Taylor In Top Form

PHIL TAYLOR swept to a second successive Players Championship victory, whitewashing Mark Dudbridge in the final of Saturday's event in Wigan.

Taylor was victorious in a Players Championship two weeks ago in Derby, and claimed another £6,000 title at Wigan's Robin Park Tennis Centre.

The 15-time World Champion won his opening three games on the day 6-2, against Darren Latham, Gary Mawson and Peter Manley, before defeating Holland's Michael van Gerwen 6-4 in the last 16.

Following a 6-1 win over Wes Newton in the quarter-finals, he defeated Colin Lloyd 6-3 at the last four stage - winning four of the final five legs after the Essex man shared the opening stages - before powering past Dudbridge in the decider.

Dudbridge never recovered from missing three darts at double eight to win the second leg as Taylor followed up his double 16 finish to win the opening leg by hitting the same bed again.

Dudbridge hit two 180s in the next leg, but was denied a dart at a double as Taylor landed a second successive 14-darter on double eight.

That was followed by an 11-darter in leg four and a 164 checkout to establish a 5-0 lead.

Dudbridge matched a 180 from Taylor in the sixth leg, but four missed doubles allowed the world number one to seal victory on double six for an overall average of over 114 in the final.

Dudbridge's run to the final was his best display since January 2009, and included notable wins over Andy Hamilton, Mark Webster, emerging duo Stuart Bousfield and Michael Smith and the in-form Chris Thompson.

Thompson had earlier knocked out world number three James Wade in round one, with the left-hander amongst a host of big-name casualties in the early stages.

Wade's fellow Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts stars Adrian Lewis, Ronnie Baxter and Simon Whitlock also lost in the first round, alongside Gary Anderson, Steve Beaton, Alan Tabern, Jamie Caven, Co Stompe and John Part.

Mark Webster reached the quarter-finals for the second successive Players Championship, while Kirk Shepherd enjoyed his best display for six months by reaching the last eight.

Play resumes on Sunday with the third UK Open Qualifier of the year being held at the Robin Park Tennis Centre.

Phil Taylor=Incredible darts player.

PHIL TAYLOR completed a weekend double in Wigan with a stunning whitewash of Jamie Caven in the final of Sunday's UK Open Qualifier.

Taylor had won Saturday's Players Championship in imperious fashion, and doubled his prize money for the weekend by picking up a further £6,000 on Sunday.

Only world number three James Wade was able to take a leg from Taylor in his opening four games, with Mark Jodrill, Sam Allen and Michael Smith all whitewashed.

He then defeated Jelle Klaasen 6-2 in the quarter-finals and repeated the scoreline in his semi-final defeat of Osborne.

However, he saved his best display for the final averaging an amazing 121.86 in a straight legs win over Derby star Caven.

Caven missed two darts at double top for a 94 finish in the final's opening leg, and Taylor followed up an earlier 180 with double 14 for a 13-dart finish.

He added maximums in the next two legs of 11 and 13 darts, although he missed doubles to take the third in ten.

Taylor finished 97 to take the fourth in 12 darts before landing double 13 for a 5-0 lead in 13, and sealed the victory with another 12-darter, hitting three 140s and an 81 checkout.

Caven's strong start to 2010 continued as he followed up two previous semi-finals by reaching the final at Wigan's Robin Park Tennis Centre, with his display including 6-3 wins over Mark Dudbridge and Gary Anderson in the latter stages.

Caven also saw off former Lakeside Champion Mark Webster in the last 16, as well as Wayne Jones and Wayne Mardle on the day.

Osborne enjoyed his best PDC ProTour run of the year by reaching the semi-finals, although he counted himself lucky to see off Kevin Painter 6-5 in the quarters after allowing the Daventry player to come from 5-2 down to level their game, with Painter also missing three match darts in the decider.

Dudbridge produced another fine comeback on the day, this time overturning a 5-2 deficit to win in the quarter-finals against John Part, having also reached Saturday's Players Championship Final in claiming £4,500 prize money for his weekend.

Part's run to the last eight was his best showing since last summer's Canadian Open Players Championship, and a welcome return to form for the three-time World Champion.

Klaasen's quarter-final appearance was his second in a fortnight, and saw him overcome fellow countryman Vincent van der Voort in the last 16.

Fuck me,that lad is not human.
surely...