Phil Taylor is through to finals day of Championship League Darts.
This time, the Unicorn star was pushed all the way by brushed Simon Whitlock, before he finally won a dramatic day two final 6-5 at Crondon Park.
Taylor now joins Unicorn stablemate Gary Anderson in the winner’s group on October 20.
After losing in the Group One semi-finals to Wes Newton, Taylor was determined there would be no slip ups this time round, but he did it the hard way!
He actually lost his group match against Whitlock 6-4 but in the final, made amends in a thrilling last leg decider.
‘The Power’ had to dig deep to win an all Unicorn semi-final against Paul Nicholson though, but it was definitely a case of mission accomplished.
And Taylor will now fly out to Dublin on Friday to prepare for his bid to reclaim the World Grand Prix title next week!
In the final, a 100 finish saw him break the Whitlock throw to lead 3-1 and he also led 5-2, only to see the Australian drag it back to 5-5….Taylor missed two darts to win it 6-3 and was nearly made to pay.
A Whitlock 12 darter forced that dramatic deciding leg…..first Taylor missed the bull for a 124 to win and the Australian went agonisingly close to snatching victory as he missed ‘tops’ for a 120.
Taylor eventually won it on D8!
“I have enjoyed the last couple of days,” he said. “It has been valuable match practice for me ahead of the Grand Prix. It will be tough next week but I feel that I am ready for the challenge.”
Paul Nicholson had his chances and how he will be kicking himself after losing a thrilling semi-final against Taylor.
‘The Asset’ finished in 4th spot in the group on a count-back of legs won, behind Mervyn King and Whitlock, but he had so many chances against ‘The Power’ and didn’t take them.
At 3-3, Nicholson missed two darts at D10 to retake the lead and that was THE turning point in the game…..he also missed one dart at the bull to make it 4-4 and then missed a further six darts at ‘tops’ and D10 to stay in the hunt.
And every time he missed, Taylor hit the key doubles and that was the only difference between the two.
But for the most part, Nicholson looked in good touch and will surely be a challenger again on day 3 of CL Darts.
But it was the end of the road for James Wade.
The 2010 winner of Championship League Darts again struggled and this time there was no escape. He just survived elimination on Tuesday, but after winning only one of his seven group matches, Unicorn’s World No.3 joined Welshman Mark Webster through the exit door.
He knows that he’ll have to rediscover his ‘A’ game come next week and the start of his defence of the World Grand Prix title in Dublin.
But Wade just wasn’t at the races at Crondon Park and also struggled with the searing temperatures, which topped 80 degrees in the Essex ‘Indian Summer’!
His only win came against Wes Newton, when Wade came from 3-5 down to win in a last leg decider.
But Newton will return for a third day of CL Darts!
After beating Taylor and losing Tuesday’s Group One Final to Gary Anderson, he won 3 matches on Wednesday to finish 5th, so will be back for another crack….and there is the little matter of the £4,550 that he’s already won over the last two days!
Team Unicorn’s Andy Hamilton will also return for more on day 3 of the competition…..and that will be a big relief for the big man…..in the last two years of CL Darts, Hamilton has been eliminated at the first attempt, but this time he survives…..albeit only just!
‘The Hammer’ was beaten five times on the day, but crucial wins over Wade and Webster were enough.
Results – Group 2:
Final:
Phil Taylor 6-5 Simon Whitlock
Semi-Finals:
Phil Taylor 6-3 Paul Nicholson
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Mervyn King
Group Stages – Day 2:
Phil Taylor 6-1 James Wade
Andy Hamilton 2-6 Mervyn King
Mark Webster 3-6 Paul Nicholson
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Wes Newton
Mervyn King 4-6 Phil Taylor
James Wade 2-6 Andy Hamilton
Wes Newton 6-0 Mark Webster
Paul Nicholson 6-5 Simon Whitlock
Mervyn King 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor 6-0 Paul Nicholson
Wes Newton 6-2 Andy Hamilton
James Wade 5-6 Mark Webster
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Phil Taylor
Mervyn King 4-6 Paul Nicholson
James Wade 6-5 Wes Newton
Andy Hamilton 6-2 Mark Webster
Andy Hamilton 4-6 Simon Whitlock
Mark Webster 3-6 Phil Taylor
Paul Nicholson 6-3 James Wade
Wes Newton 2-6 Mervyn King
Mark Webster 4-6 Mervyn King
James Wade 4-6 Simon Whitlock
Paul Nicholson 6-2 Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor 6-4 Wes Newton
Wes Newton 6-5 Paul Nicholson
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Mark Webster
Andy Hamilton 1-6 Phil Taylor
Mervyn King 6-2 James Wade
Group 2 final table:
1 – Phil Taylor – 12pts
2 – Mervyn King – 10pts
3 – Simon Whitlock – 10pts
4 – Paul Nicholson – 10pts
5 – Wes Newton – 6pts
6 – Andy Hamilton – 4pts
7 – James Wade – 2pts
8 – Mark Webster – 2pts
Colin Lloyd, Mark Walsh and Wayne Jones are the three new players to come into the tournament for day 3 at Crondon.
By STUART PYKE at Championship League Darts
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC