Phil 'The Power' Taylor lifts the World Championship for the 16th time after seeing off the plucky, and future World Champion, Michael Van Gerwen. But, perhaps more poignantly, Taylor lifts the first ever Sid Waddell in commemoration for the voice of darts.
The Power had to come from behind to win one of his toughest tests in all of his career. Taylor began the match with a 170-checkout to level the opening set at 1-1. The first set went completely with throw, with Van Gerwen smashing a 140-checkout to win it. The Dutchman then motored ahead in the second set and would take it 3-1 after conceding the first leg.
The first four legs of the third set also all went with throw. Van Gerwen took a 2-1 lead with an impressive 123-checkout on the bed before Taylor quashed it with a Shanghai 120-checkout to force the deciding leg. But Taylor then managed to break the Van Gerwen to crucially halve the deficit. That didn't deter the Dutchman though and he began the fourth set with another impressive 127-checkout. But Taylor recovered to take a 2-1 lead before Van Gerwen forced another deciding leg. Van Gerwen would then miss a crucial double-20 for another ton plus checkout, to allow Taylor to level the match.
But Van Gerwen once again showed maturity and composure way above his age by forcing the fifth set into another deciding leg which he would then take, retaking the lead at 3-2. That again spurred the Dutchman on and took the sixth leg 3-1 to again move into a two set advantage. Taylor, visibly worried at this point, missed a dart at double-16 to win the opening leg of the seventh set before then having to force yet another deciding leg. But, crucially, the veteran managed to take the all important fifth leg to again halve the deficit.
Taylor then produced a 136-checkout to take a 2-1 lead in the eighth set. Van Gerwen would miss three darts to level the set, allowing Taylor to win 3-1 and level the match at 4-4. That seemed to put a hole in Van Gerwen's sail, although Taylor did have to force a deciding leg for the fourth set in the match. Also for the fourth time in the match, Taylor would win a deciding leg to crucially take the lead in the match for the first time.
It was at that moment where Van Gerwen's wind was well and truly taken out of him. A roaring 106-checkout from the Dutchman prolonged to tenth by a leg as Taylor would win it 3-1 to go to within a set of victory. Van Gerwen would win the opening set of the 11th set before missing two darts to take a 2-1 lead. That was enough for Taylor to then take the following leg to take the 3-1 and end a fitting final for the late, great Sid Waddell.
It was also a poignant final for another voice of darts. Referee Bruce Spendley has overseen 34 world finals and has decided to retire now he has seen Taylor lift the first ever Sid Waddell trophy. So, in a sense, the world of darts has lost two of its most notable voices.
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