Phil Taylor's 16th darts world title: 'Only the greatest come from Stoke-on-Trent'
COMEDIANS Lee Mack and Jack Whitehall added a dash of celebrity to the biggest night in the darts calendar.
They were never going to be needed to lift the spirits of the Ally Pally because any hint of New Year's Eve hangovers disappeared as the raucous crowd got caught up in the emotion of a fantastic match.
The Power twice fell behind to Dutch opponent Michael van Gerwen early on and the crowd wondered if the young pretender could defeat the old master.
But they need not have worried as Phil twice pulled level before running away with the match to take his 16th world title.
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'Only The Greatest Come From Stoke' proclaimed one homemade banner made by a proud Potter.
And who would argue, with North Staffordshire claiming 16 of the last 19 world championship titles.
As for another banner – 'Sir Phil Taylor' – that's up to you, Your Majesty.'
The Power was cheered on by daughters, Kelly and Lisa Taylor, who were alongside the stage.
Kelly welled up with pride as the crowd chanted her dad's name.
Standing by the bar during the final, the 22-year-old, of Burslem, said: "I have always had the confidence in him. Every time he looked over to me, I would shout to him.
"It was very intense and it was a close match, but the best part of the whole night was hearing thousands of people chanting my dad's name. It just shows how popular and brilliant he really is."
Older sister Lisa, of Newcastle, wished her dad good luck before he took to the stage.
She added: "I love hearing people cheer for him and it is always a good atmosphere. I didn't get much of a chance to talk to him before he went on stage so I don't know how he was feeling, but I was really nervous.
"I am so happy for him and I am really proud he is my dad."
As he hit double 16 to clinch victory, Phil wrestled the world championship from Cross Heath's Adrian Lewis.
It was an emotional victory for Phil following the death of his great friend darts commentator and Jossy's Giants writer Sid Waddell.
"If we'd had Phil Taylor at Hastings against the Normans, they'd have gone home," Sid once screamed during one of Phil's great victories.
The problem for Phil's darts rivals is that the great man is not retreating just yet.
He said: "I wanted to win it for Sid."
Phil revealed he managed to fight back on Tuesday night after thinking what his mother, Elizabeth, would have thought as he trailed van Gerwen.
The Power, of Wychwood Park, near Crewe, said: "I am absolutely over the moon to win, I am so chuffed. People ask me how I do it, but it is just what I do.
"My mother would have wanted to throw the bucket at me when I was down by two sets, but I won because that is what I do.
"I could retire, but I am not going to.
"I would like to keep going until I am 55 because I would like to try to see if I can get number 17.
"But it could be tough because that game was one of the hardest I have ever played."
Comments
by Backdoored
Saturday, January 05 2013, 8:52AM
“Blimey... this is becoming a 'paper-chase'..... having to explain what the askerists have block this time.
The word, if you haven't sussed it, and amazingly, is -m a s t u r b a t i o n !!
Let me ask you an innocent question; 'Do you find seeing that word a disturbing and corrupting experience?' Are you put off looking at the Sun's P3?
I wonder what Kenny Everitt would have made of all this -he'd have had a field day. I wonder if there'll by yet more asterisks to come on this one too .... careful scrutiny says no... But then It's not easy to get into the Sentinel sexy mind-set, to be able to predict what they'll do -with any word.”
by Backdoored
Saturday, January 05 2013, 8:46AM
“The Sentinel doesn't approve of words like T O S S E R -apparently -even though the Daily Telegraph has no such problem with it.
Is the Sentinel obsessed with anything that reminds them (us) of ************?
Tungsten T o s s e r .... And scottish 'Caber T o s s e r s'.... all banned from the Sentinel Lexicon. These Sentinel Moderators should seek help.... their wrists must be aching off.”
by Backdoored
Saturday, January 05 2013, 8:38AM
“Or (GOATT) -'Greatest Olympian Atheletic Tungsten ******'....
The inclusion of Darts, along with such as 'Wave Boarding' and other sports (competitive artificial wall climbing), are now being considered as possible entries into future Olympic Games. -BBC Radio 4 interview with top Olympian Official... 08.25 this morning on the Today Programme.
Re darts itself, as the official said, the sport doesn't only have to require exertion, but exponents of 'precision skill application' -such as pistol shooting -or Archery (and darts) are acknowledged as of wide public support.
Phil 'the GOATT' Taylor.”
by spudder56
Friday, January 04 2013, 10:41PM
“ok dont call him Sir Phil but he is definitely THE GOAT (the greatest of all time )”
by Backdoored
Friday, January 04 2013, 11:54AM
“Ooops! should be 'is that write.”
by Backdoored
Friday, January 04 2013, 11:53AM
“Their you go again martha.... is that right?”
by Martha_Tydfil
Friday, January 04 2013, 11:00AM
“Backdoored -
As an avid reader of the Oxford English Dictionary I would have thought that you could apply the correct usage of the words "there" and "their".
Must try harder...”
by Backdoored
Thursday, January 03 2013, 6:40PM
“Martha..... check this out.
OED 'sport' -a game or competitve activity... esp an outdoor one involving physical exertion.
So, according to the OED 'it IS a sport. Re indoors or outdoors.... Squash? Badminton?
Now let's turn to your reference to the Olympics (and I don't know why you need to use that boady to qualify your claim. There are many sports which the Olympic Authorities don't include in there lists of qualifying sports -that doesn't mean that they are not sports in there own right.
In fact there are dozens of sports which the Olympics don't include; here a but a few of them- Cricket; Rugby; Baseball; Golf:
Your offering says more about your prejudices than it does about anything else. Loosen up Martha. And re 'exertion' -Do you class fishing as a sport? I do, along with millions of others.”
by Martha_Tydfil
Thursday, January 03 2013, 5:04PM
“Quote Backdoored:
"... -he's certainly something of phenomena in the world of sport"
Sport? They're fat blokes playing a pub game! What next, nominate darts for Olympic status?”
by JYKelly
Thursday, January 03 2013, 3:03PM
“Not sure why people are calling for him to get a knighthood - he's already been stripped of his MBE for a sexual assault.
http://tinyurl.com/asqs9mo”