Darts

Phil Taylor came back from 4-2 down to beat Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in an absorbing World Darts Championship final at Alexandra Palace.
'The Power' used all his experience to come from behind and claim his 16th world title, clinching him the first prize of £200,000 and the chance to become the first player to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy.
What was seen as the dream final, pitting the old master against the young man tipped to take his place at the pinnacle of the sport, did not disappoint, with the two men combining for 16 180s and 129 scores of 100 or more.
Not once but twice Van Gerwen - who had produced some exhilarating arrows to knock out two-time reigning champion Adrian Lewis and then James Wade in the last two rounds - found himself two sets clear, only on both occasions for his opponent to battle back.
The Dutchman drew first blood courtesy of a 140 check-out and then doubled his advantage thanks to registering the first break of throw in the eighth leg.
Taylor, though, responded in the fashion you might expect from a multiple champion. He missed out on a first break of his own when his opponent took out 123 on the bull, only to strike when it mattered in the deciding leg of the third, cutting the deficit in half.
The fourth also went his way, although only after Van Gerwen failed with a dart at double 20 to go 3-1 up, and he edged ahead for the first time on the night when he won the third leg of the next set.
However Van Gerwen won five of the next six legs in a hurry, suddenly finding the prolific scoring form that had seen him come so close to back-to-back nine-darters against Wade. It left Taylor biting his flights in a show of concern.
Yet he had no need to panic. Once again he clawed his way back, pinching the seventh set after his rival couldn't land double 16. The Stoke thrower edged a set clear for the first time when he followed up an 11-dart leg with a break against the throw in the ninth.
The loss of the that set seemed to break van Gerwen's resistance, the finishing issues that had blighted him earlier in the event coming back to haunt him as the pressure began to mount.
Taylor - who had questioned his very future in the sport after his semi-final spat with great rival Raymond van Barneveld - hit double 16 to move a set away from glory before finding the same bed again to finish proceedings.

Was riveting... fark, these okes are machines. Barney's 125 close out on bull, double cherry and then in the final Taylor's 170 finish ..aishhhh !!!

davetheflower Wrote:

---

> All the money has been for Michael Van
> Gerwen.Taylor has a cold and is still upset about
> the ruckus with Barney.
> Van Gerwen is 5/6 and Taylor 11/10
>
> James Wade managed to win 3 sets against MVG in
> the semi with a low 88 three dart average.
> I can't see Taylor's average going below the high
> 90s and with Van Gerwen in he's first final I'm
> sticking
> a few £s on The Power outright and to win 7-4 and
> 7-5
> If he doesn't win tonight I don't think the
> greatest ever dart player to grace the oche will
> become a world champion again.


-D

Money in the bag DTF !! (tu) ..... PT is a sour old git ... but in a darts match I would wnt him on my side !!

The Power is different class
The kid froze he will be back for more good player only 23yrs old
But you got to give it to the power what a come back