So, yet another big tournament victory for Phil Taylor....
The Team Unicorn superstar took the honours at the German Darts Championship in Berlin, as he beat Dave Chisnall 6-2 in the final.
On a gruelling day in Germany, Taylor overcame Colin Lloyd in clinical fashion, before beating fellow Team Unicorn stars Raymond van Barneveld and Wes Newton.
And he gained some revenge for the defeat he suffered at the hands of Chisnall at the World Championship.
It was a familiar story for Taylor.
“I am absolutely delighted to win such a big European tournament,” he said. “Dave played very well and it has been a long tough old weekend, but I played well and this is a great win for me ahead of the World Matchplay.”
First on Sunday, ‘The Power’ switched off the challenge of Lloyd with a 6-0 win, including a brilliant 125 finish (bull, 25, bull).
Against Barney in the quarter-finals, Taylor led 4-1 only for the Dutchman to come back superbly to force a deciding leg....and in the semi-finals, Newton missed his chance.
The Fleetwood man had darts to break Taylor for a 2-1 advantage and with those misses went his opportunity of causing an upset.
And in the final, Taylor hit seven 180s and averaged 107 in beating Chisnall to pocket the £15,000 winner’s cheque.
Barneveld and Newton were not far away from Taylor on Sunday, but you just get the feeling that ‘The Power’ is building up momentum ahead of the Matchplay in Blackpool next month.
Terry Jenkins and Kevin Painter both lost in the last 16.....Painter missed far too many doubles in losing 6-2 to Simon Whitlock, while Jenkins will feel that he missed a trick against Chisnall.
‘The Bull’ came from 2-4 down to lead 5-4, only to lose the last two legs. Chisnall won it with a 13 darter as both averaged an impressive 102.
Sunday results – 3rd Round:
Kim Huybrechts 6-4 Ronnie Baxter
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Kevin Painter
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Terry Jenkins
Mervyn King 6-4 James Hubbard
Justin Pipe 6-4 Co Stompe
Wes Newton 6-1 Mickey Mansell
Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Mark Webster
Phil Taylor 6-0 Colin Lloyd
Losers - £1,500
Quarter-Finals:
Phil Taylor 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Wes Newton 6-3 Justin Pipe
Mervyn King 4-6 Dave Chisnall
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Kim Huybrechts
Losers - £3,000
Semi-Finals:
Phil Taylor 6-3 Wes Newton
Dave Chisnall 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Losers - £5,000
Final:
Phil Taylor 6-2 Dave Chisnall
Winner - £15,000
Runner-up - £7,500
By STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy Carsten Arlt, PDC Europe