Saturday 22 August 2015 20:43, UK
Nine-dart star Phil Taylor completed a hat-trick of triumphs in the Coral Sydney Darts Masters with a memorable performance on Saturday night, landing a perfect leg against Peter Wright before sweeping past Adrian Lewis 11-3 in the final.
Taylor's dominance of the PDC's World Series of Darts events in Australia continued as he followed up last week's second successive Perth Darts Masters triumph with his third straight win in Sydney.
The victory extends his winning streak in Australia to 20 matches since 2013, and another historic night for the 16-time world champion also saw him hit the first televised nine-darter in the country.
Taylor's perfect leg during his 10-7 semi-final win over Wright was the first since the PDC's World Series of Darts was introduced two years ago and his 11th in a televised contest as he secured another slice of glory to add to his glittering roll of honour.
While players on Australia's domestic circuit, including Kyle Anderson, have achieved nine-dart finishes previously, Taylor's minute of brilliance was the first on TV in the country as he delighted the Qantas Credit Union Arena crowd.
The nine-darter also came as Taylor booked his place in the final of the Sydney Darts Masters, seeing off Wright in fine style to remain on course for a third successive title.
He then stormed past Stoke rival Lewis with an imperious showing in the final to lift the trophy for a third straight year in Sydney, dropping only three legs a he took the title.
"I'm over the moon to have won this again," said Taylor. "I love it in Sydney and I'm a very proud man, and a very lucky man, to be a part of this event.
"The nine-darter was great and a very special moment for me. It's a wonderful achievement and I'm always proud to hit a nine-darter - but I've also got to remember that it's just one leg and it didn't win me the match."
Taylor added: "Adrian didn't perform like he can do in the final, but I think his semi-final took a lot out of him. It's more experience for him and he'll be in a lot more finals in years to come."
Although Taylor took the final's opening leg in 13 darts, Lewis landed a 171 score which was followed in leg two with a 180 as he levelled with an 11-dart finish.
That, though, was as good as it got for Lewis as Taylor hit maximums in the next two legs to move 3-1 up, finished 92 in leg five and defied 180s from the world No 5 in successive legs to move 6-1 up.
Taylor then punished misses from Lewis as he took his streak to seven straight legs as he moved 8-1 up, with the two-time world champion hitting a fourth 180 before finally hitting back, on double eight.
A 96 checkout from Taylor was followed by a maximum in leg 12 as Lewis posted double six to pull back to 9-3, but a miss at double 18 was punished by the 55-year-old on double two as he moved to the brink of a victory which was sealed in style with another maximum and a 97 checkout.
