Phil Taylor waltzed his way to a 14th world title, dismantling Raymond van Barneveld 7-1 in a one-sided World Darts Championship final.
Dutchman has no answer as Taylor reigns at the Palace
Phil Taylor waltzed his way to a 14th world title, dismantling Raymond van Barneveld 7-1 in a one-sided World Darts Championship final.
'The Power' turned it on in fine style to claim the crown for the first time since 2006, finishing the match with a record three-dart average of 110.94.
The result also avenges a painful loss to the Dutchman in the 2007 final - a match seen as arguably the greatest in the history of the game.
This time there was to be no sudden death tie-breaker required to separate the pair, Taylor reigning supreme at Alexandra Palace in emphatic fashion.
Expected test
Having barely been pushed en route to the final, the 48-year-old was expected to be given a stern test by a man who had denied him a fourth title on the spin at the Circus Tavern two years ago.
Instead a highly-charged crowd, which included Arsenal forward Robin van Persie and jockey Frankie Dettori, witnessed an exhibition from Taylor.
"I feel absolutely fantastic," he told
Sky Sports after lifting the trophy yet again. "I'm over the moon with the score.
"Nine darts would have been nice as well. It didn't come off this time, but next time. I feel very sorry for Raymond but one of us has got to lose and I'm glad it's not me."
A determined Taylor laid down a marker when he took the opening two sets by reeling off six successive legs.
Van Barneveld finally got off the mark at the start of the third set and when he made the most of his opponent missing three darts at a double to make it 2-1, memories of the 2007 epic - when Taylor had lost after being 3-0 ahead, came flooding back.
The pressure of the situation seemed to get to both players in the fourth set, doubles being missed by both men before Taylor took it with double four.
The fifth saw van Barneveld take the opening two legs but the lead did not last for long, his inability to land doubles seeing the lead quickly slip from his grasp.
When he lost the sixth set the man from The Hague seemed to know he was beaten, though he can still look back on an amazing run in the tournament that including a dramatic comeback against Ronnie Baxter and a nine-darter in his quarter-final victory over compatriot Jelle Klaasen.
Computer
"I played a computer," he admitted afterwards. "All my congratulations to Phil. He's absolutely brilliant.
"I'll be back don't worry, but beating this man - I don't know what to do? Practicing 10 hours a day is probably not enough."
Taylor checked out 81 to seal a lop-sided victory, meaning he has now won 12 of the 16 PDC championships that have taken place.
Having struggled at the start of the year when attempting to get used to new darts, he admitted his season turned around after suffering an 8-3 Premier League defeat at the hands of Peter Manley on February 21.
"When Peter gave me a thrashing, I thought; 'Phil, you've got to get off your backside now and put things right'," Taylor added.
"I got back on the practice board and figured out what I was doing wrong. I think I owe Peter a big kiss. He turned my career around for me."
