Last night saw the climax toa wonderful tournament where the standard of play has been high throughout andthe final of the PDC Darts World Championship did not disappoint. There is anew name on the trophy after the "Flying Scotsman", Gary Andersonjoined the illustrious list of former winners, most prominent of which beingthe darting legend, Phil Taylor whom he defeated in an epic final by 7 sets to6 last night at the Alexandra Palace.
Taylorstarted in impressive form with a high three-darts’ average approaching 110 inthe early sets at one point but wascrucially missing doubles, especially in set 4 where he seemed to suffer amental block around double 8 in one leg.
Itwas to be his Achilles heel much of the night as he missed several chances atdouble eight and double sixteen, with an up and down performance.
Andersoncapitalised with classy finishes of 120 and 121 to take set one and went intoa 3-1 set lead with his self-confidence growing, as he began to believethat the title could be his for the first time. Taylor's tickling of Anderson'schin after taking the second set seemed particularly premature and out ofcharacter, given his previous aversion to similar antics by old foe Raymond vanBarneveld in past battles with him.
Thematch looked to be getting away from the Stoke man, but he battled back asbefits his stature in the game to level at 3-3. Then after taking the eighthset as well to go ahead, he faltered three times on double 12 and allowedAnderson back in to bring them all square again at 4-4.
It seemed to provide a freshimpetus to the Scot as he moved into a two set lead at 6-4 shortly afterwardswith the title in sight. Taylor wasn’t giving up on the world crown without afight though and he tenaciously fought back yet again to level at 6-6, throwingsome of his best darts of the match as his average rocketed over 110 again.
In the deciding set it wasthe younger man, Anderson who took the first leg to pile the pressure back onto “The Power” and this time he could not respond as he missed an opportunityon double 16, allowing his opponent to gleefully step in to take the final legand with it the title. A welcome bonus for Anderson along with the world crownwas the first prize of a massive £250,000, reflecting the growing status of thegame all across the globe.
It has been a wonderfulevent for Anderson after also defeating world number one, Michael van Gerwen inanother marvellous match in the semis, and he paid tribute to the man heconquered in the close final afterwards: “Phil is the best and always will bethe best, so that makes it more special”. One wonders what the late SidWaddell, famous for his witty one-liners at past finals, would have made of itall as he no doubt “looked down” favourably on proceedings.
The rival BDO World Championship continues this week at the Lakeside,but will have to go some way to match the excitement and amazing darts in thePDC event, although it can boast a women’s tournament to go alongside the men’sevent, something the PDC does not.