I won a leg and then another and five on the bounce I thought ‘I can get back in this game’.

“I had to keep plodding away and I didn’t change my style. I started to hit my doubles straight away and the next thing I knew I was level.

“Then I got in front and just wanted to stay in front, and then I wanted to hold my throw and get to the winning double. To do a comeback like that in front of a live audience and on TV is unbelievable – I still can’t believe it.”

PHIL TAYLOR won his fourth Rileys Darts Zones UK Open title with an 11-5 defeat of Gary Anderson at the Reebok Stadium.

Taylor followed up Saturday’s world record average for a televised game of 118.66 against Kevin Painter, with victories over Adrian Lewis, Denis Ovens and Anderson on Sunday to take the £40,000 title.

The Stoke legend opened the final with a 161 finish and led 5-1 before the Scot – appearing in his first major final with the PDC – took two of the next three to pull back to 6-3.

But Taylor put his foot on the accelerator to storm to victory, hitting a 167 finish amongst winning five of the next seven legs to take the title with a 121 checkout.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Taylor. “It’s a real challenge to win this event and I was up against a brilliant player in the final against Gary.

“I really enjoyed all the games, against Adrian, against Denis and then Gary today and in the final he did well. You could tell he was a bit tired and I hit him then, but he kept coming back at me.

“To follow up winning the Premier League trophy back with this is special for me and it’s an event I love.”

Taylor bounced onto stage for the final, defying any fatigue in his third game of the day to open the final with a 161 checkout.

He hit a 180 in taking the next leg before Anderson took the third to get himself on the scoreboard.

But the Scot crucially missed four darts at a double to level the game, and Taylor stepped in on double ten before hitting the same bed for a 4-1 lead – trading 180s with Anderson and punishing another missed double.

Double eight gave Taylor a 5-1 lead before Anderson regained his range on the doubles to win two of the next three in pulling back to 6-3.

Anderson, though, had little answer as Taylor pulled clear in the next three legs, taking out double 16, double eight and an 81 checkout to lead 9-3.

A 110 finish for Anderson gave him a fourth leg, but Taylor bettered that and his own earlier 161 finish by taking out 167 to move a leg away from the win.

Anderson delayed Taylor’s crowning moment by taking the 15th leg on double ten, but the World Champion ensured the UK Open trophy would remain in his possession by taking out 121 on the bullseye for the title.

“It’s obviously disappointing to lose the final but I have to pay tribute to Phil because he was superb,” said Anderson. “He has set the standard for everyone to follow and I know what I have to do to win major titles against him.

“His finishing was great and even though we were both tired he managed to find the energy he needed to win.

“I’m pleased to get to the final, though, because I had some really hard games along the way against Paul Nicholson, Mervyn King and Andy Hamilton. It’s my first big final with the PDC and hopefully the first of many.”

Anderson had seen off Hamilton in Sunday afternoon’s quarter-finals before then defeating Tony Ayres 10-3 in the semis.

Billingshurst’s Ayres, ranked 62nd in the world going into the tournament, won through to his first ranking semi-final with a superb 10-9 win over 2008 UK Open winner James Wade in the quarters.

Taylor overcame Denis Ovens 10-5 in a high-quality semi-final where both players averaged over 100, with the Stoke star posting a 113 average to follow his world record 118.66 on Saturday.

Taylor had earlier defeated Adrian Lewis in the quarters, while Ovens’ 10-3 defeat of Wes Newton saw him reach the first televised semi-final of his 25-year career.

Rileys Darts Zones UK Open
Semi-Finals
Gary Anderson 10-3 Tony Ayres
Phil Taylor 10-5 Denis Ovens

Final
Phil Taylor 11-5 Gary Anderson

Semi-Final Reports
GARY ANDERSON 10-3 TONY AYRES
GARY ANDERSON marched into the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open final with a 10-3 defeat of Tony Ayres at the Reebok Stadium.

Anderson followed up his quarter-final defeat of Andy Hamilton with another high-quality display in seeing off Ayres, the world number 62 who had battled through to the last four in his best-ever run in a professional event.

The duo shared the opening two legs before the Scot took three in a row to lead 4-1, including a 121 finish for a 12-darter which was bettered by an 11-dart finish.

Double 16 gave Ayres the sixth leg, but Anderson began the next two with 180s, and finishes on double top and double ten gave him a 7-2 cushion.

Ayres, from Billingshurst in Sussex, took out 64 to win the tenth leg and hit a 180 in the next – only to see Anderson take out double top for a 13-dart finish.

The Scot hit a third 180 of the game and finished 76 to move to the brink of victory, and double top in the next saw his place in the final secured.

“It’s a tough event but I’m really pleased to be in the final,” said Anderson. “I’m feeling confident and it would be great to win this.”

PHIL TAYLOR 10-5 DENIS OVENS
PHIL TAYLOR set up a final against Gary Anderson at the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open with a 10-5 defeat of gritty Denis Ovens at the Reebok Stadium.

Ovens, appearing in his first major semi-final after 25 years as a professional, gave as good as he got against Taylor, taking an early 2-0 lead and trading maximums throughout the contest with the reigning champion.

Taylor ended the game with an average of 113, and hit ten from 12 attempts at a double in a clinical display.

Ovens opened the final with a 180 and broke Taylor’s throw with a 14-darter before taking out a bullseye finish of 90 to move 2-0 up.

He was also sat on 81 after nine darts in the third leg, but Taylor followed up a 180 with a bull checkout of his own to get off the mark.

Ovens finished double five and 64 to take two of the next three, with an 11-darter from Taylor sandwiched between them as the Hertfordshire man led 4-2.

Taylor, though, raised his game to superbly reel off five successive legs in taking command of the match – putting together a run of 14, 12, 11, 13 and 14-dart finishes which included a 124 finish, two 180s and a 177 score.

Ovens checked out 71 to win a fifth leg and kicked off the next with a maximum, only for Taylor to fire in another 11-darter – his third of the game – to lead 8-5.

Further 180s from Ovens were not enough in the next two legs as Taylor produced legs of 14 and 12 darts to move into the final.

“I haven’t seen Denis play that well on TV and I’m pleased for him,” said Taylor. “He countered everything I did so I had to hit that big average to win that.”

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

SEMI-FINALS
JAMES WADE 8-6 SIMON WHITLOCK
JAMES WADE remains on course to retain the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts title following an 8-6 semi-final victory over Simon Whitlock at the Wembley Arena.

Reigning champion Wade jumped into the play-off places in the 14th and final weekly round, and continued his march by progressing to the final.

Whitlock had finished second in the league table in his debut Premier League season, but the deadly doubling which had seen him power through the eight-player field deserted him in the semi-finals.

He missed six darts at a double in the opening two legs as Wade opened up a 2-0 lead, although double eight in the third got the Australian off the mark after the pair traded maximum scores.

Wade broke back with a 180 and a two-dart 83 finish, before double ten gave the left-hander a 4-1 cushion.

Wade missed chances at the bullseye in the next two legs, as Whitlock hit back to cut the gap to one leg before trading 180s with the reigning champion in leg eight.

It was Whitlock who reached the double first, with double eight levelling the match, before he then hit the front by taking out 70 on double top to move 5-4 up.

He was also waiting on a finish in the next, but Wade landed a killer blow with a superb 107 finish to square the game.

A clinical 81 gave Wade the advantage once again, although Whitlock hit back to level.

Double eight, though, saw Wade edge a leg away from the win, and he defied a 180 from Whitlock to post double five in the next and move into the final.

“I’m delighted to be in the final,” said Wade. “I had a bad start to the season but hopefully I’m coming good now and I’ll give it everything in the final.

“It wasn’t my best performance but the 107 checkout was vital and I managed to finish the job.”

Whitlock admitted: “The 107 won him the game.

“Missing early doubles cost me and I was playing catch-up for a long time. It’s disappointing not to reach the final and I’m pretty gutted because I played badly.”

PHIL TAYLOR 8-1 MERVYN KING
PHIL TAYLOR dropped only one leg in marching into the final of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with a superb semi-final win over Mervyn King.

Taylor produced the year’s highest average at 107.98 to avenge last season’s loss to King at the same stage, restricting his opponent to only four darts at a double in the game.

Taylor opened the match with a 13-dart finish, hitting double top for the first of five successive legs where he arrowed clinically into the same bed.

A miss at the bed allowed King in to take the sixth leg on double two, but Taylor returned from the break to hit a sensational 164 checkout.

That moved him 6-1 up, and double 16 put him to the brink of victory, with a third 180 of the game and another double 16 checkout sealing progression to his fifth Premier League Darts final in six years.

“I’m over the moon that I’m back in the final,” said Taylor.

“Mervyn has been so consistent for the last four months and it’s a shame he didn’t play as well as that in the semi-finals. He’s very dedicated, a really good player and

“The average probably sends a message out to James but my finishing was good against Mervyn and it will need to be in the final too.”

THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF
MERVYN KING 8-7 SIMON WHITLOCK
MERVYN KING won the final three legs without reply to take third place in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League with an 8-7 defeat of Simon Whitlock.

The duo returned to the Wembley Arena stage following their semi-final losses to battle in the first Premier League Darts third place play-off, with a £50,000 prize on offer to the winner and £40,000 to the losing player.

King took three of the game’s opening four legs to open up a 3-1 lead, only for Whitlock to hit a 180 in breaking throw in leg five, a 120 finish to level and 94 to move 4-3 up.

Whitlock levelled on double 16 before a 100 finish edged King back ahead – only for the Australian to punish missed doubles from his opponent in taking the next three legs.

At 7-5, Whitlock had one hand on the third-placed finish, but he failed to make King pay for bursting his score in the 13th leg – hitting double 11 instead of double eight – as the world number four returned to the oche to hit the double at the second time of asking.

King landed a 180 for the second successive leg to ensure a decider, which he won on double four to take the £50,000 third placed finish.