Power retains UK title

Champion averages 113 in sizzling semi-final

Last updated: 7th June 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Power retains UK title

Taylor: big finishes

Semi-Finals
Gary Anderson 10-3 Tony Ayres
Phil Taylor 10-5 Denis Ovens
Final
Phil Taylor 11-5 Gary Anderson

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Phil Taylor retained his Rileys Darts Zones UK Open title with an 11-5 demolition of Scotland's Gary Anderson in the final.

The reigning world champion was bidding for his 67th PDC television major title, while Anderson was playing in his first major final.

And the result of the final was never in doubt once Taylor hit a 161 checkout to break Anderson's throw in the first leg.

With the Scot missing chances at doubles, Taylor raced into a 5-1 lead without ever having to play his absolute best.

Superb

Anderson was in touch at 6-3 but quickly slipped 9-4 behind and a suberb 167 put Taylor within a leg of victory.

Anderson managed to win the 15th leg but it was just delaying the inevitable and Taylor duly hit a 121 bullseye checkout to claim his fourth UK Open and a winner's cheque for £40,000. Anderson's consolation was £20,000.

After a day on which he had to win three matches, Taylor told Sky Sports: "I am absolutely over the moon. This has got to be the toughest tournament to win. Even Gary - who is a lot fitter than I am, a lot younger than I am - was shattered during the final, we are both shattered.

"But you have got to get through it, you have got to keep digging in. You have got to win and that is what it is all about."

Tougher test

Taylor had to come through a tougher test in his semi-final, as he beat Denis Ovens 10-5.

In fact Taylor had to be close to his best as Ovens hit six maximums and averaged more than 100. But Taylor averaged more than 113 and hit 83 per cent of his doubles to clinch a place in the final.

Anderson's semi-final passage was a lot smoother as he beat world number 62 Tony Ayres 10-3.

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