PHIL TAYLOR has begun his build-up to the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship - and insists he will be a better player when he steps out at Alexandra Palace on December 18.
Taylor will compete on the opening night of this year's World Championship on Friday December 18, beginning the defence of his title.
He has won every major ranking title so far in 2009, and sets out to claim a record-extending 15th World Championship next month in the sport's first £1 million event.
Taylor will compete in the German Darts Championship in Halle this weekend, but after winning a third successive PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts title is already looking ahead to Ally Pally.
"I've enjoyed winning the Grand Slam and now I'm looking forward to the World Championship, which is the one I'm after next," said Taylor.
"I'm going to Germany first for my last ranking tournament before Alexandra Palace, and I'd love to win that title back after losing to Co Stompe in the final last year.
"I hope I get Co this year because I'll get him this time!"
Taylor has won almost £750,000 prize money so far in 2009, winning 21 tournaments in the process.
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"Some of the darts in the Grand Slam were great, I really threw well, but I think I'm going to get better as each week goes now," Phil Taylor |
"The Premier League is so long, and you do so much travelling around the country and put so much work into it that to end up losing it right at the end, in the semis to Mervyn King, was devastating.
"It doesn't do you any harm, it makes you stand up and think a bit."
After changing his darts during 2008, Taylor has recently made his own adjustments to his flights in a bid to make them more aerodynamic - and believes he is improving as a player.
"Some of the darts in the Grand Slam were great, I really threw well, but I think I'm going to get better as each week goes now with the new flights," he added.
"I'll keep practising and working on it. I know what I did wrong and why I didn't hit as many big shots as I normally do, and I'll get there."
Tickets for the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship are still available from SeeTickets via 0871 220 0260 or www.seetickets.com/darts.
Hospitality packages are available via the PDC on 08712 501 180.