PHIL TAYLOR has set his sights on regaining the William Hill World Darts Championship title, following his success in claiming a sixth SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts triumph last week.
Taylor retained the Grand Slam title in Wolverhampton with an imperious nine days, which culminated in his 16-13 defeat of Dave Chisnall in the final as he averaged over 100 in all seven games of the event.
Having reached just one semi-final in two months ahead of the Grand Slam, Taylor had been written off in some quarters - but has now been installed as the 7/4 favourite to win back the World Championship title from Michael van Gerwen on January 4.
"The World Championship is the one now that I'm really after," said Taylor. "I want to knock Michael off the top - he's been phenomenal this last year but he's got the target on his back now.
"I'll want to win the Players Championship Finals in Minehead next weekend, but I'm building up for the World Championship now and I've got to get my head down and get ready for it.
"I've got to start practising harder, because every time I win this everybody plays better against me so I've got to improve now."
Despite his own form Taylor believes that darts' new crop of stars will make his World Championship challenge tougher than ever.
The Grand Slam saw Kim Huybrechts land a nine-darter as he knocked out van Gerwen, World Youth Champion Keegan Brown defeating Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld as well as Chisnall's progression to the final.
With Taylor also having been defeated twice James Wade and Stephen Bunting in other majors in this autumn, he admits that the strength in depth at the top level has never been greater.
"It's a different generation now, and at 54 years old I'm still learning," he said. "The other week I was averaging 124 during a match and lost 6-0 - these players couldn't care less.
"That's the difference, because years ago averages of 107 and 109 weren't known - there were only six or seven players who were professional - but now players are hitting those averages every week.
"The players keep moving forward and are different now. They have got the backing to be full-time professionals and they want to win the big titles too, and fair play to them."
Chisnall had found himself 5-0 down early in the final, but hit back to level at ten-all before a late surge helped Taylor take the £100,000 title.
"Dave put me under pressure and his scoring was phenomenal," added Taylor. "It was a cracking final, my best final in the Grand Slam and it was superb.
"When it came to ten-each, his confidence was high but he dropped off. He put every effort into getting back level, he was scoring 140, 180, 140 but then he was hitting 90s and hundreds.
"It was a weird game because at 5-0 I thought I was going to smash him, and when he came back I thought he was going to smash me."
Following Taylor's Grand Slam success, World Championship sponsors William Hill have made him the 7/4 favourite to win a 17th World Championship title at this year's event, with reigning champion van Gerwen 2/1.
Recent Masters winner James Wade is 8/1, 2011 finalist Gary Anderson is 10/1, with two-time champion Adrian Lewis a 12/1 chance - while Stephen Bunting has been installed at 16/1 ahead of his Alexandra Palace debut.
Latest William Hill World Darts Championship Odds
7/4 Phil Taylor
2/1 Michael van Gerwen
8/1 James Wade
10/1 Gary Anderson
12/1 Adrian Lewis
16/1 Stephen Bunting
Courtesy www.williamhill.com at 10am November 18 2014. Odds subject to fluctuation. Over 18s only.