Magical Taylor's Grand Slam Glory

MAGICAL TAYLOR SEALS SINGHA BEER GRAND SLAM OF DARTS GLORY

PHIL TAYLOR claimed his sixth SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts title as his imperious week at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall peaked with a 16-13 win over gutsy Dave Chisnall in Sunday night's final.

Taylor has been at his clinical best throughout seven games in the £400,000 event, winning through the group stage unbeaten before seeing off Peter Wright, Michael Smith and Mervyn King on his way to the final.

There, he produced another superb performance as he denied resilient Chisnall a maiden major title, despite the St Helens man hitting back from 5-0 down to level a remarkable contest.

Chisnall had come from behind to defeat Keegan Brown and Kim Huybrechts in reaching the final, but after levelling at ten-all saw Taylor pull clear to take the £100,000 winner's cheque.

"I'm chuffed to bits," admitted Taylor. "It was very, very tough and Dave didn't give up - he showed that he's an incredible player.

"If he'd started off the game like he finished it then it would have been a different kettle of fish. I don't know what he did but he turned the tables, and the next thing I knew it was ten-each.

"In my mind I knew I was far ahead but Dave kept coming back at me. When it got to ten-each his confidence was sky high, but I didn't think he could keep doing it.

"He put me under so much pressure but I had to slow down, take a deep breath and I managed to get there in the end."

Taylor dedicated the triumph to his ill mother, who he was set to visit in hospital in Stoke later on Sunday night.

He said: "I'm going to take the trophy up to the hospital with me and leave it at my mum's bedside - she'll be asleep when I get there but it will be a nice surprise for her when she wakes up tomorrow.

"It's been very tough recently with her being in hospital, but this week's been a little bit of escapism. My mind goes blank for that two or three hours while I'm playing, and I've loved it."

Taylor won the final's opening five legs without Chisnall having a dart at a double, landing three 180s and a trio of double 16 finishes in the process.

Chisnall finished 80 and 110 to hit back, and after a 105 finish gave Taylor a sixth leg, the st Helens man took out double 19 to pull back to 6-3.

Taylor replied on double 19 and then posted double ten to give himself breathing space and, after Chisnall took out 70, his trusted double 16 moved the reigning champion into a 9-4 lead.

Chisnall, though, produced his best darts of the game as he hit back with five successive legs, firstly landing double 18, a 141 finish and a 14-darter before punishing missed doubles from Taylor in back-to-back legs to level at nine-all.

Taylor responded to a 180 from Chisnall with a 174 before landing tops to regain the lead, with Chisnall adding another maximum as he levelled at ten-all only to see the Stoke great find an extra gear.

Taylor moved back ahead with a clinical 96 finish, broke throw with a 13-darter and finished tops, 70 and 65 to move to the brink of victory at 15-10.

Chisnall's fighting spirit continued as he won three straight legs to pull back to 15-13 - with Taylor missing two match darts in one leg - but when he was unable to finish 128 in the next, Taylor pounced to seal glory on double ten.

Chisnall conceded: "I'm happy with my performance over the last week but the final got away from me at the beginning. You can't give Phil Taylor a 5-0 lead, and even though I've been further behind this week Phil was too good in the end.

"When I got to ten-all I thought I could take the win, but I missed a double to pull back to 12-11 and when it got to 15-10 it was a struggle. It was never over until he hit the final double and I kept fighting hard, but the better man won."

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SINGHA BEER GRAND SLAM OF DARTS
Sunday November 16
Evening Session
Final
Dave Chisnall 13-16 Phil Taylor
Best of 31 legs

MATCH INFORMATION
Dave Chisnall v Phil Taylor
0-1 - Taylor lands a 180 before taking the opening leg on double 16.
0-2 - Double 16 sees Taylor claim the second leg.
0-3 - Chisnall fires in a 180 to leave 81, but is left watching on as Taylor takes out 68 - once again ending on double 16 - to claim a third successive leg.
0-4 - Taylor lands a 180 but loses his range on double 16, missing with two darts, only to return on double eight after Chisnall is unable to finish 101.
0-5 - Taylor posts his third maximum of the game, and lands - almost inevitably - double 16 to move five legs clear without Chisnall yet having a dart at a double.
1-5 - Taylor fires in another 180, but is unable to take out 122 as Chisnall steps in to finish 80 on tops to get off the mark.
2-5 - Taylor misses the bull to finish 130, and Chisnall takes out 110 to break throw and continue his revival.
2-6 - Chisnall fires in a 180 but misses double six to finish 126, and Taylor steps in to take out 105 on double 16.
3-6 - Chisnall fires in a maximum, and though he initially misses the bull for a 124 finish, Taylor's miss at tops for a 120 checkout allows him back to finish double 19.
3-7 - Taylor opens with a 174, and returns from a miss at the bull to land double 19 to edge four legs clear once more.
3-8 - Double ten sees Taylor open up a five-leg lead.
4-8 - Taylor misses the bull to finish 128, and Chisnall finishes 70 on double eight to respond once more.
4-9 - Taylor finishes double 16 once more.
5-9 - Double 18 sees Chisnall take his fifth leg of the game.
6-9 - Chisnall lands a 180 before finishing a 12-darter with a brilliant 141 checkout.
7-9 - Chisnall wins his third successive leg, scoring 140, 180 and 140 before landing double four for a 14-dart finish.
8-9 - Chisnall this time opens with 180 and 140, and is given a let-off for his own missed doubles as Taylor misses four darts at double top and 15, allowing the St Helens man back in on double two.
9-9 - Taylor wires double eight for a 136 finish, and Chisnall levels the match by taking out 65 on tops.
9-10 - Chisnall opens the leg with his seventh 180, but Taylor posts a 174 before he finishes 57 on tops to regain the advantage.
10-10 - Chisnall fires in a 180, and though he misses double 11 to take out 84 is able to return and finish double four to square the contest again.
10-11 - Taylor finishes 96 on double 18 to move back ahead.
10-12 - Taylor opens with a 177 before finishing double 16 to break throw with a superb 13-darter as he moves two legs clear once more.
10-13 - Chisnall misses a dart at double 16 to break back, and Taylor finishes tops to punish his opponent and move three legs away from victory.
10-14 - Taylor finishes 70 on double 16 to win a fourth successive leg and move within touching distance of the title.
10-15 - Taylor hits his first 180 since leg six, before finishing 65 on tops to push himself a leg away from glory.
11-15 - Taylor posts another maximum, but Chisnall returns from a missed bullseye to finish double 17 to keep alive his hopes.
12-15 - Taylor kicks off with another 177, but misses two match darts at double 16 to allow Chisnall back in, as a two-dart 85 finish sees him hit back further.
13-15 - Chisnall posts his ninth 180 of the game before double four sees him take a third successive leg to continue the fightback.
13-16 - The pair trade 180s, but when Chisnall is unable to take out 128, Taylor pounces on double ten to retain the title and claim his sixth SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts triumph.

Match Stats