Taylor Seals Championship League Treble

PHIL TAYLOR won a third successive Championship League Darts title with a superb 6-3 victory over Michael van Gerwen in the Winners Group Final at Crondon Park GC in Essex.

The World Champion continued his dominance of the year's big tournaments by winning the £10,000 first prize, a further £9,450 in prize money and a fourth title in six years of the internet-streamed event with another amazing day of days.

Taylor had earned his place in Thursday's Winners Group by taking victory in Group One of the tournament last night, hitting a nine-dart finish on that day.

After seeing his rival do battle in a further seven groups, Taylor returned to Crondon Park for the Winners Group, where he topped the league table with six victories from his seven matches, with only van Gerwen defeating the world number one in the round-robin stage.

Taylor initially picked up three 6-5 victories, over Andy Hamilton, Kim Huybrechts and Ian White, and then defeated Wes Newton 6-4 before bouncing back from his loss to the Dutchman with a narrow defeat of Terry Jenkins - in a high-quality contest - and a 6-3 win over Richie Burnett.

Taylor then dropped only one leg in a semi-final romp against Newton, where he averaged 106 and took out a 141 checkout in sealing his place in the final against van Gerwen, where he avenged his earlier defeat in stunning style with a 107 average.

Taylor won the final's first five legs without reply in a darting masterclass, opening with a 13-darter and then breaking throw with a 127 finish on the bullseye, after van Gerwen had scored 174 to leave 32.

Taylor then took out 92 on the bull and left the Dutch ace again waiting on 32 in leg four as he took out 86, while double ten in leg five moved him to the brink of glory.

Van Gerwen, though, hit a 180 in a 14-dart leg to get off the mark, matched the feat with a 67 finish in the seventh leg and continued the fightback by taking out 116 for a 12-darter in pulling back to 5-3.

Taylor, though, stepped up another gear to hit two 140s in the ninth leg, before taking out 81 for an 11-darter to complete another fine triumph - adding to the World Championship, UK Open, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix titles he has claimed already in 2013.

Click here for Phil Taylor Video Interview

"I'm delighted to win this title again," said Taylor. "This is the toughest Championship League Darts I've ever played in - but when I went to five-all in matches, my 11th leg tended to be in 11 or 12 darts to win me the games.

"I stuck in there and I've done it before so I know what it takes to win this. It's a marathon and not a sprint, but you've got to take your time.

"It was a tough final and Michael's a tough opponent and even when I was 5-0 up I knew that he could come back to five-each. Michael showed what a great player he is by coming back, and I knew I had to kill him off.

"He can rattle off five legs in no time at all, so I needed one good leg to win it and I got that there at the end with the 11-darter. My finishing was superb in the final and that got me through; the 127 and 86 when Michael was on a double were good shots."

Van Gerwen took home the £5,000 runner-up prize as well as £5,100 prize money from the Winners Group - but having taken until Group Five to qualify ended the event as the highest money-earner with £23,400.

His win over Newton in the final round of matches sealed second place in the league table as he won five of his seven league games, and though he avened his 6-0 whitewash to Burnett in the league phase with a 6-2 semi-final triumph, he fell just short of another major title.

Burnett's brilliant 12-minute whitewash of the Dutchman was the Welsh star's highlight of a fine day, as he followed up Tuesday's Group Seven triumph by winning four league games to finish in third place in the league table.

Burnett took home £3,600 from the Winners Group as well as £2,500 for reaching the semi-finals alongside Newton, who won an additional £3,900 on the day as he finished fourth.

Stoke's Ian White and Belgian Kim Huybrechts both won three matches but missed out on the Play-Offs, with Andy Hamilton taking two victories and Terry Jenkins picking up his only victory by overcoming White in the final round of matches to end his opponent's semi-final hopes.

The tournament featured a record four nine-darters, with Taylor's Group One effort followed by perfect legs for van Gerwen, Huybrechts and Mervyn King, while a total of £177,450 prize money was paid out to the 29 competing players.

Championship League Darts was broadcast exclusively online through www.LIVEPDC.TV and a series of over 50 bookmakers' websites worldwide, with play being held across nine days at Crondon Park Golf Club in Essex.

Phil Taylor is pictured with Crondon Park managing director Jason Fox

Championship League Darts Group Winners
Group One: Phil Taylor
Group Two: Andy Hamilton
Group Three: Wes Newton
Group Four: Terry Jenkins
Group Five: Michael van Gerwen
Group Six: Ian White
Group Seven: Richie Burnett
Group Eight: Kim Huybrechts
Winners Group: Phil Taylor

2013 Championship League Darts
Winners Group Results

League Table

Positions decided by:
Points Won
Leg Difference
Legs Won
Legs Won Against Throw

Match Information
First Set of Matches
Phil Taylor edged past Andy Hamilton 6-5, hitting a 12-darter in the deciding leg of their opening clash. Taylor hit a 180 and tops to take the opening leg, with Hamilton finishing 70 to reply, while the World Champion hit an 11-darter as the pair shared the opening six legs. Hamilton then broke with a 76 finish, and after Taylor hit a 180 as he levelled, the UK Open runner-up then traded 180s and hit double two for a 5-4 lead. Taylor broke back on double 19 to force a decider, which he opened with a 140 before landing a 174 and double eight for a 12-darter to grab the points.
Group Seven winner Richie Burnett picked up a 6-3 win over Kim Huybrechts in their Winners Group opener. Burnett took the opening leg in 13 darts, broke with an 11-darter and then finished 142 to move 3-0 up befure Huybrechts landed a 180 as he hit back in the fourth leg. The next four were shared as Huybrechts pulled back to 5-3, but Burnett finished 76 on double four to take maximum points from his opener.
Michael van Gerwen hit back from 2-0 down to claim a 6-4 victory against Ian White in their Winners Group opener. White hit a 180 and double 16 to win the opening leg before doubling his lead with a 70 finish, only for van Gerwen to punish six misses from the Stoke ace to win the third, before taking the next three for a 4-2 lead. White stepped in to win the next two following misses from the Dutchman, but van Gerwen hit a 180 as he edged the ninth before finishing 150 on double 18 to secure the win.
Wes Newton edged out Terry Jenkins 6-5 in a see-saw battle to claim a first win in the Winners Group. Jenkins opened the game with a 180 and finished 89 to lead, before Newton finished tops and double six to move 2-1 up. Jenkins levelled before Newton took out 125 for a 12-darter, with Jenkins hitting a 180 to reply at level at three-all. The next two were also shared before Jenkins moved 5-4 up, but Newton again took out 125, and then took the decider in 14 darts, hitting a 180 and double eight.

Second Set of Matches
Phil Taylor picked up a second successive 6-5 win, defeating Kim Huybrechts narrowly in their second game. Taylor finished double two, tops and 101 to win the game's first two legs, before the Belgian hit back to 3-2 as he punished missed doubles from Taylor. An 86 finish put the World Champion 4-2 up, and though Huybrechts hit back to level, Taylor hit scores of 177 and 171 in a 12-darter to move 5-4 up, and after the Belgian forced a decider on double eight, he finished another 12-dart leg to take the decider.
Richie Burnett continued his 100 percent start to the Winners Group, winning 6-2 against Andy Hamilton. Hamilton won the opening leg on double four before Burnett finished tops and double four to move 2-1 up. Hamilton levelled, but Burnett took the next two to move 4-2 up, finished 78 to lead 5-2 and sealed victory with a 180 in a 12-darter.
Michael van Gerwen maintained his fine start, overcoming Terry Jenkins in a game which saw both players average over 101. Jenkins finished 109 to win the opening leg, before van Gerwen hit back-to-back 14-darters and a 13-dart finish to lead 3-1. Jenkins replied with an 11-darter but van Gerwen took out 140 to move 4-2 up, and added a brace of double 16 checkouts to complete the win.
Ian White joined the trio of players on four points with a 6-4 defeat of Wes Newton in their second game with a 102 average. Newton won the opening leg before White took three in a row to assume a 3-1 cushion, with Newton sharing the next four to stay in touch before finishing tops to pull back to 5-4, but White took out 66 on double 18 in the tenth to seal victory.

Third Set of Matches
Wes Newton averaged 106.05 in a brilliant 6-2 win over Kim Huybrechts, who averaged 103 in reply but was unable to claim his first win of the day. Newton finished 110 in the opening leg and double ten to win the second, before opening the third with two 180s, only to miss out on a nine-darter and then see Huybrechts finish 77 to win the leg. Newton then finished 170 to lead 3-1, with Huybrechts taking out 126 to reply only to miss the bull for a 170 finish of his own to level, as Newton took out a 13-darter to move 4-2 up. The Fleetwood ace then took out 73 to win his fifth leg and hit a 180 and an 81 finish for a 12-darter to seal the win - with Huybrechts scoring 180, 140 and 170 to be left on 11 as his opponent checked out.
Phil Taylor won a third successive game 6-5 to maintain his unbeaten start to the Winners Group, edging out Ian White. White shared the opening four legs with his Stoke rival, before hitting a 180 and double eight to lead 3-2 and then trading maximums with Taylor in the sixth as he broke to move 4-2 up. Taylor took out 76 to break back and landed a 180 to level. White hit double 16 for a 5-4 cushion, but Taylor hit a 180 and finished 84 to force a decider before sealing victory in 14 darts, missing the bull for a 161 before returning to take out double eight.
Richie Burnett survived a comeback from Terry Jenkins before narrowly claiming his third successive win of the day in a dramatic deciding leg. Burnett made a fine start by winning the first three legs, before Jenkins hit a 170 finish to get of the mark in the fourt - erasing the memory of six missed doubles in the previous leg. Jenkins then took out 25 and tops to level, only for Burnett to hit tops and take out 108 to move to the brink of victory. Jenkins, though, responded superbly to take out 156 and a 12-darter to send the game into a decider - but missed three darts to snatch the victory as Burnett stepped in to remain unbeaten.
Michael van Gerwen maintained his unbeaten start to the Winners Group, defeating Andy Hamilton 6-1 to pick up a third successive victory. Hamilton finished double two to win the opening leg, after Hamilton missed the bull, and then finished double ten and tops to lead 3-0. A 74 finish got Hamilton off the mark, but van Gerwen restored his cushion, then hit a 180 and tops to lead 5-1 and finished double 16 to seal two more points.

Fourth Set of Matches
Phil Taylor's winning streak continued, as he defeated Wes Newton 6-4 to claim a fourth two-pointer of the Winners Group. Taylor hit a 180 and finished 64 to take the opening leg, before pinning 92 and double 14 to lead 3-0. Newton replied with a 14-darter, but missed doubles were punished in the next as Taylor stepped in with a 126 bullseye finish. Newton, though responded with legs of 14, 15 and 14 darts to level the game at four-all, but Taylor won the ninth to regain the edge, before hitting a 177 in a 12-darter to take both points.
Ian White won his second game of the Winners Group, edging out Kim Huybrechts 6-5 to deny the Belgian a first victory. Whit took out 121, double eight for a 14-darter and 120 to win the game's first three legs, and though Huybrechts replied in the fourth, another 14-darter took him 4-1 ahead. Huybrechts hit double ten and tops to reply, before a 13-darter levelled the contest. The pair traded double four finishes to send the game into a decider, but Huybrechts missed double five to take out 85, and White landed tops to edge another win.
Andy Hamilton claimed his first victory of the Winners Group, overcoming Terry Jenkins 6-5 in another tight contest. Double four put the Stoke ace ahead, before Jenkins took out 71 and 150 to take the next two legs, landing 180s in both as he moved 2-1 up. Hamilton then took out 90 on the bull, 115 and double ten to lead 4-2, only to miss doubles in the next two legs as Jenkins levelled. Jenkins then hit a 180 in a 14-darter to lead 5-4, but he missed tops for the game in the next leg as Hamilton finished 118 on the bull, before he posted double eight to take victory in the deciding leg.
Richie Burnett ended Michael van Gerwen's winning start, and maintained his own 100 percent record, with a superb 12-minute whitewash of the Dutch star. Burnett opened a fine performance with a 108 finish to break throw, hit a 13-darter in the second leg and produced a superb ten-dart finish in the third, scoring 180, 140 and 165 to set up double eight. He then took out 66 on tops, punished van Gerwen's miss at tops by hitting the same bed to finish 118 for a 5-0 lead before landing double 16 to claim a memorable whitewash, ending with a 102.48 average.

FIfth Set of Matches
Wes Newton ended Richie Burnett's winning run, picking up a 6-5 victory over the Welshman. Burnett took the opening two legs, hitting double five and double eight, before Newton took three in a row to edge himself ahead. Burnett levelled in leg six, before Newton took out 100 with two double tops to move 4-2 up. Burnett then finished double six and broke on tops to lead 5-4, but Newton took out 75 to force a decider and finished 80 for victory.
Michael van Gerwen bounced back from his whitewash to Richie Burnett with a 6-3 victory over Phil Taylor, averaging 108.44 to his opponent's 104 as the World Champion suffered his first defeat. Van Gerwen took out 98, 108 and double eight to win the game's first three legs, before Taylor hit a 177 as he replied on tops. The Dutch ace responded with a 180 and a 125 finish to lead 4-1, and after Taylor took the sixth leg, he finished 170 to move 5-2 up. Taylor replied on double eight, but an 80 checkout gave van Gerwen the points.
Andy Hamilton won his second game of the day to join Ian White on four league points with a narrow 6-5 victory. Hamilton finished double eight and double 16 to take the first two legs, and though White hit back in the third, a 130 bullseye finish saw the UK Open finalist move 3-1 up. He also took the fifth leg before White took out double 16 and followed a 177 with double ten to pull back to 4-3. Hamilton took out 103 to move to the brink of victory, but White finished 86 and double 16 to force a deciding leg. White then hit two 180s to be first to a finish - but missed two darts at double 16 to allow Hamilton in to hit the same bed to claim the points.
Kim Huybrechts won the battle of the day's winless players with a 6-3 defeat of Terry Jenkins. Jenkins took the game's first two legs, breaking in the second with a 70 finish, only for Huybrechts to hit double 16 in the next two to level. The next two were shared, before Huybrechts took the seventh against the throw, took out 108 in the eighth and hit a 174 to set up double 16 as he secured his first points of the day.

Sixth Set of Matches
Kim Huybrechts picked up a second successive Winners Group victory, overcoming Michael van Gerwen 6-3. Huybrechts finished 78 and 72 to win the first two legs and landed a 180 and finished 32 in the third, before van Gerwen got off the mark with double two in the fourth. Double 16 gave Huybrechts a 4-1 lead, with van Gerwen finishing 80 and 72 to win two of the next three to pull back to 5-3, only for Huybrechts to hit a 180 and double ten in securing the points.
Wes Newton won his fourth match of the day, putting one foot into the semi-finals with a 6-4 defeat of Andy Hamilton, ending the Stoke ace's hopes of a top four finish. Hamilton took the opening leg, with Newton levelling courtesy of an 11-darter only for Hamilton to finish legs of 12 and 13 darts to move 3-1 up. The next two were shared on double 16, before Newton hit a 12-darter and then levelled on tops, before finished double ten and double 16 to complete his comeback.
Ian White kept alive his hopes of winning through to the Winners Group semi-finals with a superb whitewash of Richie Burnett, averaging 104.86 in a fine display. White took out double ten and double eight to win the first two legs and hit a 180 and a 108 finish to move 3-0. He also took the fourth leg, followed a 180 and an 84 finish to lead 5-0 before completing an amazing performance with a 103 checkout.
Phil Taylor moved clear at the top of the Winners Group table with a sensational 6-5 win over Terry Jenkins in a game of amazing quality, with Taylor's 109.35 average almost matched by his opponent's 105.45. Taylor's 126 to win the opening leg on the bull was cancelled out by a 137 checkout from Jenkins in the second, before the Ledbury ace hit a 12-darter to move 2-1 up. Taylor levelled by trading 180s and finished 83 for a 12-darter before moving ahead by finishing 74 for an 11-dart finish, and tops put him 4-2 up. Jenkins finished double four and 100 to evel, before punishing nine missed doubles from Taylor by hitting double 16 to win the leg at his third visit on a finish. Taylor hit a 177 in an 11-darter as he forced a decider, before defying a 180 from Jenkins to take out 111 to seal the win.

Final Set of Matches
Phil Taylor sealed top spot in the Winners Group by completing the league phase with a sixth victory, with his 6-3 win over Richie Burnett leaving the Welshman hanging on to a semi-final place, and hoping for Ian White not to win his final match. Taylor took the opening leg on double ten, with Burnett levelling with a 146 finish on double 13. Taylor, though, hit a 180 and an 82 finish to regain the lead, a 177 and double eight and then posted double 16 to move 4-1 up. Burnett hit double ten to reply, and after Taylor landed double 16, the Welshman finished 81 to stay in the game, but his respite was short-lived as he missed double 18 for a 102 finish in the ninth leg, and double five gave Taylor the points.
Kim Huybrechts gained a consolation victory with a 6-3 defeat of Andy Hamilton, with neither player unable to reach the semi-finals. Hamilton won the game's opening leg, only for Huybrechts to put together a run of five successive legs, all of 15 darts or under as he moved 5-1 up, including a 119 finish. Double ten and double four saw Hamilton hit back, but Huybrechts finished 81 in the ninth leg to take the points.
Terry Jenkins ended Ian White's Play-Off hopes and claimed his own first win of the day with a 6-3 triumph in their final league game. Jenkins took out 86 and 92 to win the first two legs, and landed double five to lead 3-0. White hit double four to reply, with Jenkins winning the next two legs to move to the brink of victory. White battled as he chased the win which would give him a semi-final spot, taking out double ten and double four to pull back to 5-3, but two misses at double 16 in the next proved crucial as Jenkins finished 54 on double 13 to seal his only victory of the Winners Group.
Michael van Gerwen defeated Wes Newton 6-5 in their final league game, claiming second place and pushing Newton down to fourth in the final league table. Newton made a superb start by winning the opening three legs and also led 4-1 before van Gerwen, fired by a 70 finish, hit back to level. The Dutchman then took the ninth to lead 5-4, with Newton hitting a 171 and double six to force a decider - only to miss tops for a 120 finish and three further match darts as van Gerwen hit double five in his third visit to land the winning double.

Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 6-1 Wes Newton
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Richie Burnett
Phil Taylor romped into the Winners Group final with a 6-1 win over Wes Newton. Newton took the opening leg on tops, but Taylor hit a 180 and double four to level, a 177 in an 11-darter to move 2-1 up and a 141 checkout to lead 3-1. Newton landed a 174 score to move ahead in the fifth, but missed six darts to hit back as Taylor hit double eight to move 4-1, with double 12 and double top securing his place in the final.
Michael van Gerwen soared past Richie Burnett with a 6-2 victory to reach the final, avenging his earlier whitewash to the Welshman. Van Gerwen finished 60 and 87, on the bull, to win the first two legs, before Burnett hit a 180 and tops to reply in leg three. Double ten and a 99 finish, of single 19 and two double tops, saw van Gerwen take a 4-1 lead befoer Burnett took out 101 on double 18 to hit back. Double 16, following a 180, saw the Dutch ace move 5-2 up, before double eight booked his spot against great rival Taylor in the event's decider.

Final
Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen
1-0 - Taylor hits double 16 for a 13-darter to open the final.
2-0 - van Gerwen hits a 174 to leave 32, but Taylor takes out 127 on the bull to double his lead with a break.
3-0 - Taylor finishes 92 on double six to win a third leg.
4-0 - Taylor hits a 174, with van Gerwen posting a 171 to leave 32 onto to see hs opponent finish 86 on double 16.
5-0 - Taylor's dominance continues as he finished 40 to move a leg away from the title.
5-1 - van Gerwen lands a 180 and hits double ten to claim his first leg of the final.
5-2 - van Gerwen opens with a maximum and breaks with a 14-darter, finishing 67 to continue his fightback.
5-3 - van Gerwen scores 140 and 145 before finishing a 12-darter with a 116 checkout to win a third successive leg.
6-3 - Taylor hits two 180s in the leg, and takes out 81 for an 11-darter to seal the title with a 107.07 average to van Gerwen's 106.23.

Match Stats

Winners Group Stats

Overall Prize Money

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Championship League Darts was streamed live online worldwide to www.LIVEPDC.TV Subscribers, and streamed online through the bookmakers' websites listed below:
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