Power starts quest for 17th world title with gritty win over Hollywood
Saturday 16 December 2017 12:57, UK
Phil Taylor's dreams of a fairy-tale finish to his professional darts career remain on track after battling to a 3-1 victory over world number 38 Chris Dobey at Alexandra Palace.
The Power, a 16-time world champion, announced at the start of the year that 2017 was to be his last on the professional circuit and after a memorable triumph at the World Matchplay, came to Ally Pally with high hopes of the ultimate finish.
And despite a tricky looking opening contest, that proved every inch the tight affair many expected, the 57-year-old proved too strong for Hollywood who eventually overcame a slow start to push The Power all the way, including missed darts to force a deciding set.
But it was Taylor who advanced to set up a second-round contest with either Justin Pipe or a preliminary round qualifier a week on Saturday and he admitted to being below par.
"I haven't practised that much for it to be honest with you, I haven't had a lot of time; I've been playing, doing exhibition work and a few charity events and I've loved it, and I've been classing that as my practice," Taylor said after the match.
"I lacked a bit of energy against Chris tonight, I slacked a little bit and it's not me. I'm tired. I never used to be like that before, I could win a tournament and then play another tournament, it's strange. I've got a few days off now to get ready for the next one.
"There was a lot of pressure on me, but to get through Chris Dobey... when they keep on about the future of darts, that's your fella I think. You've got Dimitri as well, they're lovely kids and they're the ones to push the game on I think."
An expectant crowd welcomed The Power to the stage as Snap's 'I've Got the Power' rang around Alexandra Palace for potentially the last time.
And with those in attendance at fever pitch, an emotional Taylor seemed a touch nervier than usual - perhaps wary that in 28 previous World Championship starts across both codes, he had never fallen at the first hurdle.
The emotion of the entrance showed as Dobey, despite a far-from-impressive start of his own, managed find his doubles and edge 2-1 in front.
It took until the fourth leg for Taylor to register his first maximum, and with the pair locked at 2-2, Taylor took out a clinical 85 to take the first set and settle those early nerves.
With Hollywood Dobey unable to get anything going, apart from the occasional maximum (he outscored Taylor on the 180s 6-3), The Power was at his clinical best to claim a couple of trademark combination finishes and a 2-0 lead.
Always a formidable frontrunner, Taylor saw Dobey battle back to lead the third set 2-1 before pinning a brilliant 104 to level and stand on the brink of victory.
With the darts, Dobey pushed the accelerator and nudging his average over 90 for the first time in the match, clinched a fine 11-dart leg to pick up his first set of the match.
Tops put Taylor 1-0 in front, but back-to-back legs from Dobey, including a fine 104 finish of his own put him on the brink of the set and a decider.
Dobey then had two darts at double 16 to level the contest but when he saw them go begging, Taylor pounced but needed all three darts to level the set.
A clinical 44 ensured The Power hammered home the punishment to maximum effect and having been on the brink of a decider, found himself in the second round on December 23 and a date in the final session before the three-day Christmas break and another airing for the most famous walk-on in the business.
Rob Cross kicked off his first ever appearance at the Palace with a 3-0 victory over Seigo Asada, who had earlier been the more consistent in the preliminary round match against Gordon Mathers
Asada averaged just under 87, hit 10 140s and two 100+ check-outs on his way to a 2-1 win and he forced Cross to perform at the sort of level that sees him continue his stellar year with a perfect debut.
Cross has soared to 20 in the world rankings and made a rival out of Michael van Gerwen, but this was his first appearance at Ally Pally - such had been his emergence in the PDC this year.
With six 180s and an average in excess of 104, Cross underlined his position as the fifth favourite for the title and he will next face either Michael Smith or Steve Lennon.
The night's opening first-round contest threatened to be one of the ties of the round as Stephen Bunting and Dimitri Van den Bergh played out a cracker which the Belgian shaded with a 3-1 win despite a barrage of three-figure finishes for The Bullet.
Van den Bergh pinched a high-quality first set before storming to a 2-0 lead despite Bunting finding the biggest finish on the board but his brilliant 170 only delayed the inevitable outcome as Van den Bergh moved with one set of the match averaging more than 107 in the process.
Bunting got on the board by taking the third set and began the fourth with a sensational 144 and when he moved 2-1 in front it looked like we could be headed for a deciding set, but Van den Bergh, who won the World Youth Championship last month, gathered himself and fought back to claim his place in the second round.
The 2018 World Championship from Alexandra Palace continues on Saturday with the first of the tournament's double sessions - coverage underway on Sky Sports Darts from 12.30pm and 7pm.
Keep up to date with the news as the PDC celebrates 25 years on Sky Sports. So get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts - don't forget to use #LoveTheDarts.
