Darts: Power surge proves cream rises to top

by Matt Bozeat

YOU can't keep a good man down – and Phil Taylor is proof of that.

Ten months after a thumping defeat against Peter Manley in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League left the best darts player in history at rock bottom, he has re-written the record books again.

Taylor's average of 110.94 in last night's 7-1 demolition of five-time champion Ray van Barneveld was the highest in the 16-year history of PDC world championship finals.

It eclipsed his 107.46 in the 2001 final against John Part and was also the highest in any PDC tournament final.

Taylor dropped only four sets on his way to a 14th world title, but had to work hard for his final victory.

He breezed to the opening two sets without dropping a leg and five of the next six sets went to a deciding leg with The Power holding his nerve.

"I knew I had to play solid and keep him under pressure," said the 48-year-old, from Bradwell. "I got the first two sets and then he started nicking legs off me. Two years ago, I had been 3-0 ahead and he came back to beat me, so I knew I had to concentrate 100 per cent or he could sneak up and win it."

After giving away the advantage of the throw, having won the nearest the bullseye, Taylor shut out Barneveld in the first set.

He won the opening leg against the throw in 14 darts, then held his throw and wrapped up the set in 12.

Barneveld didn't get a dart at a double in the opening set and was off target with three attempts at double eight in the fist leg of the second and another two misses in the next help Taylor power to the second set and a 2-0 lead in just 20 minutes with an average of 107.34.

At the start of the third set, Barneveld took out 110 to win his first leg and went on to take the set in the deciding leg after Taylor missed three darts at a double to lead 3-0.

Taylor started the fourth set with five successive treble 20s and Barneveld responded.

The pair traded maximum 180s in the opening four legs – Taylor hitting four and Barneveld recording three – and The Power held his nerve in the deciding leg.

Barneveld missed a dart apiece at double 18 and double nine to level the match at 2-2 and Taylor nailed double eight to open up a 3-1 lead.

Barneveld won the opening two legs of the fifth set and then Taylor's fifth 180 kick-started his charge back to force a fifth and deciding leg.

Taylor took it against the darts with an 81 check-out to open up a 4-1 lead and then held his throw in the sixth set to move further clear.

Worse was to follow for Barneveld in the seventh set.

He had the advantage of the throw and Taylor got the crucial break in the third leg after the Dutchman missed three darts at a double.

Taylor started the fourth leg with another 180 and went on to go within a set of victory at 6-1.

The eighth set also went to a fifth and deciding leg.

Taylor had the advantage of the throw and after getting underway with his ninth 180, Taylor sank treble 19, double 12 for an 81 check-out that brought the world championship back to the Potteries.