PHIL TAYLOR has won a fourth successive Bobby Bourn Memorial Trophy following a 3-1 win over Roland Scholten in Blackpool on Saturday.
Taylor has won the previous three tournaments, which are held at the Winter Gardens in memory of the late PDC official.
Taylor was in imperious form to prepare for the Stan James World Matchplay in style.
He came from a set down in the final, with Scholten - who battled through four successive games which went to the final set to reach the last four - taking the opening set against the throw.
Taylor immediately broke back to win the second without reply, and also won the third 2-0 to edge in front.
Scholten took the first leg of the fourth set with double 18, but a second maximum of the game from Taylor helped him on the way to the second leg, and he won the deciding leg with double 16 to take the title.
"It's a great confidence boost going into the World Matchplay, and the tournament itself means a lot to me," said Taylor.
"The conditions were tough, it was a long day in the heat but it's a good sign for this week."
Kevin Painter missed double 12 for a nine-dart leg which would have won him his clash with Andy Jenkins - with the world number six hitting back to win the game and reach the semi-finals.
Defending world matchplay champion Colin Lloyd was in good form on his run to the last eight, while Osborne overcame Wes Newton and Adrian Lewis on his way to the semis.
Bobby Bourn Memorial Trophy - PDPA Players Championship
First Round
Alan Taylor 3-1 Marcus Knapman
Keith Deller 3-1 Geoff Wylie
Andy Callaby 3-0 Steve Cusick
Stuart Dutton 3-1 Adrian Gray
Alan Green 3-0 Harry Anderson
Stephen Leek 3-2 Deta Hedman
Dave Ladley 3-2 Robert Heard
Gary Noonan 3-0 Richie Burnett
Second Round
Colin Lloyd 3-0 Steve Evans
Kelvin Painter 3-0 George Dearman
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Gary Welding
Mark Thomson 3-0 Ian Lever
John Part 3-2 Nick Fulwell
Darren Latham 3-0 Andrew Portelli
Alan Warriner-Little 3-0 Paul Anthony
Alan Taylor 3-0 Jimmy Pryde
Mark Dudbridge 3-0 Gary Blades
Steve Coote 3-1 Ray Farrell
Steve Beaton 3-1 Jason Roberts
Lee Palfreyman 3-0 Geoff Matthews
Roland Scholten 3-0 Brian Whybrow
Mark Layton 3-1 Brian Johnston
Barrie Bates 3-1 Dean Williams
Keith Deller 3-1 Martin Burchell
Wayne Mardle 3-1 Jimmy Mann
Alan Caves 3-0 Pay Koyce
Colin Osborne 3-0 Alex Roy
Chris Allen 3-0 Ian Branks
Gary Spedding 3-0 Terry Jenkins
Mark Tiller 3-2 Kit Young
Wes Newton 3-0 Nigel Langton
Shayne Burgess 3-2 Andy Callaby
Peter Manley 3-0 Dave Honey
Mick McGowan 3-0 Robert Parker
Steve Maish 3-1 Mick Rodgers
Steve Hine 3-0 Jimmy Dunlop
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Joe Palfreyman
Chris Hook 3-1 Matt Sheehan
Lionel Sams 3-0 Stuart Hopton
James Barton 3-1 Stuart Dutton
Phil Taylor 3-1 Mark Frost
John MaGowan 3-1 Dale Newton
Robbie Green 3-0 Wayne Jones
Jamie Harvey 3-1 Dave Jowett
Mark Walsh 3-1 Dave Routledge
Alan Tabern 3-1 Steven Smith
Dave Askew 3-2 Ian Whillis
Alan Green 3-2 Tony Vince
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Dave Johnston
Steve Grubb 3-2 Paul Valentine
Dennis Smith 3-1 Andrew Davies
Paul Williams 3-2 Steve Blyth
Denis Ovens 3-1 Simon Craven
Rocco Maes 3-2 Michael Kendrick
Bob Anderson 3-0 Shayne Passey
Tony Randell 3-0 Stephen Leek
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Carl Myers
Tony Smith 3-2 Kieran Lennon
Matt Clark 3-1 Rick Andrews
Jason Lowe 3-0 Chris Sargeant
Kevin Painter 3-0 Darren Johnson
Darren Williams 3-0 Jim Leighton
Andy Smith 3-2 Henry O'Neill
Dave Ladley 3-0 Matt Ward
Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Robert Watson-Lang
Yves Cottenge 3-1 Norman Fletcher
Colin Monk 3-0 Bruce Terrett
Michael Barnard 3-0 Cliff Lazarenko
Raymond van Barneveld 3-2 Chris Mason
Paul Dillon 3-2 David Pugh
James Wade 3-0 Mark Salmon
Gary Noonan 3-0 Nigel Peden
Third Round
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Kelvin Painter
Mark Thomson 3-0 Andy Hamilton
John Part 3-1 Darren Latham
Alan Warriner-Little 3-2 Alan Taylor
Steve Coote 3-2 Mark Dudbridge
Steve Beaton 3-1 Lee Palfreyman
Roland Scholten 3-0 Mark Layton
Keith Deller 3-2 Barrie Bates
Wayne Mardle 3-2 Alan Caves
Colin Osborne 3-0 Chris Allen
Gary Spedding 3-0 Mark Tiller
Wes Newton 3-0 Shayne Burgess
Peter Manley 3-1 Mick McGowan
Steve Hine 3-0 Steve Maish
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Chris Hook
Lionel Sams 3-2 James Barton
Phil Taylor 3-1 John MaGowan
Robbie Green 3-0 Jamie Harvey
Mark Walsh 3-2 Alan Tabern
Alan Green 3-0 Dave Askew
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Steve Grubb
Paul Williams 3-1 Dennis Smith
Rocco Maes 3-1 Denis Ovens
Bob Anderson 3-1 Tony Randell
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Tony Smith
Jason Lowe 3-0 Matt Clark
Kevin Painter 3-0 Darren Williams
Dave Ladley 3-1 Andy Smith
Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Yves Cottenge
Colin Monk 3-1 Michael Barnard
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Paul Dillon
James Wade 3-0 Gary Noonan
Losers £75, 4 ranking points
Fourth Round
Colin Lloyd 3-0 Mark Thomson
John Part 3-2 Alan Warriner-Little
Steve Beaton 3-1 Steve Coote
Roland Scholten 3-2 Keith Deller
Colin Osborne 3-2 Wayne Mardle
Wes Newton 3-0 Gary Spedding
Steve Hine 3-0 Peter Manley
Adrian Lewis 3-2 Lionel Sams
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Paul Williams
Rocco Maes 3-2 Bob Anderson
Phil Taylor 3-0 Robbie Green
Alan Green 3-1 Mark Walsh
Andy Jenkins 3-2 Jason Lowe
Kevin Painter 3-0 Dave Ladley
Colin Monk 3-1 Ronnie Baxter
James Wade 3-1 Raymond van Barneveld
Losers £150, 6 ranking points
Fifth Round
Colin Lloyd 3-2 John Part
Roland Scolten 3-2 Steve Beaton
Colin Osborne 3-2 Wes Newton
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Steve Hine
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Rocco Maes
Phil Taylor 3-2 Alan Green
Andy Jenkins 3-2 Kevin Painter
Colin Monk 3-2 James Wade
Losers £300, 8 ranking points
Quarter-Finals
Roland Scholten 3-2 Colin Lloyd
Colin Osborne 3-2 Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor 3-1 Dennis Priestley
Andy Jenkins 3-2 Colin Monk
Losers £600, 10 ranking points
Semi-Finals
Roland Scholten 3-2 Colin Osborne
Phil Taylor 3-0 Andy Jenkins
Losers £1,250, 12 ranking points
Final
Phil Taylor 3-1 Roland Scholten
Winner £5,000, 20 ranking points
Runner-up £2,500, 16 ranking points