POWER LIGHTS UP BLACKPOOL
PHIL TAYLOR, who is 57 in a few weeks’ time in this his retirement year, saw the fairy tale come true last night as he won the BetVictor World Matchplay for a 16th time.
‘The Power’ beat Peter Wright 18-8 in the final at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens to complete a remarkable week.
What a fitting finale this could prove to be in the year he quits the sport – Taylor lifting a major once more, his first since winning this event in 2014.
World No.8 Taylor banked £115,000 – with £55,000 going to Wright – and his smile beamed out as he held the trophy aloft.
Taylor set the tone by breaking Wright in the opening leg before going 3-2 ahead at the first break and then 7-3 at the second.
Wright was playing brilliant darts but Taylor enjoyed a 11-dart leg to lead 9-6 at the third interval and then nailed tops on a checkout of 59 for a 13-7 advantage.
Taylor was savouring every moment and he won the title with double 16.
It has been a memorable week for Taylor, having beaten three world champions in a row to reach the final – Raymond van Barneveld, Michael van Gerwen and, on Saturday night, Adrian Lewis in the semi-finals.
Incredibly, he first won this World Matchplay back in 1995 – the second year it was staged – when he beat Dennis Priestley and he had last won it when he beat Van Gerwen. Taylor said: “I have enjoyed every minute of it. It has been lovely this week and this is why it’s my favourite tournament. I have had some great memories here but everything comes to an end.
“This has capped everything off for me. It is a bonus for me. It’s lovely.”
Wright, who let The Power walk-on second in his last Matchplay game, said: “I learned a lesson today and was grateful to be in the final.”