Phil Taylor loves World Matchplay! Wayne Mardle explains why

Phil 'The Power' Taylor's dominance of the World Matchplay will continue into this year's tournament, says Wayne Mardle.

The legendary thrower has enjoyed a peerless history at the Blackpool event, winning 15 titles since it began in 1995, including the last seven.

Last year he reduced Michael van Gerwen to tears after beating him in the final and he will aim for an eighth title when the tournament kicks off on Saturday at 7pm, live on Sky Sports 3 HD.

Taylor's ability to seamlessly transfer his skills into the Matchplay reminds Sky Sports expert Mardle of a tennis supremo with a similar ability.

"It’s the same as Rafa Nadal playing tennis on a clay surface," Mardle said. "Taylor just doesn’t lose in Blackpool. It’s a different surface to Phil – it’s like he’s using a different board with different dimensions. The format works for him.

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"When he gets up and running in the World Matchplay he’s so difficult to stop. If he doesn’t lose in the early stages then suddenly you play him in a best-of-25 match and think 'hold on, I need to play very well to beat Phil Taylor here'.

"His work ethic is different to a lot of players. He plays relentlessly and tirelessly. He doesn’t care if he loses a mini session 4-1 or 5-0 because he knows he’s got more and more sessions in the bank over five legs where he can win 3-2 and, before you know it, he’s back in the game."

'The Power' recently endured a difficult Premier League Darts campaign, failing to qualify for the play-offs for the first time in his illustrious career. 

Mardle thinks that disappointment could still haunt Taylor – but it won't matter if he is able to steamroll opposition at Blackpool's Winter Gardens in a similar fashion to years gone by.

This will sound utterly ridiculous but it’s 100 per cent true – Phil can win the Matchplay without ever encountering any pressure.

He said: "His Premier League performance might slightly knock his confidence but, when you’re dealing with Phil, when he plays well it seems like he’ll carry on. He won’t get complacent or cocky, he knows what it takes. He knows he can grind his opponent down.

"The important thing for me is, at the age of 54, he was found wanting in the pressure situations during the world final. He faltered.

"This will sound utterly ridiculous but it’s 100 per cent true – Phil can win the Matchplay without ever encountering any pressure because he can build up a head of steam, gain control of every match, and canter to the finishing line.

"Basically, the only tough game he had last year was against Gary Anderson. He got through that and then motored away from Michael van Gerwen in the final.

"His mind-set for the Matchplay is second to none. I think Phil will win it again. He just dominates this tournament."

Watch World Matchplay Darts live on Sky Sports 3 HD on Saturday at 7pm.