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Scholten was a surprise package in the final after shocking Raymond Van Barneveld - but Taylor wasn't to be denied another triumph, in front of 1500 fans - who witnessed another master-class from the Team Unicorn star, who won 16 legs to 6.

It looked like being a thrilling finale to the 2006 Premier League, as Scholten started brightly and matched Taylor blow for blow, including a 156 check-out....but from 4-4, 'The Power' reeled off seven consecutive legs and there was no coming back for 'The Tripod'.

Taylor was ecstatic. "It is a great feeling," he said. "After I won the World Championship, I set my stall out to retain the Premier League. It has been a long road but very satisfying. It was a tough night and Roland played very well." Taylor has now gone through two years of the Premier League unbeaten....28 matches - an amazing achievement.

He averaged 101 in the final and produced a classic 142 finish....treble 20, bull, double 16, It was a totally dominant display and he immediately set his sights on a Premier League hat-trick next year."Roland can be very very dangerous - he showed that against Barney - but I am very proud of this," he added. His overall average over the whole of the Premier League stayed above the 100 mark.

Both semi-finals were one-sided affairs.....Scholten stunned Barneveld 11-3 and Taylor demolished Colin Lloyd by the same score. Unicorn's World No.1 just couldn't live with 'The Power', and his consolation was a cheque for £20,000. His Taylor jinx never looked like being broken.

Lloyd admitted he wasn't good enough on the night. "I just didn't get going....it was as simple as that - but I will be back and I will beat him in a major tournament," Lloyd said. Taylor raced into a 5-nil lead, before Lloyd produced an 11-dart leg to get off the mark. 'The Power' was at full voltage, averaging 105 to Lloyd's 99.42 and he finished the match in style with a 111 check-out.

For Lloyd, it is now a case of looking forward to a tilt at the UK Open in Bolton which starts on June 9. He was never at his best throughout the 2006 Premier League.

Scholten produced arguably the best display of his career to shock Barneveld. He averaged 104 and hit 11 doubles from 16 attempts. It was breathtaking stuff and a major upset, because most of the experts were predicting a Taylor/Barney showdown in the final. Scholten was 8-2 up in the blink of an eye, with 141, 140 and 124 finishes. Barney had no answer and he will know he blew a great chance to win his first PDC title but take nothing away from Scholten, who proved a lot of people wrong.

The Premier League just gets bigger and better and in 2007, there's speculation it may expand into an 8-man league, which will mean 14 nights and the finals night. It looks certain the PDC will opt for arena type venues, as the popularity of darts grows and grows. 3,000 people packed into the Bournemouth International Centre and all the 2006 venues could have sold-out many times over. The top five in the world rankings, after the SkyBet World Grand Prix in Dublin in October, will be guaranteed their spots in the 2007 Holsten Premier League. Barney should also be back to have another crack at it......but Unicorn's Phil Taylor still rules the roost in the world of darts.

His bank balance is £50,000 healthier and his reputation as the greatest ever is very much in tact. Taylor's aim for 2006 is to secure the Grand Slam. Last year, he won every major TV tournament except the World Matchplay. In the next five weeks, Taylor will be desperate to defend his UK Open title at The Reebok Stadium and win the Las Vegas Desert Classic for a 4th time.

Don't bet against him!

BY STUART PYKE

Photo : Lawrence Lustig/PDC