Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC. 
PHIL TAYLOR took out 128 to defeat Gary Anderson 13-12 and claim his first major title since August at the Players Championship Finals at the Doncaster Dome on Sunday.
The 15-time World Champion has endured a dip in form since claiming the European Championship title last summer, but bounced back from his quarter-final defeat to Mark Webster in the World Championship to win the £60,000 first prize in Doncaster.
Having come from 5-0 down to defeat Mervyn King 10-8 in an amazing semi-final, he backed that up with a resilient display to defeat Anderson – repeating last year’s UK Open triumph against the Scot.
Taylor led 6-3 during the final before Anderson hit back to lead 11-9, only for the world number one to prevail in a decider by taking out a 128 checkout.
“I thought I might never win a title again after the World Championship but I’ve gone away, changed darts and worked really hard recently,” said Taylor.
“It means a massive amount to me to win this and the work has paid off for me. Gary played brilliantly throughout the tournament and was great in the final, and I’m sure we’ll have plenty more battles.”
Taylor won the opening two legs with checkouts of 79 and 80 after the Scot missed doubles, only for Anderson to take out 121 on the bull to get off the mark.
Another 80 finished saw Taylor punish further Anderson misses before the World Championship runner-up finished an 11-darter to win the fifth leg, hitting a 180 for the first of four successive legs.
Taylor won the next two despite Anderson’s heavy scoring, before Anderson posted double four to pull back to 5-3.
A missed double top from Anderson allowed Taylor to take the ninth, but the Scot followed up double one to take the next by finishing a brilliant 141 for a 12-darter.
Taylor’s 86 finish put him 7-5 up, but he missed doubles in the next two as Anderson finished 90 and double top to level the game.
He then went on to lead after Taylor had taken the 15th, turning an 8-7 deficit into a 10-8 advantage by taking three legs in a row, following up an 82 finish with back-to-back 14-darters where he also added a pair of maximums.
Anderson then missed darts for a three-leg lead as Taylor hit double 19, before the Scot edged the next for an 11-9 cushion.
Taylor found another gear to win the next three, moving himself 12-11 up and within a leg of the title – only to miss double 16 for victory in the next as Anderson scrambled in double 19 at the sixth time of asking to force a deciding leg.
Taylor refused to buckle, and his scores of 140, 134 and 99 to lead 128, and he checked out the finish on double four to claim glory.
“Full credit to Phil for his performance because he was the better man and deserved to win,” said Anderson, who was appearing in his second successive major final.
“I gave it my best shot but was shattered. To play three big games in a day is tough and I’ll need to get fitter, but I’m proud to have reached another big final and I’m going to do everything I can to turn the tables on Phil one day.”
Whilst Taylor had come through an incredible semi-final with King, Anderson also enjoyed a titanic struggle with newcomer Steve Farmer before claiming a 10-7 win.
Anderson led 4-0 before the Telford ace hit finishes of 126 and 148 in levelling at six-all, only for the Scot to crucially win four of the final five legs and reach the final.
Anderson had also defeated Andy Smith earlier on Sunday with a 9-5 quarter-final win, while Taylor overcame Fleetwood’s Wes Newton 9-3 before his battle with King.
Farmer, who only joined the PDC a year ago but won a Players Championship last September, defeated Colin Lloyd 9-5 in their quarter-final to reach his first major semi, while King took the last three legs without reply in his last eight clash with Terry Jenkins.
The £250,000 event was the first PDC major tournament to be shown online in its entirety, and featured the leading 32 players from the 2010 Players Championship Order of Merit competing over four days at the Doncaster Dome.
Final
Phil Taylor 13-12 Gary Anderson
Best of 25 legs
Match Stats
| Phil Taylor | 13-12 | Gary Anderson |
| 34 | 100+ | 21 |
| 17 | 140+ | 26 |
| 3 | 180 | 7 |
| 32.34 | Ave1 | 32.10 |
| 97.01 | Ave3 | 96.31 |
| 5 | Legs Against Throw | 5 |
| 128 | High Finish | 141,121 |
Semi-Finals
Gary Anderson 10-7 Steve Farmer
Mervyn King 8-10 Phil Taylor
Best of 19 legs
GARY ANDERSON 10-7 STEVE FARMER
GARY ANDERSON won through to a second successive major final with a 10-7 defeat of Steve Farmer, who hit back from 4-0 down to threaten a huge upset in their Players Championship Finals semi-final.
Anderson, the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship runner-up a month ago, looked on course to coast into the final when he dominated the early stages.
But Farmer, appearing in his first major semi-final since joining the PDC a year ago, hit back to level at six-all – only for the Scot to win four of the final five legs to progress.
Anderson made a clinical start, hitting double top to win the opening four legs and landing two maximums in the process.
He also took out 128 for a 12-darter in the sixth leg, but that came amidst a brilliant response from Telford’s Farmer, who took out finishes of 106, 80, 126 and double top in cutting the gap to 5-4.
Anderson landed tops to win the tenth leg, but Farmer followed up a double nine checkout with a 148 finish in levelling.
Anderson regained the advantage in the 13th, hitting a 171 score to set up a double 16 finish, and he hit the same bed for an 8-6 lead before Farmer hit back with a 180 and double eight.
Both players hit maximums in the next as Farmer looked to level, but Anderson converted a 72 finish in two darts to take a crucial 9-7 advantage and then completed a remarkable win on tops.
Match Stats
| Gary Anderson | 10-7 | Steve Farmer |
| 19 | 100+ | 25 |
| 10 | 140+ | 9 |
| 3 | 180 | 3 |
| 31.31 | Ave1 | 29.05 |
| 93.92 | Ave3 | 87.14 |
| 128 | High Finish | 148,126,106 |
| 4 | Legs Against Throw | 2 |
PHIL TAYLOR 10-8 MERVYN KING
PHIL TAYLOR produced an incredible comeback from 5-0 down to win his semi-final with Mervyn King at the Players Championship Finals 10-8 and remain on course for a second victory in the tournament.
Taylor found himself in huge trouble when King, despite suffering from a migraine, made a brilliant start to lead 5-0 and 6-1.
But Taylor, aided by a change of barrel from a new set of darts to the set he used during his quarter-final victory over Wes Newton, stormed back and hit five 180s in winning six of the final seven legs to claim victory.
Taylor was all at sea in the early legs, with King checking out legs of 14 and 12 darts against the throw in moving 3-0 up, while double four in the fourth pushed him further clear.
Taylor had his first dart at a double in the fifth, but was off-target on double six and King hit the same bed for a 5-0 cushion.
The pair both hit 180s in the sixth, which Taylor won in 11 darts to get off the mark.
King replied in 12 darts with a 180 and an 81 finish to lead 6-1, but paid for a miss in the next leg as Taylor hit double eight to capitalise.
He also took out 81, double eight and double ten to win the next three in reducing the gap to 6-5 before King finished 100 for a 7-5 lead.
Taylor then returned from the break having reverted back to the barrels with which he had seen off Wes Newton 9-3 earlier in the day, and hit a 180 with his first three darts.
He won the 13th leg in 11 darts and also took the next in 12, while he hit two more 180s in the next two legs plus finishes of 111 and 95 to incredibly take a 9-7 lead.
King kept the match alive when Taylor missed two darts at double 16 for victory in the next, following a 180 of his own with double six.
However, the world number one landed a fifth maximum in six legs during the next to lead 135, which he coolly finished on the bullseye to complete a remarkable fightback.
Match Stats
| Mervyn King | 8-10 | Phil Taylor |
| 21 | 100+ | 25 |
| 16 | 140+ | 12 |
| 4 | 180 | 6 |
| 31.89 | Ave1 | 32.93 |
| 95.67 | Ave3 | 98.79 |
| 100 | High Finish | 135,111 |
| 5 | Legs Against Throw | 6 |
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Mervyn King 9-7 Terry Jenkins
Wes Newton 3-9 Phil Taylor
Gary Anderson 9-5 Andy Smith
Steve Farmer 9-5 Colin Lloyd
MERVYN KING 9-7 TERRY JENKINS
MERVYN KING won a see-saw battle with Terry Jenkins to book his place in the semi-finals of the Players Championship Finals with a narrow 9-7 triumph.
King had come from 5-2 down to win his previous two matches, but this time allowed a 5-1 advantage to slip as Jenkins wrestled himself into a 7-6 lead – only for the 2010 runner-up to win the final three legs and progress.
King made a sensational start to leave Jenkins reeling, hitting a 180 and double 16 to take the opening leg before producing finishes of 83, 119 and 88 as he moved 4-0 up.
He also missed the bull for a 170 checkout in the fifth leg, as Jenkins followed an earlier 180 with double ten to stem the tide.
King finished 56 in two darts to take a 5-1 lead, before Jenkins took the next three legs, including checkouts of 100 and 86, to pull back to 5-4.
King edged the tenth leg on tops, but missed double 11 for a 124 finish in the next as Jenkins took out 81 and then 76 to level.
The Ledbury ace then posted a 180 for a third successive leg before double ten put him ahead for the first time at 7-6.
Double eight from King saw him level before he hit the same bed to regain the lead at 8-7.
Jenkins gave himself the chance to force a decider, but missed the bullseye and a dart at double four to give King his chance to secure victory, which he took on doble top.
“I like to entertain but I’m not making it easy for myself,” said King. “I didn’t score as well as I wanted to but I’m really pleased to get the win because Terry is playing really well.
“I let it slip a little bit when I got into the lead, but a lot of that was due to the way Terry played and he deserved to go 7-6 up.
“I’ve got to up my game if I’m going to win but I’ll give it my all tonight.”
Match Stats
| Mervyn King | 9-7 | Terry Jenkins |
| 21 | 100+ | 20 |
| 11 | 140+ | 11 |
| 2 | 180 | 6 |
| 32.84 | Ave1 | 31.80 |
| 98.52 | Ave3 | 95.41 |
| 6 | Legs Against Throw | 5 |
| 110 | High Finish | 100 |
PHIL TAYLOR 9-3 WES NEWTON
PHIL TAYLOR stormed into the semi-finals of the Players Championship Finals in Doncaster, defeated Wes Newton 9-3 to set up a last four clash with Mervyn King.
The 2009 Players Championship Finals winner remains on course for his second win in the £250,000 tournament, after averaging 103 in seeing off in-form Newton.
Taylor took the first five legs without reply before Newton hit back to 7-3, but the world number one took out a killer 104 before hitting a 180 in sealing victory.
“My finishing was the key and it seemed that every time I went for tops I hit it,” said Taylor.
“Wes probably out-scored my but I’m still getting used to my new darts. I’m trying to improve and getting back to my best.”
Newton hit a 180 in the opening leg, but Taylor hit double two to get off the mark and double 18 to break in the second.
Taylor then checked out 67 to win the third, despite another maximum from Newton, before double eight and double top gave him a five-leg lead.
Newton got off the mark with a fine 12-darter, which included a 180, and after Taylor replied with a 121 finish he also posted a maximum in winning a second leg on double eight.
The next two were shared with double one finishes as Newton cut the gap to 7-3, but he could only wait on 28 in the 11th leg as Taylor finished 104 on tops.
If that was a blow, Taylor then produced another killer punch with his first 180 of the game before landing double 12 to complete a comprehensive victory.
Taylor meets King in the semis on Sunday evening, and added: “I love playing Mervyn and it will be a good scrap. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a nine-darter because we’ll push each other.”
Match Stats
| Wes Newton | 3-9 | Phil Taylor |
| 14 | 100+ | 23 |
| 6 | 140+ | 10 |
| 5 | 180 | 1 |
| 32.45 | Ave1 | 34.34 |
| 97.34 | Ave3 | 103.01 |
| 0 | Legs Against Throw | 3 |
| 81 | High Finish | 121, 104 |
GARY ANDERSON 9-5 ANDY SMITH
SCOTTISH ace Gary Anderson overcame stiff resistance from Andy Smith before sealing a semi-final spot in the Players Championship Finals with a 9-5 victory.
Smith matched the World Championship finalist blow for blow during the opening ten legs of an enthralling clash, but paid for missed doubles late on as Anderson won five successive legs to take victory.
Smith made an ideal start with a 180 to open the match, taking the first leg on tops before Anderson replied on double ten.
The third went Smith’s way with a brilliant ten-darter, with scores of 180, 140 and 145 setting up double 18 as he edged 2-1 up, only for Anderson to power in a 130 checkout for the fourth.
Anderson missed two darts to break in the next as double eight put Smith back in front, while the Scot took the sixth on double four before beraking for the first time on tops for a 4-3 lead.
Smith immediately hit back on double 16, and defied a 180 from the Scot to take out double 18 for a 5-4 advantage.
Anderson levelled on tops in the tenth, and picked up another key break in the next, with Smith missing two darts at double 12 to allow him in on double ten.
Anderson hit a 180 and a 98 finish to finally secure a two-leg lead at 7-5, and after three missed doubles from Smith in the next he took out 73 in two darts to move a leg away from the win.
Smith battled to get back into the match with scores of 180 and 140 in the next, with Anderson landing a maximum in reply and punishing his opponent for bursting 11 by hitting single 17 instead of three, with the Scot wrapping up the win on tops.
Match Stats
| Gary Anderson | 9-5 | Andy Smith |
| 19 | 100+ | 18 |
| 9 | 140+ | 16 |
| 3 | 180 | 4 |
| 32.16 | Ave1 | 33.45 |
| 96.48 | Ave3 | 100.36 |
| 3 | Legs Against Throw | 1 |
| 130 | High Finish | 66 |
STEVE FARMER 9-5 COLIN LLOYD
STEVE FARMER picked up the biggest victory of his career, defeating Colin Lloyd 9-5 at the Players Championship Finals to win through to his first major semi-final.
The Telford star followed up his previous victories over Mark Walsh and Colin Osborne by taking the final four legs without reply against Lloyd.
Farmer will now take on Gary Anderson on Sunday night for a place in the final, as he bids to claim the £60,000 first prize and his maiden major title.
After the pair shared the opening four legs, Farmer picked up the first break in the fifth on double top – following a missed double 16 from Lloyd – before double 12 put him 4-2 up.
Farmer then hit a maximum in the seventh, but saw one dart at double ten for a 140 finish miss as Lloyd posted double 16.
Farmer finished 91 on double 16 to lead 5-3, but Lloyd brilliantly won the next by following a 180 with a 124 checkout.
He then punished three misses from Farmer to break in the tenth and level the game, only to then see four darts to regain the lead miss their target.
Farmer capitalised on double two and also won the next two after further misses from Lloyd, and landed his fifth maximum of the match in leaving 53 as he sealed the win on double ten.
“It’s the biggest win of my life,” said Farmer, who won his maiden Players Championship last September. “It’s been a fantastic year for me, and it’s a dream to be in the semi-finals.
“Colin has beaten me 6-0 before and I knew I’d have to play well to defeat him. It’s going to be a really tough game again against Gary and I’m looking forward to it, but there’s no pressure on me and hopefully I can win.”
Match Stats
| Steve Farmer | 9-5 | Colin Lloyd |
| 17 | 100+ | 22 |
| 12 | 140+ | 8 |
| 5 | 180 | 2 |
| 31.52 | Ave1 | 31.33 |
| 94.55 | Ave3 | 93.98 |
| 3 | Legs Against Throw | 1 |
| 91 | High Finish | 124 |