Taylor Claims Group Two Glory

PHIL TAYLOR booked his place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group next month with a 6-5 victory over Simon Whitlock in Wednesday's Group Two final at Crondon Park GC in Essex.

Taylor bounced back from his semi-final defeat to Wes Newton in Group One by powering through the eight-player field on the second of nine days in the internet-streamed event.

The world number one took six victories from his seven league games during the day to total £2,000 prize money in finishing top of the league table for the second successive day.

After defeating Paul Nicholson 6-3 in the semi-finals - coming from 3-2 down to take four successive legs - he edged out Whitlock in a tense final.

Taylor led 3-1 and 5-2 only for the Australian to win three successive legs and force a decider, and the Stoke great looked to have blown his chance when he missed the bull for a 124 finish in the final leg.

Whitlock, though, was off-target on tops for a 120 checkout, and Taylor returned to post double eight and take victory, ending the day with £3,200 prize money and a place in the big-money Winners Group on October 20.

"I'm really pleased to have won that but I rode my luck in the final," said Taylor. "It was another hard day and the standard was great, all the players pushed each other.

"I can relax now and look forward to coming back for the Winners Group, and hopefully I can do better than last year when I lost in the final to James Wade, because I'm determined to win back this trophy."

Taylor will begin his challenge for a tenth World Grand Prix title on Tuesday against Peter Wright at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, and added: "This has been a great preparation for the World Grand Prix.

"To have had two hard days of match play like this will stand me in good stead in Ireland next week, and I'm looking forward to the event."

Whitlock will now return to compete in Thursday's Group Three, having bettered Tuesday's semi-final appearance with a run to the decider 24 hours later.

He had been joined by Nicholson and Mervyn King with five wins in the league phase before winning his semi-final against the latter 6-5, finishing a 12-darter on the bull in the deciding leg with King sat on 16 after nine darts, where he had scored 134, 180 and 171.

King and Nicholson both enjoyed top-four finishes on their first day of involvement in this year's event, while another newcomer, Andy Hamilton, joined Group One runner-up Wes Newton in progressing to compete in Group Three.

However, reigning champion James Wade and fellow left-hander Mark Webster both exited the tournament after winning only one of their seven league games apiece in a disappointing day.

Thursday's Group Three will see the five Group Two survivors joined by Wayne Jones, Mark Walsh and Colin Lloyd as they battle for another place in the Winners Group.

Championship League Darts is screened solely on the internet through LIVEPDC.TV and a series of 30 bookmakers' websites worldwide, and offers a potential total prize fund of over £200,000, plus places in the Grand Slam of Darts for the eventual finalists.

Played over nine days from September 27-29, October 11-13 and October 18-20, the event offers £50 per leg won prize money in the league phase and £100 per leg won in each group's Play-Offs, with prize money doubled in the Winners Group.

Championship League Darts - Group Two

MATCH INFORMATION
First Set of Matches
Phil Taylor began Group Two in strong fashion with a 6-1 defeat of James Wade. Taylor had been defeated by Wes Newton in the Group One semi-final, but overcame the loss of the opening leg against Wade - who hit a 180 and a 78 finish to take an early lead - by picking up six successive legs. He levelled with a 104 finish and added a brace of double 16 checkouts to move 3-1 up, before landing a 177 and double ten to break throw for a second time. A 28 finish put him 5-1 up, and double six secured the points.
Mervyn King announced his arrival in the 2011 Championship League Darts with a 6-2 win over Andy Hamilton, who also entered on Wednesday. King started well, breaking with a 64 finish in the first leg and hitting a 180 in taking the second. But five missed doubles in the third allowed Hamilton in to open his account as he took out double ten. The Stoke ace hit a 110 finish to level, but missed double 16 in the next to take the lead, with King hitting double 16 to win the fifth, a 180 in moving 4-2 up and the next two to complete victory on double 14.
Paul Nicholson made a winning start to his 2011 Championship League Darts challenge with a 6-3 victory against Mark Webster. Webster - who finished fifth in Group One - hit back from losing the opening leg to win the next two and lead 2-1, hitting a 180 in one leg and double ten to break in the other. Nicholson, though, broke back and took the next three legs to move clear at 5-2, hitting a 180 and a 76 finish in leg six and a 124 checkout in the next. Webster hit back o double ten, but the 2010 Players Championship Finals winner sealed victory on double eight.
Simon Whitlock held off a fightback from Wes Newton to take a 6-5 win in their Group Two opener. After Newton took the game's opening leg with a 100 finish against the throw, Whitlock replied superbly to win the next four, hitting a pair of double eight finishes and a 72 checkout along the way. Newton hit a 180 and double 16 in taking the sixth leg, but an 80 checkout edged Whitlock a leg away from victory at 5-2. Newton again showed his battling spirit, finishing 111 for his third leg of the game and 52 on tops to pull back to 5-4 after Whitlock made a meal of a 41 finish he needed for victory. Newton levelled in leg ten to force a decider, which Whitlock took with a fine 14-dart finish, hitting a 177 before sealing the win on double 16.x

Second Set of Matches
Phil Taylor hit back from 3-2 down to defeat Mervyn King 6-4 and maintain his winning start to Group Two. Taylor took out finishes of 88 and 101 to win the opening two legs, but King hit back strongly to win the next three, including a 180 and double ten against the throw and a 68 finish, as he edged ahead. Taylor took the sixth on double ten, and hit scores of 180 and 177 in the next two as he pulled clear at 5-3. King took out double eight to stay in the game in the ninth, but he burst 50 in the next - hitting a treble 18 instead of the single - and then missed two darts to stay in the game before Taylor posted double four to seal the win.
Andy Hamilton bounced back from his opening defeat with a 6-2 win over reigning champion James Wade. The pair shared the first two legs before Hamilton finished 106, 80 and double eight to take the next three for a 4-1 cushion. Wade took out 84 in two darts to win the sixth, but Hamilton hit a 180 and another 80 finish to win his sixth leg, and hit scores of 177 and 180 in the next before taking victory on double eight.
Wes Newton stunned Mark Webster with a brilliant display to whitewash the Welshman 6-0. Newton opened the match with a 180, taking the opening leg on double ten and an immediate break on double eight. He hit scores of 174, to set up double 16, and a 180 in the next two as he moved 4-0 up, and took the fifth before a comprehensive victory on double top.
Paul Nicholson came from 5-3 down to edge out Simon Whitlock 6-5 in a dramatic deciding leg of their clash. Nicholson won the game's opening two legs on double 16, despite Whitlock posting a brace of 180s, before the pony-tailed ace hit back with three in a row, finishing 86, tops and double 11 to lead 3-2, with double eight seeing him move two legs clear. The next two were shared between the Australian World Cup of Darts stars, before Nicholson hit double 12 to win a fourth leg and broke in the tenth to force a decider. Nicholson was first to a finish in the 11th leg, but missed the bull for a 130 finish and five further darts at a double to give Whitlock his chance. Whitlock, though, missed five darts to steal victory and Nicholson completed his comeback on double four with his ninth dart for the match.

Third Set of Matches
Mervyn King came from 4-1 down to win five successive legs and take a 6-4 win over Simon Whitlock for his second victory of Group Two. After King toko the opening leg, Whitlock hit legs of 12 and 13 darts to take the lead, and finished double ten and a 70 checkout to lead 4-1. A 56 finish from King saw him win the sixth, and after winning the seventh he brilliantly took out 140 to level the contest. He missed double 18 for a 150 checkout in the next, but returned to hit the bed and regain the advantage before finishing 82 on the bull to seal the comeback.
Phil Taylor whitewashed Paul Nicholson with a superb performance to win his third straight Group Two match. Taylor followed up July's European Championship victory over Nicholson with a fine display, restricting his opponent's chances throughout a dominant victory. After punishing two misses from Nicholson to break in the first leg on double four, Taylor took commance with finishes of double top and double ten. Nicholson hit a 180 in the fourth, but Taylor took out 86 for an 11-darter to lead 4-0, finished 83 in the next and followed up scores of 180 and 140 with double 16 for a 12-darter in completing the whitewash.
Wes Newton won his second game of Group Two with a 6-2 defeat of Andy Hamilton. The UK Open finalist took the first two legs to take command, and after Hamilton finished tops to win the third he took another brace of legs, landing double 16 and tops to move 4-1 up. Double ten for Hamilton gave him a second leg, but he missed two darts to take the seventh as Newton stepped in to follow a 180 with double eight, before punishing another miss from the Stoke ace on double ten to seal victory.
Mark Webster made a remarkable comeback from 4-1 down to win a deciding leg clash with James Wade. Wade made all the early running by winning the first four legs without reply, hitting tops in the first two and finishes of double three and double six as he pulled away. Webster got off the mark with a 118 finish, and took the next two before checkout out 81 to level after Wade hit a 180 but missed tops for a 120 checkout. Double 14 for a 108 finish gave Webster the lead for the first time, and although Wade hit tops to force a deciding leg the Welshman piled in a 111 finish to snatch the points.

Fourth Set of Matches
Simon Whitlock ended Phil Taylor's unbeaten start to Group Two with a 6-4 victory over the world number one. After Taylor edged a scrappy opening leg on double two, as the pair missed a host of doubles on their return from the lunch break, Whitlock replied with a 180 and a 130 finish for a 12-darter, with Taylor posting a 13-darter in reply. Whitlock won the next three to lead 4-2, but Taylor replied to level, only to then miss three darts to regain the lead as double 18 put Whitlock a leg away from the win. The Australian then fired in a 180 to leave 62, and took out the finish on double 16 for the points.
Paul Nicholson took out finishes of 170 and 156 in a superb 6-4 win over Mervyn King as he moved joint top of the Group Two league table. Nicholson made a fine start with double 12 to break throw, and then moved two legs up with the maximum finish, before sharing the next two to lead 3-1. King finished 69 on double 18 to cut back to 3-2, only for Nicholson to then finish 156. King won a third leg with tops, but Nicholson landed a 180 and double 16 for a 13-darter to move a leg away from victory. His opponent hit a sensational 161 finish in reply, but when he missed the bull to force a decider Nicholson pounced on tops to seal the win.
James Wade picked up his first victory of Group Two with a narrow 6-5 defeat of Wes Newton. Newton recovered from losing the first leg by winning three in a row, including hitting a brace of 180s in breaking Wade, as he took a 3-1 lead. Wade took two of the next three, but double five edged Newton to the brink of victory at 5-3. An 84 finish saw Wade win a fourth leg, and when Newton missed tops for the match on a 103 finish he posted double 12 to force a decider, which he won with a 72 checkout for a 14-darter.
Andy Hamilton inflicted a third defeat of Group Two upon Mark Webster as he continued his own Play-Off challenge with a second win of the day. Hamilton made a brilliant start with finishes of 108 and 156 in the opening two legs, before Webster took out 81 on the bull to get off the mark. The next two were shared before Hamilton broke in the sixth to lead 4-2 and took out double four to move to the brink of victory, which he sealed on double eight after Webster wasted his chance to stay in the game.

Fifth Set of Matches
Simon Whitlock won his third game of Group Two to improve his semi-final hopes with a 6-4 defeat of Andy Hamilton. Whitlock edged a scrappy opener and hit a 180 in the second leg as double ten moved him 2-0 up. Hamilton hit a 180 and a 174 in winning two of the next three, but Double ten moved Whitlock 4-2 up. Hamilton hit a 180 in taking the seventh, and after the Australian won the next a 110 finish pulled him back to 5-4, only for Whitlock to seal victory on double ten.
Phil Taylor got back to winning ways with a 6-3 victory over bottom-placed Mark Webster. Taylor took the game's first three legs, opening with a 14-darter, taking out 66 in two darts in the second and double 16 to break in the third. He also missed two darts at tops to take the fourth as Webster got off the mark on double three, before he landed tops and a brilliant 144 checkout to level the game. Taylor, though, took the next with a 63 finish and repeated the double 16 finish to lead 5-3 before Webster posted a 180 only to miss tops for an 85 finish as Taylor took out the same score on the bull for victory.
Paul Nicholson picked up his fourth victory of Group Two to put one foot into the semi-finals with a 6-3 win over James Wade, leaving the reigning champion joint bottom with Mark Webster. Wade made a strong start by finishing 127 on the bull, but Nicholson hit a 180 in the second and also took the next three to establish a 4-1 lead. Wade replied with a maximum in taking the sixth, and shared the next two to reduce the arrears to 5-3, but Nicholson hit tops at the first time of asking to secure the points.
Mervyn King maintained his Play-Off push with a 6-2 win over Wes Newton, who now sits two points adrift of the top four. Group One runner-up Newton hit a 177 to open the contest, but burst 90 before returning to miss double ten as King stole on double 16. King also won to of the next three to lead 3-1, and after Newton won the fifth he finished 111 to move 4-2 up. He also hit a 180 in the next, and when Newton missed three darts to hit back he landed double eight to move to the brink of victory, which he sealed on double 16 after the Fleetwood ace missed three more darts at a double.

Sixth Set of Matches
Mervyn King all-but-ended Mark Webster's hopes in the 2011 Championship League Darts with a 6-4 win over the Welshman. King opened with an 11-darter, and after Webster took the second on double 18 he took the next two, including a 180 in the first leg and tops for a 60 finish in the second, to lead 3-1. Double 16 saw Webster hit back, but a 12-darter saw King move 4-2 in front before the left-hander posted a 180 and tops to win his third leg. The next two legs were shared as King moved to the brink of victory, and he sealed the points thanks to another 180 and double six.
Simon Whitlock's 6-4 win over James Wade saw him secure a semi-final spot and effectively knock the reigning champion out of this year's Championship League Darts. Whitlock dominated from the off by winning four of the first five legs, with only a 130 bullseye finish from Wade stemming the tide. Wade hit a 180 and double ten to win his second leg, and after Whitlock took his fifth leg on double eight Wade then hit tops and a 126 finish to pull back to within a leg. Whitlock, though, finished 70 in the next leg to secure the points.
Paul Nicholson ensured a top-four finish and ended Andy Hamilton's Play-Off hopes with a 6-2 victory over the Stoke ace. Nicholson took the early initiative, winning the first leg on double 16 and taking the second in style, following a 180 with a 101 finish for six fine darts. Hamilton landed a 171 to leave 36 as he got off the mark in the third, and after Nicholson missed tops in the third the Stoke ace levelled. Nicholson, though, broke in the fifth leg and then hit tops for a 4-2 cushion, before finishing double 18 and double 16 in the next two to take two more points.
Phil Taylor gained revenge for his Group One semi-final loss to Wes Newton with a 6-4 victory which ends the Fleetwood ace's chances of a top-four finish in Group Two. Newton produced a brilliant display in Tuesday's semis to gain his first career win over the world number one, but never recovered from Taylor taking an early 3-0 lead, which included finishes of 64 and 82 as well as a break of throw in leg two. Newton took out 84 to get off the mark, and after Taylor won the fifth in 13 darts the Fleetwood ace took out 126, and a brace of double top finishes to level. He hit a 180 in the ninth, but Taylor replied in kind and took out double 16 for a 5-4 lead, and after Newton missed double 16 in the next to force a decider the Stoke great sealed victory on double eight.

Seventh Set of Matches
Wes Newton ended Group Two on a winning note with a narrow 6-5 defeat of Paul Nicholson, who still progresses into the semis. Newton opened the contest with a 13-darter as he shared the opening four legs with Nicholson before hitting a 118 finish to win the fifth and double eight to nick the sixth and break throw. He also took the seventh to lead 5-2, only for Nicholson to punish a missed double top in the next as he then took three in a row to level and send the game into a decider. Newton, though, was first to a finish after hitting a 180 and took out double four for the win.
Simon Whitlock warmed up for the Group Two semi-finals with a 6-4 win over Mark Webster, who exits the event following the defeat. Whitlock hit double four in the opening two legs as he took command, and he led 3-1 before Webster won three in a row to grab the lead. A 56 finish from Whitlock levelled, and he hit a 180 in breaking to win leg nine before winning the next to pick up his fifth win of the day.
Phil Taylor secured top spot in the Group Two league table with a 6-1 defeat of Andy Hamilton, who finishes sixth but survives to compete in Thursday's Group Three. Taylor never looked back after winning the opening two legs to take control, hitting double four in the third and breaking in the fourth, while double 16 for a 64 finish moved him five legs clear. Hamilton hit the same bed to get off the mark, but any hope of a comeback was ended when Taylor finished 96 in the seventh for his sixth win of the league phase.
Mervyn King ended reigning champion James Wade's involvement in the 2011 Championship League Darts with a 6-2 victory in their final group match. Wade entered the game needing a heavy victory to stand a chance of remaining in the competition, but after King broke throw twice in the first three legs to lead 3-0 his hopes rapidly faded. King also hit double 16 and double two to move 5-0 up before Wade took out 115 and 117 to win the next two. King ended the comeback in the next, finishing 79 on double 11 to secure second place in the league table.

Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor won through to the Group Two final, defeating Paul Nicholson 6-3 to progress one round further than 24 hours earlier, when Wes Newton ended his hopes in the last four.
Nicholson shaded the opening leg, hitting a 180 to open the semi and double eight to lead after Taylor was unable to land the bullseye. Taylor, though, hit 180s of his own in the next two, which were won on double eight and the bull before Nicholson levelled on double six after Taylor hit another maximumbut missed double 16.
Nicholson then posted double eight to lead and threaten a repeat of his Speedy Hire UK Open win over Taylor, but the world number one responded in style, hitting double eight to level and the same bed to leave 4-3 after Nicholson missed double ten on two occasions.
Nicholson landed a maximum in the eighth, but was unable to level when he missed the bull for a 121 finish, as Taylor posted double 16 to move 5-3 up. The 2008 Championship League Darts winner then booked his place in the day's final on double four by punishing three further misses from his opponent.

Simon Whitlock dramatically won an 11-leg thriller against Mervyn King to win through to the Championship League Darts Group Two final.
King included finishes of 94 and 61 in taking three of the opening four legs, with Whitlock taking out 104 to get off the mark and also winning leg five to pull back to 3-2.
King hit two 180s to win the sixth, but Whitlock took the next three to move ahead at 5-4, the latter being a 13-dart leg which featured a seven perfect darts.
Whitlock was unable to close out the win in the tenth as King landed double five to force a decider - and it was the Englishman who scored strongly by hitting 134, 180 and 171 to leave 16 after nine darts, only to watch as Whitlock took out 81 for a 12-darter and victory.

Final
Phil Taylor booked his place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group next month with a 6-5 victory over Simon Whitlock in Wednesday's Group Two final at Crondon Park GC in Essex.
Taylor bounced back from his semi-final defeat to Wes Newton in Group One by edging past Whitlock in a nervy final, despite having seemed on course for a comfortable win after initially leading 5-2 before the Australian forced a decider.
The pair shared the final's opening two legs before Taylor won the third and then took out 100 to break throw in the fourth. Two misses at double 16 in the next allowed Whitlock in to finish 65 and take the sixth, but Taylor immediately hit back to win the next two, hitting a 180 in a 12-darter on his way to a 5-2 advantage.
Whitlock took out 70 in the eighth leg and landed a 180 in the ninth, with Taylor missing two match darts at double 15 before the Australian posted double ten to win his fourth leg.
He then produced his best leg of the final, hitting scores of 180, 140 and 140 in a 12-darter to force a deciding leg.
Taylor, with the advantage of throw, was first to a finish, but missed the bull for a 124 checkout to allow Whitlock in on 120, only for the Australian to miss tops for victory as the world number one returned to hit double eight.

WATCH LIVE
Championship League Darts is being shown live online through LIVEPDC.TV as well as through a total of 30 bookmakers' websites worldwide, as detailed below.