Taylor wins Bristol Trade Centre Championship

PHIL TAYLOR won his eighth PDC Pro Tour event of 2008 with victory over Alan Tabern in the final of Saturday^s Bristol Trade Centre Players Championship.

The world number one, who lost in the quarter-finals of last weekend^s Blue Square UK Open to Raymond van Barneveld, made a superb start to the double-header weekend at Ashton Gate in Bristol to claim the £5,000 title.

He won his first four games without dropping a set before defeating Peter Manley 3-1 in the quarter-finals and Matt Clark 3-0 in the semis - dropping just one leg in the second game and hitting four 180s and two 174 scores.

Taylor

Taylor - who hit four maximums in the first two sets - defied a Tabern 180 to take the third set^s opener, and a 130 score set up a double top finish to seal the win.

Tabern, who won a Players Championship in Wigan in March, was in fine form to reach his second final of the year.

The left-hander overcame Denis Ovens 3-1 in the semis having been taken to a deciding leg in his five-set win over Brendan Dolan at the last eight stage.

Clark

Van der Voort earlier missed double 12 for a nine-dart leg during a win over Mark Jones.

Bristol

Preliminary Round

Dennis Smith 3-0 Jonathan Overton

Simon

Andy Pearson 3-2 Alan Weist

Steve Cupitt 3-1 Tom Martin

Tony Ayres 3-2 Martin Burchell

Tom Wilson 3-1 Ben Burton

Dale Pinch 3-0 Karl Loiseau

Michael Rosenauer 3-1 Dan Cook

Darren Whittingham 3-1 Gary Barnett

Tony Eccles 3-0 Andy Relf

Pat Orreal 3-0 Steve Musson

Alan Caves 3-1 Chris Daglish

Dave Smith 3-2 Stephen Hardy

Sean White 3-2 Mark Jodrill

Robbie Newland 3-0 Peter Aleman

Brendan Dolan 3-0 David Davies

David Platt 3-0 Nigel Peden

Russell Mason 3-2 Ricky Williams

Mark Lawrence 3-1 Richard Plowman

Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Jamie Caven

Matt Sheehan 3-0 Raul Conde

Mark Tiller 3-1 Danny King

Steve Evans 3-0 Stuart Holden

Gary Mawson 3-1 Lionel Sams

Jelle Klaasen 3-2 Dave Askew

Steve Brown 3-0 John Kuczynski

Fraser Hill 3-2 Owen Caffrey

Kevin Dowling 3-0 Kevin Reade

Dave Honey 3-0 Tomokazu Onoda

Louis Blundell 3-1 Derek Box

Matt Gallett 3-1 Lee Gregory

Tony Littleton 3-0 Jimmy O^Regan

First Round

Terry Jenkins 3-1 Robert Thornton

Tony Blundell Bye (Steve Smith)

Alan Warriner-Little 3-2 Dennis Smith

Danny Pinhorne 3-1 Simon Whatley

Kevin Painter 3-0 Carlos Rodriguez

Robert Watson-Lang 3-2 Aaron Monk

Denis Ovens 3-0 Andy Pearson

Colin Monk 3-2 Steve Cupitt

Andy Hamilton 3-2 Shayne Burgess

Jason Clark 3-1 Darren Johnson

Wes Newton 3-0 Tony Ayres

Tom Wilson 3-2 Ian Jopling

Wayne Mardle 3-1 Rick Andrews

Kevin Harris 3-1 Colin Wonnacott

Vincent van der Voort 3-2 Dale Pinch

Mark Jones 3-0 Michael Rosenauer

Adrian Lewis 3-1 John Quantock

Lee Williams 3-0 David Nelson

Mark Walsh 3-1 Darren Whittingham

Jacko Barry 3-2 Tony Eccles

Alan Tabern 3-0 Ian Walters

Nigel Birch 3-2 Jim Leighton

Mervyn King 3-2 Pat Orreal

Alan Caves 3-1 Gary Welding

James Wade 3-1 Michael Smith

Wayne Atwood 3-1 Mark Layton

Dave Smith 3-2 Adrian Gray

Steve Cusick 3-2 Sean White

Barrie

Norman Fletcher 3-1 Paul Dillon

Andy Jenkins 3-0 Robbie Newland

Brendan Dolan 3-0 Steven Watts

Co Stompe Bye (Raymond van Barneveld)

Matt Clark 3-1 Ray Farrell

Wayne Jones 3-0 David Platt

Scott Kirchner 3-1 Russell Mason

Colin Osborne 3-1 Mick Savvery

Geoff Wylie 3-0 Ian Critchett

Chris Mason 3-1 Mark Lawrence

Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Darren Sutton

Martyn Turner 3-0 Roland Scholten

John Ferrell 3-1 Steve Lane

Alex Roy 3-0 Matt Sheehan

Mark Tiller 3-0 Steve Randall

Dennis Priestley 3-1 Stuart Dutton

David Fatum 3-1 Lee Holden

Andy Smith 3-2 Steve Evans

Gary Mawson 3-0 Glyn Humphries

Mark Frost 3-1 Colin Lloyd

Michael Barnard 3-2 Nick Fulwell

Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Mick McGowan

Steve Brown 3-2 Gary Noonan

Peter Manley 3-0 Graeme Stoddart

Chris Cooper 3-1 Ian Branks

Kirk Shepherd 3-1 Fraser Hill

Jan van der Rassel 3-1 Kevin Dowling

Phil Taylor 3-0 Geoff Daniels

Steve Maish 3-2 Peter Wright

Dave Honey 3-2 Steve Beaton

Kevin McDine 3-1 Louis Blundell

Ronnie Baxter 3-1 John MaGowan

Mark Carter 3-0 Dave Ladley

Mark Dudbridge 3-0 Matt Gallett

Tony Littleton 3-0 Andy Mason

Second Round

Terry Jenkins 3-1 Tony Blundell

Danny Pinhorne 3-1 Alan Warriner-Little

Kevin Painter 3-1 Robert Watson-Lang

Denis Ovens 3-0 Colin Monk

Andy Hamilton 3-1 Jason Clark

Wes Newton 3-1 Tom Wilson

Wayne Mardle 3-1 Kevin Harris

Vincent van der Voort 3-1 Mark Jones

Adrian Lewis 3-0 Lee Williams

Mark Walsh 3-0 Jacko Barry

Alan Tabern 3-1 Nigel Birch

Mervyn King 3-2 Alan Caves

Wayne Atwood 3-1 James Wade

Steve Cusick 3-1 Dave Smith

Barrie

Brendan Dolan 3-1 Andy Jenkins

Matt Clark 3-1 Co Stompe

Wayne Jones 3-0 Scott Kirchner

Colin Osborne 3-0 Geoff Wylie

Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Chris Mason

Martyn Turner 3-1 John Ferrell

Alex Roy 3-0 Mark Tiller

Dennis Priestley 3-0 David Fatum

Gary Mawson 3-2 Andy Smith

Mark Frost 3-1 Michael Barnard

Jelle Klaasen 3-1 Steve Brown

Peter Manley 3-1 Chris Cooper

Kirk Shepherd 3-2 Jan van der Rassel

Phil Taylor 3-0 Steve Maish

Kevin McDine 3-1 Dave Honey

Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Mark Carter

Mark Dudbridge 3-1 Tony Littleton

Losers £75

Third Round

Terry Jenkins 3-1 Danny Pinhorne

Denis Ovens 3-1 Kevin Painter

Andy Hamilton 3-2 Wes Newton

Vincent van der Voort 3-1 Wayne Mardle

Mark Walsh 3-1 Adrian Lewis

Alan Tabern 3-0 Mervyn King

Steve Cusick 3-1 Wayne Atwood

Brendan Dolan 3-2 Barrie Bates

Matt Clark 3-2 Wayne Jones

Michael van Gerwen 3-2 Colin Osborne

Alex Roy 3-0 Martyn Turner

Dennis Priestley 3-2 Gary Mawson

Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Mark Frost

Peter Manley 3-1 Kirk Shepherd

Phil Taylor 3-0 Kevin McDine

Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Mark Dudbridge

Losers £150

Fourth Round

Denis Ovens 3-2 Terry Jenkins

Vincent van der Voort 3-1 Andy Hamilton

Alan Tabern 3-0 Mark Walsh

Brendan Dolan 3-1 Steve Cusick

Matt Clark 3-0 Michael van Gerwen

Dennis Priestley 3-0 Alex Roy

Peter Manley 3-2 Jelle Klaasen

Phil Taylor 3-0 Ronnie Baxter

Losers £300

Quarter-Finals

Denis Ovens 3-2 Vincent van der Voort

Alan Tabern 3-2 Brendan Dolan

Matt Clark 3-2 Dennis Priestley

Phil Taylor 3-1 Peter Manley

Losers £600

Semi-Finals

Alan Tabern 3-1 Denis Ovens (2-1, 2-1, 1-2, 2-1)

Phil Taylor 3-0 Matt Clark (2-1, 2-0, 2-0)

Losers £1,250

Final

Phil Taylor 3-0 Alan Tabern (2-1, 2-1, 2-0)

Winner £5,000

Runner-Up £2,500

Early Round News

Preliminary Round

Bristol^s Steve Brown made a winning start with a 3-0 preliminary round win over John Kuczynski - who has been practising in Brown^s father^s pub this week following the Blue Square UK Open.

Jelle Klaasen edged out Dave Askew in five sets in the first game to be played on stage in the Dolman Stand Exhibition Hall, with Askew coming from 2-0 down to almost claim victory.

Australia

Michael van Gerwen defeated Jamie Caven 3-1 in the preliminary round.

Simon

First Round

Colin Lloyd is the first round one casualty, losing 3-1 to Mark Frost.

Phil Taylor^s challenge for a seventh Pro Tour win of 2008 began with a straight sets win over Geoff Daniels.

Peter Manley and Ronnie Baxter gained safe passage to round two, while Terry Jenkins overcame Robert Thornton 3-1 on the main stage.

Roland Scholten lost 3-0 to Martyn Turner, meaning he suffered a first game defeat for a second week running after his third round exit at the UK Open.

Wayn Mardle, Adrian Lewis, Barrie Bates, Colin Osborne and Alan Tabern all won their opening contests.

Andy Hamilton was taken to five sets by Shayne Burgess, while Alan Warriner-Little also needed the deciding fifth set in his victory over Dennis Smith.

Kevin Harris^ win over Colin Wonnacott earns him a clash with Wayne Mardle, while Steve Maish^s reward for a narrow win over Peter Wright is a meeting with Phil Taylor.

Steve Brown edged out Gary Noonan 3-2, while local star Mark Dudbridge was a 3-0 winner against Matt Gallett.

Holland

Second Round

Ronnie Baxter swept past Mark Carter in straight sets in the second round to move into the last 32.

Phil Taylor, Terry Jenkins and Ronnie Baxter were other early round two winners.

Klaasen continued his run with a 3-1 defeat of local favourite Brown.

Co Stompe^s debut on the PDC Pro Tour ended in a second round loss to Matt Clark, having received a bye in round one after Raymond van Barneveld withdrew on Friday.

Colin Osborne moved into the board 15 final with a straight sets defeat of Geoff Wylie.

Danny Pinhorne set up a last 32 meeting with Terry Jenkins thanks to a 3-1 defeat of Alan Warriner-Little.

Martyn Turner backed up his earlier defeat of Roland Scholten with a 3-1 win over fellow left-hander John Ferrell, and he now faces Alex Roy in round three.

Michael van Gerwen overcame Chris Mason 3-0 to set up a clash with Osborne.

Mark Walsh defeated Jacko Barry 3-0 and earn a board final game with Adrian Lewis.

Northern Ireland

Vincent van der Voort missed double 12 for a nine-darter during his victory over Mark Jones.

Steve Cusick^s win over Dave Smith earned him a board final against Wayne Atwood.

Third Round

Jelle Klaasen swept into the last 16 with a 3-0 defeat of Mark Frost, and is joined by Phil Taylor, who has yet to drop a set in his first three matches after a win over Kevin McDine.

Ronnie Baxter ended Bristol hopes of a home win with a 3-1 defeat of Mark Dudbridge.

Michael van Gerwen won board ten with a 3-2 victory over Colin Osborne, and he will now face Matt Clark in the last 16, with Clark coming two sets down to defeat Wayne Jones 3-2.

Terry Jenkins won board one with a 3-1 defeat of Danny Pinhorne, while Alex Roy overcame Martyn Turner in straight sets to win board 11.

Wayne Mardle^s run was ended by Vincent van der Voort in a quick-fire 3-1 defeat on board four.

Peter Manley avenged his World Championship quarter-final loss to Kirk Shepherd with a 3-1 victory in the board 14 final.

Andy Hamilton won board three with a 3-1 win over Wes Newton, meaning he meets van der Voort in the last 16.

Alan Tabern and Mark Walsh will meet in the last 16 following wins over Mervyn King and Adrian Lewis respectively, while Steve Cusick came through to win board seven against Wayne Atwood.

America

Fourth Round

Phil Taylor^s run continued as he booked a quarter-final place with a 3-0 win over Ronnie Baxter.

Matt Clark also won a last eight spot, ending Michael van Gerwen^s run with a 3-0 victory.

Peter Manley set up a quarter-final with Taylor after beating Jelle Klaasen in a deciding leg of their five-set contest.

Denis Ovens edged out Terry Jenkins 3-2 in their last 16 game, and he now plays van der Voort in the quarters, following the Dutchman^s 3-1 win over Andy Hamilton.

Alan Tabern and Brendan Dolan will clash in the quarters, having seen off Mark Walsh and Steve Cusick respectively.

Dennis Priestley won the final last 16 game, overcoming Alex Roy in straight sets.

Quarter-Finals

Phil Taylor powered past Peter Manley 3-1, including three 11-darters in his win, although Manley was the first player of the day to take a set from the 13-time World Champion.

Denis Ovens won a final-leg decider against Vincent van der Voort to reach the semi-finals of a second Players Championship of the year, having come from two sets down against the Dutchman.

Alan Tabern was also involved in a five-set thriller, sneaking past Brendan Dolan in a deciding leg to set up a semi-final with Ovens.

The final quarter-final also went to a deciding leg, with Matt Clark edging out Dennis Priestley. Priestley led 2-1 in sets but Clark levelled and then hit a 165 score in the deciding leg to leave 24, which he took out at the first time of asking.

Semi-Finals

Alan Tabern remains on course for a second Players Championship win of the year after seeing off Denis Ovens 3-1 in the first semi-finals. Ovens landed a 180 in taking the game^s opening leg, with Tabern levelling and then landing a maximum of his own in breaking the throw to take the first set.

Ovens broke throw in the second set^s opener and added another maximum in the next leg, only for Tabern to land double top to break back and then land a 180 of his own in taking a two-set lead.

Ovens came from a leg down to win the third set in a decider and stay in the game, but Tabern edged the fourth 2-1 on double 11 to move into the final.

Phil Taylor powered into the final with a straight sets win over Matt Clark, although the world number one didn^t have an easy ride.

Clark took the game^s opening leg on double top after Taylor missed the same bed, but paid for missing six darts for the set in the deciding leg before Taylor landed double 18 to go in front.

Typically, Taylor didn^t look back, kicking off set two with a 180 - his fourth of the game - and adding another in leg two as he won the set without reply.

He then twice produced scores of 174 in taking the third set 2-0, finishing with a 13-darter to put himself into the final.