Championship League Darts - Four-Some Taylor Books Winners Group Spot

FOUR-SOME TAYLOR BOOKS WINNERS GROUP SPOT

PHIL TAYLOR booked his place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group with a flawless display to claim Group Four glory in the internet-streamed event on Tuesday.

Taylor, the reigning champion in the event, had failed to win through in the first three groups for the first time since the introduction of Championship League Darts in 2008 - narrowly avoiding elimination in Group Three recently.

However, after the disappointment of that result and his narrow second round exit to Robert Thornton in last week^s PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix, when he missed five match darts, the Stoke great was back to his best at Crondon Park GC.

Taylor won all seven of his league games in a superb day of darts, holding off Simon Whitlock^s fightback from 5-0 down to win his opening game 6-4 before dropping only five more legs in the group stage.

He whitewashed both Andy Smith and Paul Nicholson, dropped only one leg against Terry Jenkins, Dave Chisnall and Mervyn King and won 6-2 against Mark Walsh in what would prove a dress rehearsal of the day^s final.

Taylor enjoyed another great performance in a high-quality semi-final win over Paul Nicholson, who averaged 107.95 in reply to a 110.32 average from the world number one as he swept into the final with a 6-3 triumph.

Taylor then saw off Walsh 6-1 with a fine display in the final, with the Hertfordshire ace taking out 116 to win the game^s opening leg only to see Taylor take the next four to assume control, finishing 77 and 120 to break.

Walsh missed three darts at double 19 to win the sixth leg as Taylor posted double 16, and he sealed victory in the next with a superb 11-dart finish - with his average in the final of over 107 matching his mean total across nine games on the day.

"It^s been a tough event this year but my form^s picking up at the right time," said Taylor. "I^m glad I^m through but I^ve actually enjoyed playing in this in the four groups.

"I was disappointed to go out in the World Grand Prix. I didn^t play too badly but I missed five darts at double 16, which is ridiculous really, but my form^s getting there.

"I^m playing in Holland in the European Tour next week and then I^ll get ready to come back for the Winners Group at the start of November."

Taylor had been pushed all the way during the league phase by Dave Chisnall, who was the Group Three runner-up on his debut in the event and won six of his league games this time around - losing only to the world number one.

Chisnall, though, suffered semi-final disappointment as he went down 6-4 to Walsh, despite finishing 103 and 82 to lead early on and 100 in levelling at three-all before a late surge pushed the Hertfordshire thrower into the final.

Walsh won four of his league games to progress to the semi-finals, with Nicholson claiming fourth place ahead of Terry Jenkins on leg difference after they both won three matches.

Simon Whitlock, like Jenkins, will progress to Group Five on Wednesday to remain ever-present this year, although the Australian only survived when he defeated Andy Smith 6-4 in the final round of matches to leapfrog the Studley thrower on leg difference.

Mervyn King, who was Sunday^s runner-up in the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix, won just one game in Tuesday^s Group Four as he suffered elimination alongside Smith.

Reigning Speedy Services UK Open champion Robert Thornton, Colin Lloyd and Wayne Jones are the three players who enter the fray on Wednesday, as they join Whitlock, Jenkins, Walsh, Chisnall and Nicholson in Group Five.

Taylor^s success sees him join Wes Newton, Justin Pipe and Ronnie Baxter in the Winners Group on November 1.

Championship League Darts is screened exclusively live worldwide through LIVEPDC.TV and a series of 50 bookmakers^ websites worldwide, with prize money paid at £50 per leg won in the league phase and £100 in each day^s play-offs.

All LIVEPDC.TV Subscribers will be able to watch live coverage from Championship League Darts, featuring play in the league stage simultaneously on two boards. Highlights are also available in LIVEPDC.TV.

Group Four Results

Group Four League Table & Prize Money

Image: Lawrence Lustig, PDC