PHIL TAYLOR was named as the PDC Player of the Year amongst four awards the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Champion scooped at the PDC Awards Dinner on Wednesday.
Taylor's incredible return to form in the past year was recognised at The Dorchester in London as he dominated the prizes at the Professional Darts Corporation's Annual Awards Dinner.
Since last January, Taylor has won all but one of the major televised tournaments, and claimed victory in 13 PDC Pro Tour events.
He retained the Whyte & Mackay Premier League, Emperors Palace South African Masters and PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts titles as well as claiming victory in the PartyPoker.net PDC US Open, PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic, Stan James World Matchplay, Sky Poker World Grand Prix, PartyPoker.net European Championship and the Ladbrokes.com World Championship.
His 14th World Championship title included a record average in a major final of 110.94 last Sunday, as he defeated Raymond van Barneveld 7-1.
Taylor was named as the PDC Player of the Year, and that award was accompanied by the PDPA Players' Player of the Year and Fans Player of the Year titles.
Taylor's incredible form away from the television cameras, where he won 13 tournaments and claimed £71,200 in prize money, was recognised with the Best PDC Pro Player award to complete a memorable quartet of trophies.
"My arms are aching carrying so many trophies, but it's been a fantastic year," said Taylor. "These awards are dedicated to the people who believed in me and backed me.
"If I never win another tournament that wouldn't matter after the last year."
James Wade, the 25-year-old whose rise to world number two included victory in the Blue Square UK Open, appearances in major finals in the Premier League, Desert Classic and World Matchplay and a nine-darter in the Grand Slam of Darts, was named as the Young Player of the Year.
Wade's outstanding display to defeat Wayne Mardle 17-5 in the World Matchplay semi-finals was named as the PDC Televised Performance of the Year.
"It's an honour to win two awards but I still have improvement to make," said Wade. "I fell short to Phil Taylor in three major finals and he's the benchmark for me in 2009."
Two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley was inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame to recognise his contribution to darts.
The 57-year-old has maintained his position in the PDC's elite players since being a founder member of the World Darts Council back in 1993, and has continued to star on the circuit in the past year despite ongoing treatment for prostate cancer.
Priestley won two PDC Pro Tour events in 2008 and also reached the semi-finals in the PDC US Open and World Matchplay.
"This is probably the biggest honour I've ever had," said Priestley. "It has been a tough 2008 but hopefully I can put the year behind me and look ahead this year."
Scottish ace Robert Thornton won the Best Newcomer award, having broken into the top 32 of the PDC Order of Merit since joining the circuit in June.
The 11 perfect legs hit during the last year were also recognised in the PDC Nine-Dart Club.
While Taylor and van Barneveld had previously earned commemorative gold pin badges for their televised nine-darters, Wade and Adrian Lewis were recognised after hitting their first perfect legs in front of the TV cameras.
Silver pin badges were awarded to non-televised nine-darters hit by seven players, including for a first time by Dave Askew, Jelle Klaasen and John MaGowan.
Watch a review of the PDC Awards Dinner on Sky Sports 2 on Friday January 9 at 6.30pm & 10pm
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2009 PDC Awards Dinner Winners
PDC Hall of Fame
Dennis Priestley
Best PDC Pro Tour Player
Phil Taylor (13 wins, £71,200 prize money)
PDC Televised Performance of the Year
James Wade (Stan James World Matchplay Semi-Final)
PDC Best Newcomer
Robert Thornton (Reached 32 in PDC Order of Merit)
Fans' Player of the Year
Phil Taylor (as voted for on www.planetdarts.tv)
PDPA Players' Player of the Year
Phil Taylor (as voted for by PDPA members)
Nine-Dart Club
Televised:
Phil Taylor (Blue Square UK Open)
Adrian Lewis (Championship League Darts)
James Wade (PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts)
Raymond van Barneveld (Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship)
Non-Televised:
Colin Lloyd (Players Championship, Germany)
Phil Taylor (Players Championship, Germany)
Dave Askew (Players Championship, Germany)
Colin Osborne (Players Championship, Glasgow)
Ronnie Baxter (Las Vegas Desert Classic Qualifiers)
John MaGowan (Players Championship, Holland)
Jelle Klaasen (Players Championship, Holland)
PDC Young Player of the Year
James Wade
PDC Player of the Year
Phil Taylor
Watch a review of the PDC Awards Dinner on Sky Sports 2 on Friday January 9 at 6.30pm & 10pm
Click here for a Photo Gallery