Nine-Dart Taylor's Championship League Glory

PHIL TAYLOR claimed Championship League Darts glory for a second time, following up his earlier nine-darter with a 6-1 defeat of Paul Nicholson in the Winners Group Final.

Taylor, the 2008 champion who has lost in the final of the internet-streamed event for the last two years, regained the trophy in style with a 113.71 average against Nicholson thanks to a terrific display at Crondon Park GC in Essex.

The 51-year-old - who hit a nine-darter during his league stage win over Mervyn King earlier in the day - dominated from the start, winning the first two legs in 13 darts courtesy of double 16 before taking the third leg in 12 darts.

Nicholson got off the mark in the fourth on tops, after Taylor had missed the same bed, but the world number one was swift in securing victory.

He moved 4-1 up with a third 13-dart finish of the game, broke Nicholson's throw once more in 12 darts and finished a 14-darter to seal his triumph - earning £10,000 as champion in addition to £12,400 prize money he had won during the event.

Taylor had won all seven league games during a brilliant league phase of the event, which included a nine-dart finish during a 6-3 win over Mervyn King, before defeating Steve Beaton 6-1 in the semi-finals.

The victory saw Taylor win a fourth successive major title, following up his World Matchplay, European Championship and World Grand Prix wins since July, as he continues his return to dominating the sport.

"I'm absolutely over the moon," said Taylor, who was defeated by James Wade in the 2010 final. "I've loved every minute of the event this year and to hit a nine-darter today as well as win the final makes it extra special.

"All the players love this event, it's great for us and that shows in the quality of darts which we had throughout the tournament, not just in the Winners Group.

"The scoreline in the final looks lopsided but I knew that I had to keep on top of Paul and finish him off because he never gives up, and I really enjoy playing him. The players like Paul are pushing me and it's given me a new lease of life this year.

"A year ago I was putting myself under pressure, I was losing and people were talking about me, but I wanted to start enjoying the game again and not put myself under pressure, and that's showing now.

"I've won back the World Grand Prix title and now I've won back this, and the next aims are the Grand Slam of Darts and World Championship.

"I'll be trying my socks off to win both events and if I can win the Grand Slam next month it will be a brilliant way to build up to the World Championship."

Nicholson had finished third in the league stage behind King, but followed up victory over the 2008 runner-up in their final league match with a 6-3 semi-final triumph.

Nicholson pocketed £5,000 as runner-up in addition to £14,900 that he won during the tournament, having competed in Groups Two and Three as well as the Winners Group for the first time.

King totalled £15,650 from the tournament after winning four of his league matches on Thursday to finish second behind Taylor.

Beaton, meanwhile, lost to Taylor in the semis for a second successive year, but had finished fourth after winning his final three league matches - overcoming a nightmare start to edge out Mark Walsh, Gary Anderson and Dennis Priestley on Leg Difference.

Simon Whitlock finished bottom of the Winners Group with just one win on Thursday, although having earlier competed in six groups he ended the event with £18,750 in prize money.

The Australian had also achieved a nine-dart finish, during group five, but never recovered from losing his first three games in the Winners Group.

Championship League Darts featured eight one-day groups of eight players, who competed in a round-robin format on each day in matches over the best of 11 legs, with £50 on offer per leg won in the league phase and £100 on offer in the play-offs.

Each day's champion progressed to the Winners Group, where prize money of £100 per leg was paid in the group stage and £200 per leg in the play-offs, while the overall winner picked up £10,000, the runner-up £5,000 and the losing semi-finalists £2,500.

A total of £175,600 was paid out during the 2011 Championship League Darts, which featured 29 of the PDC's top stars.

HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights from the league phase and full action from the semi-finals and final will be available for all LIVEPDC.TV subscribers.
Click here to visit LIVEPDC.TV

CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE DARTS
WINNERS GROUP FIXTURES

FINAL LEAGUE TABLE

MATCH INFORMATION
First Set of Matches
Phil Taylor edged out Gary Anderson 6-5 in their opening Winners Group contest as the pair shared ten 180s in a high-quality start to the day. Anderson took the opener on double 18 and, after Taylor took the second on double eight, he hit the same bed to win the third as the players traded 180s. Anderson also hit a maximum in the fourth, which Taylor took on tops, before the roles were reversed in leg five as the Scot finished 81 on double 12. Taylor levelled on double 16 and broke for the first time in the seventh to lead 4-3, hitting two 180s in a 12-darter to leave Anderson stranded despite a maximum of his own. The pair also traded maximums in leg eight as Anderson broke back with an 11-darter before he finished 121 to lead 5-4. An 84 finish from Taylor forced a decider, but when Anderson was unable to finish 141 the world number one swooped to finish 72 in two darts.
Dennis Priestley held off Steve Beaton's comeback to win 6-4 in their opener. Priestley, Wednesday's Group Eight winner, continued the momentum by winning the first three legs without reply, hitting a pair of 180s in the process, before Beaton finished 70 to win the fourth and an 11-darter to pull back to 3-2. Priestley finished 124 on double eight to take the sixth, but Beaton won the next two on double six and double four to level the game at four-all. Priestley held throw in the ninth, and hit another 180 in the next before landing double 13 for the victory.
Mervyn King made a strong start to the Winners Group, defeating Simon Whitlock 6-3 with a high-quality display. King took the game's first two legs before Whitlock got off the mark on double 16 in the third, having hit a 180 in the process. The next two were shared before King posted his third maximum of the game and double eight to lead 4-2. Whitlock hit a 180 and double 16 to take the seventh, but King put the game to bed in style with back-to-back 112 checkouts.
Paul Nicholson opened his Winners Group challenge with a 6-3 win over Mark Walsh. The 2010 Players Championship Finals winner produced some fine darts, including a 104 finish to take leg two after Walsh took out double 12 for a 72 finish in the opener. Nicholson led 2-1 courtesy of double four before Walsh levelled, and the next two were shared before Nicholson pulled clear from three-all, winning the seventh, taking out 150 on double 18 to lead 5-3 - after his opponent hit a 180 to leave 61 - and finishing 83 in two darts to seal victory.

Second Set of Matches
Dennis Priestley picked up his second Winners Group victory, defeating Gary Anderson 6-2. Anderson, who had been edged out by Phil Taylor in his opener, started well, defying a 180 from Priestley to finish 74 in two darts for the opening leg and 66 to win the third. The 61-year-old had hit a 180 in taking the second and levelled on double six in the fourth, before taking advantage of three misses from the Scot to break for a 3-2 lead on tops. Double eight moved him two legs clear, and when Anderson missed four darts in the next he hit tops for win a fifth leg and landed the same bed for the match.
Phil Taylor maintained his unbeaten start to the Winners Group, seeing off Steve Beaton 6-3. The pair traded 180s in the opening leg, which Taylor took on double eight, and the pair shared the next four without being able to break as the world number one moved 3-2 up. Beaton missed three darts to hold in the sixth, and Taylor swooped to break before powering in a 156 checkout to lead 5-2. The 2008 champion missed three match darts in the next as Beaton hit double 16 to stay alive, but a superb 12-darter for Taylor sealed the win, as he took out 81 for the match.
Mervyn King's winning start to the Winners Group continued as he saw off Mark Walsh 6-3. King followed up hitting two ton-plus finishes in the last two legs of his opening game by taking out 148 in the opener, and after Walsh finished 80 for the second leg he hit double 16 to lead 2-1. Walsh levelled on tops and hit a 180 in the fifth, but King replied in kind to hold throw. Walsh landed a 174 to leave 24 in the next, but missed three darts at double 12 to allow King in to break on double ten. Double 16 moved him 5-2 up, and although Walsh hit double ten to keep the game alive his fightback was brief as King took out 64.
Paul Nicholson continued his fine start to the Winners Group, defeating Australian World Cup team-mate Simon Whitlock 6-1. Nicholson broke with a 180 and double 16 in the opening leg, and finished 68 to move 2-0 up before Whitlock won the third. Nicholson won the next two to lead 4-1 before hitting a brilliant 11-darter to edge towards the win - although Whitlock bettered that with a superb ten-dart finish to wi the seventh leg. Whitlock, though missed double 16 in the next and Nicholson hit tops to seal a big win.

Third Set of Matches
Dennis Priestley came back from 5-2 down to take a 6-5 win over Paul Nicholson and remain unbeaten in the Winners Group. Nicholson continued his strong start by winning the first three legs before Priestley finished 65 to win the fourth. Double four gave him a 4-1 lead, and after Priestley hit a 180 and tops for the sixth leg he took out 80 to move to the brink of victory. Priestley began his comeback with a 77 finish and then took out 96 to pull back to 5-4, with Nicholson waiting on 32. Nicholson then missed the bull for a 124 finish in the next as Priestley followed a 180 with double nine to force a decider, which he came through to win on double ten.
Gary Anderson claimed his first victory of the Winners Group, defeating Simon Whitlock 6-4 in a fine game. Whitlock set the tone for a heavy-scoring contest by opening with a 180 in taking the first leg, with Anderson landing a maximum to level before taking out 170 to break in the third. Whitlock replied with a 122 on the bull to hit back and landed double ten in leg five to lead 3-2. Anderson, though, produced back-to-back 13-darters to move 4-3 up, only for Whitlock to again hit back to level courtesy of a 167 checkout. Anderson, though, opened the ninth with a 180 and hit double 16 with his third dart to lead 5-4, and after both opened the tenth with maximums it was the Scot who took victory, finishing 50 with an improvised double ten, double 15 combination.
Mark Walsh won his first game of the Winners Group, defeating Steve Beaton 6-3. The pair entered the match seeking their first victory of the day, with Walsh taking advantage to win the first five legs without reply, breaking throw twice in the process. Beaton defied a 180 from Walsh to keep the match alive on double four in the sixth, and hit a 100 finish to break throw as well as win the next to cut the gap to 5-3. But Walsh was first to a finish in the ninth leg, and landed double nine to take the two points.
Phil Taylor hit a stunning nine-dart finish in his 6-3 win over Mervyn King, who suffered his first defeat of the Winners Group. Taylor opened with a 14-darter before King replied with a 114 finish, only to miss three darts to win leg three as Taylor followed a 177 with double four. Taylor also took the fourth before King hit a 44 finish to pull back to 3-2. Taylor landed another maximum in an 11-darter to win the sixth before creating more history with his second Championship League Darts nine-darter in the next, as he hit 180, 180 and finished 141 on double 12 to emulate his 2009 achievement. King won the next to pull back to 5-3 with a fine 155 checkout, but Taylor ensured a third straight win with a 96 checkout - finishing with a three-dart average of 120.64 to King's 105.59.

Fourth Set of Matches
Paul Nicholson won his third game of the Winners Group, picking up a 6-1 triumph against Gary Anderson. The duo shared the opening two legs before Nicholson hit 180s in taking the next two for a 3-1 lead. Double 12 put him three legs clear before he landed another maximum in leading 5-1, and opened the next with a 180 before sealing the win on double 18.
Simon Whitlock won his first game of the day, defeating previously unbeaten Dennis Priestley 6-3. Priestley led 2-1 early on before Whitlock hit a 177 and a 128 checkout to level and double 12 for the game's first break of throw as he moved 3-2 up. The Australian also won the next two legs before double 16 from Priestley kept the game alive, but his hopes of another comeback were dashed when Whitlock took out 80 on double ten.
Phil Taylor's winning start to the Winners Group continued as he defeated Mark Walsh 6-3 to move two points clear at the top of the table. Taylor followed up double four for the opening leg with a 103 checkout in the second, but after hitting a 180 in the thrid missed three darts to lead 3-0 as Walsh followed up a 180 by taking out 61 on double 19. Walsh then levelled the match on double 12, only for Taylor to hit a 13-darter and lead 3-2 before breaking in the sixth on double six after landing 180s in successive legs. Tops put Taylor 5-2 up, and after Walsh won a third leg on double nine Taylor finished 121 to seal the points.
Mervyn King secured the first Winners Group whitewash as he condemned Steve Beaton to a fourth straight defeat. King capitalised in the game's opening leg when Beaton missed six darts at doubles, and hit a 180 in taking the second leg before breaking again in the third. Beaton missed tops for a 160 in the fourth and the bull for a 124 checkout in the fifth as King took out 78 and double 18 to move to the brink of victory, which he secured without reply in the sixth on tops.

Fifth Set of Matches
Steve Beaton produced his best performance of the Winners Group, sweeping past Paul Nicholson 6-2 for his first win of the day. The pair began in superb fashion, trading 180s in the first leg as Nicholson finished 64 to lead before Beaton levelled with an 11-darter. Double 16 put Nicholson 2-1 up, before Beaton finished double 18 for a 13-darter to level, double four to break and a 121 finish to lead 4-2. He hit a 180 and a 76 finish in the next, before adding another maximum and a 96 finish for an 11-darter to seal his first win of the Winners Group.
Gary Anderson claimed his second victory of the day, defeating Mervyn King 6-3. The pair shared the first two legs before Anderson hit an 11-darter in the third, only to miss two darts at double 16 in the next as King posted tops to keep pace. Anderson won the fifth but was again unable to break in the next, hitting two 180s but missing three darts at double top and ten. He landed a 180 in taking leg seven, and finally broke in the eighth before finishing 80 on tops to seal the win.
Phil Taylor edged Simon Whitlock in an 11-leg thriller to remain unbeaten following five matches. Whitlock opened well by hitting double top in the opener and a 124 bull finish to break and lead 2-0, and after Taylor took out 119 in the third he finished double 16 for a 3-1 cushion. Taylor hit an 11-darter to win leg five and levelled, only to see the Australian finish 86 in two darts for the seventh leg. Taylor, who hit a nine-darter earlier in the day, opened with scores of 177 and 180 in the eighth, and although he missed out on another perfect leg took out a ten-darter to level. Whitlock finished 81 to move a leg away from the win, but Taylor levelled in the tenth and hit double four to win the decider.
Mark Walsh strengthened his play-off challenge with a 6-1 win over Dennis Priestley. Walsh enjoyed his best performance of the day, sharing two double top finishes as Priestley split the opening two legs before winning the third and breaking for the first time in leg four. Double top moved him 4-1 up, and double ten edged him towards victory before he hit the same bed to secure two points.

Sixth Set of Matches
Mervyn King defeated Dennis Priestley 6-2 to secure his semi-final place in the Winners Group. King took the game's first two legs before Priestley capitalised on two misses from the 2008 runner-up by landing tops to take the third. Double 16 restored King's cushion and a fine 11-dart leg was followed by King hitting a 180 and double eight to lead 5-1. King missed four match darts in the next as Priestley hit double five to threaten a comeback, but double ten in the next secured victory for the Bradwell-based star.
Phil Taylor ensured that he will end the league phase at the head of the table with his sixth successive win, as he saw off Paul Nicholson 6-1. Taylor's imperious form continued from the off as he broke in the first leg and finished 64 in the second, before punishing two misses from Nicholson to take the third on double ten. Nicholson opened the fourth with a 180 but missed two darts at tops for a 100 finish as Taylor took out 114 for a 4-0 lead, although Nicholson did get off the mark with a 124 finish after the pair traded maximums in the fifth. Taylor won the sixth to lead 5-1, and when Nicholson missed double four in the next he returned to hit double eight for another two-pointer.
Mervyn King won his second game of the day, defeating Simon Whitlock 6-3 to keep alive his feint play-off hopes going into the final round of matches. Whitlock took out 121 for the game's opening leg but was punished for missed doubles in two of the next four as Beaton took four in a row to claim control of the contest. Whitlock won two of the next three to threaten a comeback, but Beaton opened the ninth with a 180 and sealed the win on double ten.
Gary Anderson jumped into fourth place in the league table with a 6-2 defeat of Mark Walsh. Anderson opened with a 14-darter and finished 100 to lead 2-0 before Walsh broke and then finished 92 on the bull to level the game. However, Walsh wired the bull for a 170 in the fifth and also missed two darts at double eight as Anderson edged 3-2 up on tops, and the Scot punished two more misses from his opponent to hit double 12 and lead 4-2. Double ten edged him towards the win, and when Walsh was unable to convert two chances at double ten he sealed the win with a clinical 76 checkout.

Final Set of Matches
Steve Beaton won his third successive game, defeating Gary Anderson 6-2 to jump above the Scot in the league table - and put himself provisionally in fourth place. Beaton had lost his opening four matches in the Winners Group, but continued his momentum after sharing the opening two legs with Anderson, winning three successive legs to lead 4-1. Anderson won leg six, but missed two darts to pull back to within a leg as Beaton hit tops to lead 5-2 before sealing a heavy win with a 126 bull finish.
Phil Taylor completed a perfect league phase in the Winners Group with a seventh straight win, ending Dennis Priestley's play-off hopes with a 6-2 triumph. After Priestley missed three darts to take the opening leg, Taylor capitalised on double 14 before winning the next three legs to move 4-0 up. Priestley hit a 180 in taking the fifth, and after Taylor moved 5-1 up he landed tops to threaten another comeback. Taylor, though, ended his rival's chances in the event on double ten in the next.
Mark Walsh finished the Winners Group with a 6-5 win over Simon Whitlock - but was unable to claim a play-off spot as he missed out to Steve Beaton on leg difference. Walsh went into the game needing to win 6-4 or better, and when he led 4-2 he seemed on course to achieve the win which would secure a semi-final finish. Whitlock hit two double top finishes to level, and when Walsh missed three darts to win the ninth he took out 83 on the bull to move 5-4 up - a crucial leg which ensured Beaton's fourth-placed finish. Walsh won the tenth to force a decider and hit a 180 and double 12 to seal a winning end to the tournament as the Australian was condemned to his sixth loss of the day.
Paul Nicholson sealed his semi-final place with a 6-3 victory over Mervyn King - ensuring that the pair will meet again in the play-offs. After sharing the first two legs, Nicholson produced some superb darts to win the next three before King finished 80 on double 11. Double 16 moved Nicholson 5-2 up and, although King posted an 81 finish the Geordie took out double eight for a win which seals third spot.

Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor won through to his fourth successive Championship League Darts final, defeating Steve Beaton 6-1 in their semi-final. Beaton missed tops to win the game's opening leg as Taylor broke with a 14-darter before taking out 83 to win the second. Beaton hit double eight to win the third leg, but Taylor hit 180s in the next three as he pulled clear, with a 96 finish putting him 5-1 up and another 14-darter, sealed with a 67 checkout, sealed his final place.
Paul Nicholson saw off Mervyn King 6-3 to win through to the Championship League Darts final. A high-quality opening saw Nicholson finish 65 and 124 to win his first two legs and King check out 76 twice, before Nicholson hit a 180 and double 16 for the fifth leg. King levelled with a 122 checkout on the bull, but Nicholson followed up double six with the first break of the match in leg eight following missed doubles from King, before hitting double ten to secure the win.

Final
Phil Taylor claimed Championship League Darts glory for a second time, following up his earlier nine-darter with a 6-1 defeat of Paul Nicholson in the Winners Group Final.
Taylor, the 2008 champion who has lost in the final for the last two years, regained the trophy in style with a 113.71 average against Nicholson thanks to a terrific display.
The 51-year-old dominated from the start, winning the first two legs in 13 darts courtesy of double 16 before taking the third leg in 12 darts.
Nicholson got off the mark in the fourth on tops, after Taylor had missed the same bed, but the world number one was swift in securing victory.
He moved 4-1 up with a third 13-dart finish of the game, broke Nicholson's throw once more in 12 darts and finished a 14-darter to seal his triumph - earning £10,000 as champion in addition to £12,400 prize money he had won during the event.
Final Match Averages: Phil Taylor 113.71, Paul Nicholson 90.74

HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights from the league phase and full action from the semi-finals and final will be available for all LIVEPDC.TV subscribers.
Click here to visit LIVEPDC.TV

Event Information
Championship League Darts sees players compete in eight-man groups, with prize money awarded per leg won.

Each day sees the players meet each other once during the league phase, before the top four contest the semi-finals and final to determine a group winner.

The runner-up, semi-finalists and the players who finish fifth and sixth in the league table progress to the next group, and are joined by the next three players from the PDC Order of Merit. The players who finish seventh and eighth in each group are eliminated.

The process is repeated through to Group Eight before the eight individual champions return to compete in the big-money Winners Group on Thursday October 20.