Phil Taylor’s achievements in the darts world have put him in the frame to win the most prestigious individual award in British sport. Taylor is one of ten sports stars nominated for the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award and darts fans will get their chance to help ‘The Power’ in a public vote. The winner will be decided by a phone and text vote during the programme from Birmingham next Sunday. Taylor is currently putting the finishing touches to preparations to win an incredible 14th World Championship crown. It is fitting recognition for Taylor, who is the best player in the history of the sport – and his achievement of winning over 50 ‘Major’ TV titles will surely never be matched. The other top stars in the frame are boxers Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe, tennis star Andy Murray, top golfer Darren Clarke, World Equestrian Champion Zara Phillips, cyclist Nicole Cooke, cricketer Monty Panesar, gymnast Beth Tweddle and racing driver Jenson Button. Taylor will start the defence of his Ladbrokes.com World Championship against Austrian qualifier Anton Pein at the Circus Tavern in less than two weeks time. The 10-name shortlist was drawn up from a combination of online and public postal votes, newspaper and magazine editors and a BBC Sport panel of experts. The Team Unicorn ace will be at the NEC in Birmingham on Sunday for the awards ceremony…..let’s hope he has got something to celebrate!
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