Taylor is denied in his final fling

ROB Cross sensationally became the William Hill world champion last night as he did the one thing which would have got him the sack just over a year ago – he turned off the Power for good.

On an emotional evening at Alexandra Palace, Cross, a former electrician, brought to an end the incredible career of Phil Taylor with an amazing 7-2 triumph in the final.

Cross, 27, from Hastings, used to be sparky by day and a darts player by night but now he is the shining new light of world darts, winning the £400,000 first prize after simply taking Taylor apart.

The Power is dead, long live the man known as Voltage.

Whatever fuelled him through this championship, he never once got his wires crossed last night when all the build-up had been about the 57-year-old Taylor bowing out from the professional side of the sport by writing one final REPORTS chapter story.

To just reach the final in his last year was remarkable whatever the outcome. And the outcome truly was the changing of the guard as Cross produced the sort of darts that used to be the trademark of Taylor.

It truly was hot Cross fun for the man from Sussex as he hit finishes of 167 and 153 to move 3-0. And let’s remember – this was the first time Cross had ever played Taylor.

Taylor had lost only four of his 20 previous finals. He had his moments, some of them amazing as he almost landed a nine-darter, but there was just no let-up in the battering that Cross was handing out to him.

The Power won nearest to the bull to see who would throw first and he gave the honour to Cross and it was to his incredible not long before it was first blood to the debutant as he landed double 18 in the opening leg on his way to taking the first set.

Taylor then came back with his opening 180 in the fourth leg but after he missed double 18 for the leg, Cross stepped in with double-16 finish to take the set.

What a start and if Cross had nerves, well they were left in the practice room, though the opening leg of the second set was extraordinary.

As Taylor was about to throw, Cross inadvertently knocked a glass on the table on to the oche. Taylor stopped, they shared a laugh, but the Power failed to land a decisive blow. After the pair had touched fists to show the level of their sportsmanship, Cross then missed his double chance before Voltage secured the leg on double 16 and he then won the set 3-0 with the most stunning of finishes of 167 – treble 20, treble 19 and bull.

Cross had an average of 107 at this stage compared to Taylor’s 102 and the third set was even more fantastic as Cross won finish.

Of course Taylor had his moments, such as his stunning 151 finish to move 1-0 ahead in the fourth set and then double 10 saw him finally win a set. As he left the stage, he flipped his middle towards his entourage in the crowd as if to signal it was one set to him.

And in the first leg of the next set, it was almost disbelieving as Taylor set himself up for a nine-darter but, agonisingly, he missed the double 12 as he touched the wrong side of the wire.

Taylor turned to the crowd and smiled... but he did not even win the leg as Cross secured it on double 16 and won the set 3-0 on double eight before moving 5-1 up as he moved towards becoming the champion of the world. Taylor pulled a set back but it was not enough to halt Cross's march to the title.

ROB CROSS’S success this year has earned him a place in this year’s Premier League, which starts next month. It is all change in the League with James Wade and Adrian Lewis missing out on places. it 3-0 with a