Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC.

PHIL TAYLOR’S record breaking year continued with an 11-3 victory over in the European Championship final at the Claus Event Centre in Hoofddorp, Holland.

Taylor has now claimed all the PDC’s major ranking titles and the £50,000 winner’s cheque means he has won over £600,000 in prize money in 2009 alone – and he almost capped his latest win in perfect style, missing a dart at double 12 to win the final leg with a nine-darter before taking it out for his second 11-dart leg of the final to defend the title he won last year in Frankfurt.

“I’m delighted with that win as it was really hard work,” said Taylor, who had earlier defeated Jelle Klaasen in the semi-finals by the same score. “Obviously finishing with the nine-darter would have been perfect but Steve never gave up, and even after missing the nine-darter he hit me with a 180 that is probably the best one I’ve seen in my career – when your back’s against the wall like Steve’s was, to hit 180-ton-180 like that shows real bottle.”

The world number one stormed to victory after claiming seven legs on the trot to go 9-1 up in the contest, but he was quick to pay tribute to Beaton who claims a spot in the Grand Slam of Darts through his runners-up performance which came after his first tournament win in eight years at the Players Championship in Nuland last weekend.

“Steve has got his will to win back and he believes he can win tournaments now – it’s a different Steve Beaton and he looks like he’s enjoying his darts which is important,” said Taylor. “It’s great to play against people like Steve as it tests your ability and takes you to limits.”

Beaton picked up the £20,000 cheque which was rich reward after coming through a thrilling final leg decider in the semi-finals against James Wade, and sent out a warning that he was not finished there.

“I want to be there with the rest of them,” said Beaton, who climbs to 19th on the Order of Merit after his strong showing. “I’ve got my little notches next to the ones I want to beat. I’m over the moon with how the week has gone – I’ve qualified for the Grand Slam and I’m moving back up the table and I want to be back in the top 16.”

Phil’s 140 checkout in the fifth leg was a killer but that’s what winners do and even I have to say it would have rounded off the tournament if Phil had taken out the nine-darter.”

Taylor pounced early to take control in the match after Beaton missed a double on his throw and Taylor moved 2-0 by holding his throw in the second leg. The Warwickshire man held in the third leg but it was then that Taylor began his unstoppable charge to the title, starting with two 180s in an 11-dart leg and then the 140 checkout in the fifth leg to move 4-1 in front.

Consecutive 13-darters followed as Beaton missed a big number on a 78 checkout and Taylor was scoring heavily with five straight legs with three scores of 100-plus and notching his sixth maximum in the tenth leg to go into the break 9-1 up.

Beaton responded after the break by holding his throw twice but Taylor had moved to within one leg of victory and almost gave the crowd a dream finale – punching in a 180 followed by a 177 before skimming the wire outside double 12 – and with Beaton breathing down his neck by leaving 41 from his nine darts, Taylor returned to take out 24 and with it successfully defend his title.