Group Two Win For Taylor

Phil Taylor ruthlessly whitewashed Mark Walsh to win Group Two of Championship League Darts.

Taylor bounced back from defeat to James Wade in the Group One final with a flawless second day in the internet-streamed tournament at Crondon Park GC in Essex.

Taylor powered through the eight-player league phase with seven wins in as many games, including whitewashes of Adrian Lewis and Colin Lloyd to pick up the maximum possible £2,100 from £50 per leg won.

He then defeated Mervyn King 6-3 in the semi-finals, and then saw off Walsh in style in the final to take his prize money on the day to £3,300 as well as securing a place in October's Winners Group.

Walsh was left with little chance in the final, with Taylor taking the first leg comfortably, hitting two 180s in winning the second and double top for a 3-0 lead.

Walsh hit a maximum of his own to leave 36 in the fourth, but missed three darts at double 18 and was punished as Taylor took out double top.

Taylor hit two more 180s in a 12-darter to move 5-0 up, before wrapping up the win on double 16.

"I'm really happy and also relieved to win Group Two," said Taylor. "James Wade was the better player on Tuesday but I'm delighted with my performance today.

"Winning through from Group Two means I can rest now ahead of the Virgin Atlantic South African Masters next weekend, but it's been great preparation for that event and the Skybet World Grand Prix too.

"I'll be watching the rest of Championship League Darts with interest and am looking forward to coming back in October for the Winners Group."

Walsh, a group winner in the inaugural Championship League Darts last year, finished second in the league table on his 2009 debut, picking up four wins in the league phase.

He then defeated Alan Tabern 6-4 in the semis, and picked up £2,250 for his day's work in Essex.

Tabern and King also picked up four wins in the league phase and were eventually separated for third and fourth place by a count-back of legs won against the throw in the seven matches.

There was further drama at the foot of the table, with King's 6-0 win over Andy Hamilton and a 6-1 victory for Colin Lloyd against Dennis Priestley in the final round of matches seeing Lloyd escape elimination and end Hamilton and Priestley's challenge in the event.

Walsh, Tabern, King, Adrian Lewis and Lloyd will all return to Crondon Park on Thursday for Group Three, and are joined by Colin Osborne, Vincent van der Voort and debutant Robert Thornton.

Play will begin at 11am and games are screened exclusively live on the internet through a series of ten bookmakers' websites.

Final Group Two Table

* Players separated by Legs Won Against Throw (Tabern 14, King 12)

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First Round of Matches
Phil Taylor made a menacing start to Group Two with a 6-2 victory over Mervyn King - which included a near-miss at a nine-darter only 24 hours after hitting a perfect leg in Group One. Taylor gained revenge for a defeat to King in yesterday's league phase, taking a 2-0 lead by winning the first leg against the throw and the second with a 142 checkout. He also hit a 171 to leave 32 in the third, only for King to take out double ten to get off the mark. Taylor landed a maximum in winning the fourth before King traded 180s in the next and took out 102 to pull back to 3-2. Taylor, though, took the next on double eight and repeat the finish to move 5-2 up, before kicking off leg eight with back-to-back 180s. Another treble 20 was a seventh perfect dart, although a possible perfect leg went wayward with a missed treble 19 - although he returned to the oche to finish in 11 darts and seal the win.
Mark Walsh made a sensational start to group two with a 6-1 defeat of Andy Hamilton. Walsh, one of last year's group winners, made a brilliant start to take the first leg despite a 180 from Hamilton, before landing a maximum of his own in winning the second, double 16 in the third and then double five with his opponent waiting on a finish in moving 4-0 up. He also posted a 177 in the next to leave a 24 finish as he took a fifth leg, although Hamilton avoided a potential whitewash by landing double 16 in leg six. Walsh, though, swiftly wrapped up the win by landing double six to seal both points.
Alan Tabern opened his Group Two challenge with a 6-3 victory against Dennis Priestley. In a see-saw encounter, Tabern took a 3-1 cushion before Priestley, aided by his accuracy on double top and ten, took the next two to level. However, Tabern won leg seven on double 16, and crucially won the next with a 99 finish to lead 5-3 before sealing victory.
Adrian Lewis edged out Colin Lloyd in a deciding leg to open up Group Two with a victory. Lewis took the game's first two legs before Lloyd won three in a row to sneak in front 3-2. Lewis landed a 180 and double 12 to win both of the next two and regain his lead, before Lloyd levelled on double ten and then took out 96 in two darts for a 5-4 cushion. But double top from Lewis saw him send the game into a decider, and he pulled clear in the final leg before sealing the win on tops.

Second Round of Matches
Phil Taylor won a titanic struggle with Andy Hamilton to maintain his 100 percent start to Group Two in a deciding leg. Taylor looked set for a comfortable win when he took the first three legs without reply, although Hamilton missed chances in each. The Stoke ace traded 180s with Taylor before getting off the mark on double 18 in leg four, only for Taylor to fire in a 13-darter in the next for a 4-1 lead. A 92 checkout gave Hamilton a second leg, but three more missed doubles in the next allowed Taylor to open up a 5-2 cushion. Hamilton took out 98 in two darts to win the next, and punished a miss from Taylor on the same shot to finish an 11-darter for 5-4. Double ten for Hamilton sent the game into a deciding leg, and both players began with scores of 177, but Hamilton was left waiting on 40 as Taylor landed double ten for the win.
Dennis Priestley picked up his first points of the day with a 6-2 win over Adrian Lewis. Priestley bounced back from his loss to Alan Tabern in the first set of games with a clinical display to see off the Group One semi-finalist. Priestley won the first two legs, and responded to a double top from Lewis by taking the next three without reply to lead 5-1. Lewis posted a 180 to leave a 38 finish in taking the seventh leg, but double ten for Priestley ensured victory.
Alan Tabern collected his second win of the day with a 6-4 win over Colin Lloyd. Tabern made a brilliant start to the game, taking out 120 and 170 in the opening two legs with Lloyd sat on a finish. The Essex man hit back strongly, landing a 171 to set up a double 18 finish in winning leg three, double eight to level and then tops to lead 3-2. Tabern won the next two to edge in front, only for Lloyd to level - but crucially the St Helens man took leg nine on double ten and then landed tops for the win.
Mervyn King battled from behind to win a fine contest with Mark Walsh 6-5. Walsh kicked off stronly to lead 3-1 and 4-2 only for King, aided by a 100 checkout and a break of throw, to level. A 72 checkout put King in front for the first time, only for Walsh to send the game into a decider on double three. But a missed bullseye from Walsh on 94 gave King his chance on the same score - and he landed bull, single ten and double 16 for the game.

Third Round of Games
Adrian Lewis won the all-Stoke battle with Andy Hamilton in a deciding leg. The pair enjoyed a tight battle, with the opening six legs shared before Lewis missed two darts to break in the seventh. A 96 finish from Lewis in the eighth squared matters again before he was off-target on the bull against the throw in leg nine, with double nine taking Hamilton a leg away from victory. Lewis posted double ten to ensure a deciding 11th leg, and hit scores of 180, 134 and 100 to pull away against the throw, landing double nine for the match.
Phil Taylor made it three wins from as many games with a 6-2 defeat of old rival Dennis Priestley. Taylor continued his strong start to Group Two, pulling from 1-1 to 4-1 in quick-time. An 83 finish gave Priestley a second leg, but Taylor took the seventh to lead 5-2 and then landed the bullseye for victory.
Alan Tabern remained unbeaten following a fine 6-1 victory against Mervyn King. The left-hander pulled away after the opening two legs of the contest were shared, breaking throw in the third leg and matching a King 180 in taking a 3-1 lead. He also secured another break and then landed tops to go 5-1 up, and punished further missed doubles from King to seal the win on double 18.
Mark Walsh battled from 5-3 down to defeat Colin Lloyd in a decider. Walsh took the opener, but was punished for missed doubles as Lloyd levelled and then went 2-1 up. Walsh sqaured the match, only for Lloyd to take the next two for a 4-2 cushion, which he also extended to 5-3 on double 16. An unconventional 44 of 18, double 13 from Walsh saw him take the ninth, and he punished two missed darts at double 16 for the match from Lloyd in the next to ensure a decider. Scores of 140, 140 and 180 against the throw saw Walsh pull clear, and he had enough breathing space to initially miss three darts at double top before hitting the bed for victory.

Fourth Round of Games
Phil Taylor produced the first whitewash of the 2009 Championship League Darts in seeing off Adrian Lewis. Taylor was never in trouble in securing a fourth successive win in Group Two, asserting his dominance in the opening leg with a 180, taking the leg on double top. He landed two 140s in the second and a 177 on his way to the third leg, before moving 4-0 up with a 167 checkout. He also won leg five before punishing a missed double 12 in the next from Lewis to seal the win on double two.
Dennis Priestley moved into the top four with a 6-3 win over Andy Hamilton. Priestley raced into a 3-0 lead only for Hamilton - without a win so far - to hit back and level. However, Priestley edged the seventh and then stepped up a gear, posting an 11-darter with scores of 140, 180 and 135 before landing tops to move 5-3 up, and hitting 140, 180 and 90 in setting up a 12-darter to seal the win.
Colin Lloyd claimed his first victory of Group Two in dramatic fashion, taking out 158 to win a deciding leg against Mervyn King. King established an early 3-1 lead, thanks in part to a key 108 finish after missed doubles from Lloyd, and the World Championship semi-finalist also pulled into a 5-3 advantage. Lloyd landed double eight for the ninth leg, and punished six missed match darts from King to send the game into an 11th leg - which he took in style with a 158 checkout as King waited on a finish.
Mark Walsh joined Alan Tabern on six points in the league table with a 6-2 win over the left-hander. Walsh continued his strong day by winning the game's opening two legs, before double 16 got Tabern off the mark. Finishes on double four, tops and double 16 put Walsh 5-1 up, Double top kept Tabern in the game, but two misses in the next leg cost him as Walsh landed double 16 on his third attempt to wrap up both points.

Fifth Round of Games
Adrian Lewis improved his chances of a semi-final place with a 6-3 win over fellow contender Mark Walsh. The pair began the match by breaking each other's throw in the opening four legs, before Lewis regained his composure to take the fifth despite a 180 from Walsh, who hit another maximum in taking the sixth to level at three-all. Double 14 put Lewis 4-3 up, and a bullseye finish on 94 saw him break throw before sealing victory with a fine 111 checkout.
Phil Taylor made it five wins from as many games by seeing off Alan Tabern 6-3 to ensure his play-off place with two matches remaining. Tabern battled back well after losing the opening two legs by punishing misses from Taylor to take the next pair and square the game. The next two were also shared, but a 61 checkout from Taylor edged him back ahead and another break moved him to the brink of the win at 5-3, before double ten ensured both points.
Mervyn King picked up his second win of Group Two with a 6-3 defeat of Dennis Priestley to improve his chances of avoiding elimination - and raise his hopes of a play-off place in the process. King took the game's first two legs, only to see the veteran battle back level - but Priestley then missed four darts to go ahead and allow King to hit double ten and steal the leg. King also won the next two to move to the brink of victory, before double ten kept Priestley in the contest. King, though, wrapped up the win in the next on double ten.
Andy Hamilton won his first game of the day with a 6-2 defeat of Colin Lloyd - who slipped to the foot of the table with the reverse. Lloyd led with double eight in the opening leg, but a 91 finish got Hamilton off the mark, double ten edged him in front and a 12-darter - featuring six perfect darts of two 180s - moved him 3-1 up. Double four gave Lloyd a second leg, but Hamilton took the next and then broke throw to move 5-2 up before a 68 checkout sealed the victory.

Sixth Round of Games
Andy Hamilton claimed a second successive victory with a 6-3 defeat of Alan Tabern. Tabern took the game's opening leg, but Hamilton won the next four to put himself in command, before two in a row from the left-hander cut the gap to 4-3. Hamilton settled his nerves by taking leg eight, and a fine 130 checkout ensured the two points.
Mervyn King's third win of the day saw him move closer to a play-off spot, or at least Group Two survival, in a final-leg epic against Adrian Lewis. A see-saw game saw King open up leads of 2-0 and 5-2, punishing early misses from Lewis in taking himself to the brink of victory. The youngster took out a fine 119 checkout to spark a fightback, with double eight and then double top seeing him force a decider after King missed two match darts. However, the 2008 Championship League Darts runner-up proved too strong in leg 11, and took out 61 on double 18 for both points.
Phil Taylor secured a second whitewash of the day to remain unbeaten, and all but eliminate Colin Lloyd from the event. Table-topping Taylor showed no mercy, taking out double six in the opening leg and then double 16 for the second with Lloyd waiting on 32. The next two legs went to Taylor in the same manner and he also won the next to lead 5-0, missing the bull for a party-piece 161 checkout that would have sealed victory before landing double eight to end the drubbing.
Mark Walsh won a high-quality encounter with Dennis Priestley 6-3 to secure his semi-final spot with one game remaining. Walsh made a stunning start, hitting finishes of 167, 113 and 141 to lead 3-0, only for Priestley to hit back with two 11-darters to reduce the gap to one leg. Checkouts of 72 and 116 put Walsh 5-2 up, only for Priestley to land a ton-plus finish of his own with a 126 bullseye shot. Walsh, though, was too strong in the next and claimed his fourth win of the day on double two.

Seventh Round of Games
Phil Taylor completed the league phase unbeaten following a 6-1 win over Mark Walsh. After punishing misses from Walsh in the opening leg, Taylor doubled his lead with a 119 finish before double 16 got Walsh off the mark. However, Taylor landed 180s in the next three legs in pulling out to 5-1, and sealed the win on double four.
Alan Tabern dramatically claimed a semi-final place with a 6-5 victory over Adrian Lewis. Tabern led 2-0 early on before being punished for missed doubles as Lewis levelled. The pair shared the next two before finishes of double eight and double top - for a break of throw - put the left-hander 5-3 up. Lewis took the next two on tops to force a decider and keep alive his semi-final hopes, but missed the bull and darts at double eight and four in the 11th leg before Tabern took out double five to secure a play-off berth.
Mervyn King's whitewash of Andy Hamilton puts him into the semi-finals. King made sure of a top-four finish in style with his best win of the day, punishing misses from Hamilton in two legs to break throw as he led 4-0, with a 64 finish extending the lead further and double 16 sealing a comprehensive victory.
Colin Lloyd's 6-1 win over Dennis Priestley means he avoids elimination and knocks out Priestley and Hamilton on legs difference. Lloyd needed a big victory to progress to Group Three, and he started superbly to lead 3-0, punishing misses from Priestley in the first two and landing tops in the third. Double top got Priestley off the mark, but Lloyd took a key fifth leg to go 4-1 up, landed double five for a fifth leg and then double ten to seal a win which saw him jump into sixth place.
Third and fourth places were decided on legs won against the throw, with Alan Tabern (14) taking third place ahead of Mervyn King (12).

Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor won through to a second final in as many days with a 6-3 victory over Mervyn King. King broke throw in the game's opening leg with a 94 finish, before Taylor posted a 118 finish to level and an 11-darter to hit the front. A brace of double 16 finishes put Taylor 4-2 up, before a missed bullseye allowed King in on double 18 to reduce the gap. The next two legs were shared as Taylor moved 5-3 up, and a two-dart 88 finish sent him into the decider.
Mark Walsh followed up his second-placed finish in Group Two's league phase with a 6-4 win over Alan Tabern in a top-quality semi-final. Walsh took out 141 to win the opening leg, and also posted a 68 finish in the third, while checkouts of 96 and 100 from Tabern saw him hold throw as the first six legs were shared. Double six put Walsh in front again, before tops gave the left-hander a fourth leg, but two missed double 16's for a break cost him as Walsh landed double five to move 5-4 up. Tabern landed a 180 in the next, but misses at double top, ten and five came back to haunt him as Walsh landed double eight for the win.

Final
Phil Taylor ruthlessly whitewashed Mark Walsh 6-0 to win Group Two of Championship League Darts. Walsh was left with little chance in the final, with Taylor taking the first leg comfortably, hitting two 180s in winning the second and double top for a 3-0 lead. Walsh hit a maximum of his own to leave 36 in the fourth, but missed three darts at double 18 and was punished as Taylor took out double top. Taylor hit two more 180s in a 12-darter to move 5-0 up, before wrapping up the win on double 16.