Seven's Heaven For Grand Prix King Taylor

PHIL TAYLOR claimed his seventh SkyBet World Grand Prix title with a 7-4 win over Terry Jenkins at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin.

Taylor retained the title with a battling display, coming from 2-0 down early on against a player making his debut in a major final.

Jenkins, aged 43 from Herefordshire, showed his quality in a blistering start to leave Taylor reeling, winning five successive legs at one point on his way to a two-set lead.

Taylor found his great with some superb darts in taking nine successive legs to edge in front in the game, and landed a ten-dart leg - the best of the week - in taking the sixth set for a 4-2 cushion.

Jenkins hit back and levelled matters, but Taylor won the next three sets to claim yet another major title.

"I felt too relaxed at the start and I don't think I was in the game for four sets," admitted Taylor.

"I was enjoying the crowd, the atmosphere and being in a final early on and perhaps he wanted it more than me at that point.

"Terry's a grinder and he kept going. Normally when I get in front, people give in but he didn't and he showed his bottle.

"At four-all, I knew I had to kick in. When you get to that stage, you don't think and you have to get in the zone.

"The one thing I thought Terry might do, when I went 4-2 up, was bottle it. It was his first time in a major final but he came back, and came back well so fair play to him."

Taylor took advantage of a nervy start from Jenkins - who took ten darts to hit his opening double in the first leg - to move ahead before the world number six found his range.

He took three legs on the spin to take the first set 3-1 with a 111 finish, and then led 2-0 in the next before taking it in a decider.

A 12-dart leg from Taylor kick-started his challenge, and he reeled off nine successive legs to move 3-2 up in the match.

He included three maximums and two 13-dart legs to leave Jenkins shell-shocked.

A 102 finish from Jenkins stopped the rot, but Taylor won the sixth set with a brilliant ten-dart leg - the best of the week which included seven perfect darts from the defending champion.

Jenkins regained his touch at the starting double in the seventh set, opening with a 14-darter before pulling back to 4-3.

He twice came from behind in the next before taking the deciding leg with a pressure double top to square the match.

Taylor opened the next set with a killer blow, landing a 148 finish to stun Jenkins before taking the set without reply.

He resisted a Jenkins fightback in the next to move 6-4 up and to within one set of victory.

And three fine legs in the 11th set secured a £25,000 cheque and the title for an amazing seventh time.

"I'm absolutely delighted, and also shattered," said Taylor. "It has been a tough week and a really good final.

"I'm so happy to have retained the title. It's such a hard tournament with the double-start, which makes things interesting."

Jenkins said: "I enjoyed it really. I was relaxed coming into it and the pressure game for me was the semi-final because there was a Premier League place riding on it.

"I'm pleased to get to the final and it's a privilege to play Phil at any time, not just in a final.

"When I got it back to four each, I had my chances. I took a lot of legs off him, which is an achievement against Phil so I'm quite happy.

"I felt I had him on the ropes at one time. I was scoring well but missing a few doubles away and I didn't keep the pressure on him enough really."

Jenkins' win has taken him up to a career-best sixth in the world and also earned him a spot in the 2006 Holsten Premier League Darts.

"The Premier League will be a great learning curve for him," added Taylor. "It's like this every week and you have to get up for it.

"For me, the Premier League is like being in a final every week. There are no easy games, the atmosphere is great and it's brilliant."

Click here for audio reaction from both players

Tournament Highlights are available in DartsTV

Match Stats