‘The Power’ was never at full voltage….more like battery power but he still managed to see off a brave challenge from Terry Jenkins, winning by 7 sets to 4. Sometimes you just have to win ‘ugly’ and that is exactly what Taylor did!
It was Taylor’s 35th ‘Major’ TV Final and he has won 33 of them, although this one certainly wasn’t one of his best. He also pockets a cheque for £25,000 for his triumph.
Taylor looked tired on stage. I just wonder how much that blockbuster against Raymond Van Barneveld and the semi-final against Dennis Priestley took out of the Unicorn star.
He said: “It is a fantastic feeling, although I did feel under pressure – especially at the start. When I lost the first two sets, I knew I had to get stuck in and I gave myself a good talking to backstage. I showed I had the bottle and there is a great sense of achievement but also relief.”
Now, all eyes will be focusing on the Circus Tavern in December, when Taylor will be going for that 14th World Championship title.
“I can’t wait!” he said. “I need a bit of a break but you will see a dedicated Phil Taylor over the next six or seven weeks. I have that burning desire to win another one.”
Jenkins can be proud of his achievements and pushed ‘The Power’ for nearly three hours at the City West Hotel, in front of 2,000 darts crazy fans.
The underdog looked nervy at the start, missing 10 darts to get away in the first leg but he stormed back to take the set with a 111 finish. Taylor just couldn’t get into the match and Jenkins was soon two sets up….’The Power’ at that stage was averaging only 79.
Whatever Taylor said to himself backstage certainly did the trick, because he came out and reeled off nine consecutive legs to take a 3 sets to 2 lead. In the next set, he hit seven perfect arrows on his way to a 9-darter and that 10-dart leg stretched the lead to 4-2.
You have to credit Jenkins for hanging on the coat-tails of Taylor. The man from Herefordshire found another gear and stormed through the next two sets to make it four apiece.
That was as close as he got…..just like in his semi-final win over Priestley, Taylor hit the accelerator and he took the last three sets with relative ease to add yet another big title to his amazing roll of darting honour.
He will be the first to admit that he hasn’t been at his brilliant best in Dublin but when he needed to, Taylor always raised the bar. That sensational match with Barneveld was the highlight of the week and it meant so much to Taylor.
So, the countdown is on to the World Championships….it all gets under way on Monday December 18 and I certainly wouldn’t bet against another Taylor triumph. It would take a brave man to do so!
SkyBet World Grand Prix Final:
Terry Jenkins 4-7 Phil Taylor
BY STUART PYKE
