PHIL TAYLOR won the Bobby Bourn Memorial Players Championship for a sixth successive year with a whitewash of Ronnie Baxter in the final at the Winter Gardens.
Taylor warmed up in style for the Stan James World Matchplay with a stunning display of darts in Blackpool.
He landed failed to drop a leg in his first three games and hit eight 180s in a quarter-final win over Colin Lloyd before defeating World Champion John Part in the semi-finals.
Taylor then swept past Baxter to claim the £5,000 winner's cheque, taking four successive legs to win the opening two sets - twice hitting two 180s in a leg and landing two 11-darters.
He also led in the third set, before Baxter took out double nine to get off the mark.
But Taylor wrapped up the win in style with a 126 finish, checking out on the bullseye to remain unbeaten in the history of the tournament.
The win is Taylor's tenth in 14 PDC Pro Tour events this year, and saw him repeat his victory over Baxter in the final of last month's Las Vegas Players Championship.
Baxter's run to the final included a win over world number two Raymond van Barneveld and world number three James Wade, as well as Mark Dudbridge.
Dennis Priestley's superb run of form since returning from prostate cancer surgery continued with a run to the quarter-finals, while Nick Fulwell reached the last eight for the first time, including wins over Dutch duo Roland Scholten and Vincent van der Voort.
Tickets are still available for the Stan James World Matchplay, visit the Winter Gardens Box Office for more details or call 0844 856 1111.
News Updates
Preliminary Round
Joe Cullen's debut on the PDC Pro Tour begins with a 3-0 win over Chris Hook.
Jacko Barry whitewashes Kevin Hill, while Michael Smith and Stuart Dutton are other straight sets winners.
Jamie Caven misses double 12 for a nine-darter during his win over Tony Littleton.
Steve Brown's 3-2 win over Ian Jopling sets up clash with Dutton.
Steve Maish wins in straight sets against Stuart Stubbs sets up game with Wayne Jones.
Wins for Dennis Smith, over Dave Ladley, and Alan Warriner-Little, against Ian Lever, set up second round meeting between the two PDC stalwarts.
Gary Welding overcomes Co Stompe 3-1.
First Round
Alan Caves' withdrawal through illness means Robert Thornton wins bye to last 64.
Dennis Priestley overcomes Tom Martin in straight sets, while World Champion John Part opens with a 3-0 win over Jamie Harvey.
Terry Jenkins wins 3-0 against Mark Carter, and Kevin Painter is 3-0 winner over Steve Cusick.
Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld kick off with 3-0 wins over Derek Box and Ken Dobson respectively.
Roland Scholten takes straight sets win over Kevin McDine, while Ronnie Baxter and Peter Manley also fail to drop a set in wins over Lee Holden and Paul Williams.
Colin Lloyd sees off Jonathan Overton in straight sets, with Alan Tabern also opening with a 3-0 win.
James Wade needs five sets before seeing off Michal Barnard, with Adrian Lewis also pushed all the way in a 3-2 win over Danny King.
Jelle Klaasen's win over Ian Waters sets up second round clash with Raymond van Barneveld.
Wes Newton edges out Joe Cullen 3-2, while Barrie Bates, Joey Palfreyman and Steve Beaton also move into last 64.
Alex Roy includes a ten-darter in a 3-1 win over Simon Craven, who was making his return from a shoulder injury.
John Quantock edges out Chris Thompson in an all-York battle, taking out 170 during the game before winning a deciding leg.
Stuart Dutton defeats Bristol's Steve Brown 3-1, while Denis Ovens defeats Alan Priestley 3-0.
Mark Jones' win over Yorkshire's James Barton earns him a clash with a fellow Jones - Wayne Jones.
Dennis Smith defeats Alan Warriner-Little 3-0 - meaning he too plays against a player with the same surname in round two, Dave Smith!
Mark Dudbridge defeats Stan James World Matchplay qualifier Mark Frost 3-1, and will meet Michael van Gerwen in round two.
Second Round
John Part wins 3-1 against Matt Clark to move into last 32.
Phil Taylor whitewahes Chris Sargeant 3-0 to remain on course for another title by moving to round three.
Kevin Painter reaches last 32 with 3-0 win over Mark Lawrence.
Colin Lloyd edges out Tony Eccles 3-2, hitting two 180s in the deciding leg of their game.
Raymond van Barneveld whitewahes Jelle Klaasen 3-0.
Mick McGowan's win over Steve Hine earns him board final with John Part.
James Wade overcomes Robert Thornton 3-1, with Ronnie Baxter reaching last 32 by same scoreline against Kevin Dowling.
Peter Manley defeats Mark Layton in straight sets, with Wayne Mardle also a 3-0 winner against Jim Withers.
Dennis Priestley moves into round three with 3-0 wi over Aaron Turner.
Colin Monk's final-leg win over Steve Beaton sets up third round game with Phil Taylor.
Colin Osborne is knocked out in five sets by Stephen Hardy.
Mark Dudbridge ends the hopes of another World Matchplay qualifier, Michael van Gerwen, in a deciding leg, with Dudbridge taking out 161 during the game and the Dutch youngster finishing 170.
Andy Smith takes fifth set 2-0 in a narrow win over Jacko Barry.
Chris Mason wins 3-1 against Gary Welding and meets Alan Tabern for a place in last 16.
Nick Fulwell's 3-0 win over Robbie Parker sets up last 32 games against Roland Scholten.
Mark Walsh and Andy Hamilton to meet in round three after wins over Steve Grubb and Steve Cupitt.
Third Round
Phil Taylor wins 3-0 against Colin Monk, while Colin Lloyd progresses to last 16 with win over Barrie Bates in straight sets.
John Part overcomes Irishman Mick McGowan 3-1, with Vincent van der Voort defeating Peter Manley by the same scoreline.
Adrian Lewis overcomes Andy Smith 3-0 and will face Lloyd in the last 16.
Terry Jenkins ends the hopes of local star Wes Newton 3-1.
Raymond van Barneveld and Kevin Painter clash for a place in the quarter-finals after 3-0 wins over Wayne Jones and Mervyn King respectively.
James Wade needs five sets before defeating Alex Roy, with Ronnie Baxter winning through to last 16 with 3-1 defeat of Mark Dudbridge.
Nick Fulwell defeats Roland Scholten 3-1 to reach last 16, where he meets Vincent van der Voort.
Alan Tabern edges out Chris Mason to move into fourth round.
Wayne Mardle takes out 156 to seal a 3-1 win over Dave Smith.
Mark Walsh to meet Mardle after his 3-2 win against Andy Hamilton.
Fourth Round
Ronnie Baxter knocks out world number three James Wade 3-2 to reach quarter-finals.
Colin Lloyd moves into last eight with 3-1 win over Stoke's Adrian Lewis.
Raymond van Barneveld takes final two sets without reply to see off Kevin Painter 3-1.
Nick Fulwell's best-ever PDC Pro Tour run continues with 3-1 win over Vincent van der Voort.
Denis Ovens becomes the first player to take a leg off Phil Taylor in the event - but is the latest 3-0 casualty as Taylor marches into the quarter-finals.
Dennis Priestley - who won a Players Championship in Bristol last month - defeats Terry Jenkins 3-1 to reach quarter-finals.
John Part sets up quarter-final against Priestley with 3-2 win over in-form Alan Tabern.
Wayne Mardle defeats Mark Walsh in a deciding set to earn a quarter-final with Raymond van Barneveld.
Quarter-Finals
Ronnie Baxter comes from 2-1 down to win in a deciding set against Nick Fulwell.
Phil Taylor takes a 3-1 win over Colin Lloyd in a game which included 11 180s, including eight from Taylor.
John Part recovered from losing the first set against Dennis Priestley to take a 3-1 lead and reach the semi-finals of a PDC Pro Tour event for the first time since winning a Players Championship in Gibraltar in January.
Raymond van Barneveld also came from a set down before winning 3-1 against Wayne Mardle.
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor's charge towards yet another Bobby Bourn Memorial title, and an eighth Players Championship win of the year, continues with a 3-1 win over John Part.
Ronnie Baxter defeats Raymond van Barneveld in a deciding leg in their five-set contest, having taking the first two sets without reply before four straight legs from the Dutchman saw him pull back level, only to lose at the death.
Bobby Bourn Memorial Players Championship
Preliminary Round
Michael Smith 3-0 Paul Anthony
Mark Jodrill 3-1 Andy Pearson
Colin Monk 3-0 Chris Daglish
Pete Allen 3-1 Brian Cathcart
David Davies 3-0 Chris Beeston
Jacko Barry 3-0 Kevin Hill
Andrew Davies 3-1 Matt Gallett
Stuart Dutton 3-0 Graeme Stoddart
Steve Brown 3-2 Ian Jopling
Joe Cullen 3-0 Chris Hook
Robert Watson-Lang 3-0 Francis Mellor
Jim Leighton Bye (Jimmy O'Regan)
Lionel Sams Bye (Geoff Daniels)
Darren Whittingham 3-2 Andy Howarth
Chris Oprey 3-0 Ben Simpson
Steve Hine 3-0 David Nelson
Arron Monk 3-0 Matt Sheehan
Carl Minter 3-0 Darren Latham
Gary Welding 3-1 Co Stompe
Steve Maish 3-0 Stuart Stubbs
Mark Jones 3-2 Ian Branks
James Barton 3-0 Peter Walford
Dickie Foster 3-2 Wayne Atwood
Tony Ayres 3-0 Nigel Birch
Ricky Williams 3-1 Mark Tiller
Steve Grubb 3-0 Shayne Burgess
Dennis Smith 3-1 Dave Ladley
Alan Warriner-Little 3-1 Ian Lever
Robbie Parker 3-2 Peter Wright
Lee White 3-2 Darren Green
Jamie Caven 3-1 Tony Littleton
Richie Burnett 3-0 Ben Burton
Stuart Holden 3-2 Brian Whybrow
Owen Caffrey 3-2 Norman Fletcher
Dave Honey 3-0 Darrell Townsend
Michael van Gerwen 3-2 Kevin Harris
First Round
Phil Taylor 3-0 Derek Box
Chris Sargeant Bye (Robbie Newland timed out)
Steve Beaton 3-0 Michael Smith
Colin Monk 3-0 Mark Jodrill
Colin Osborne 3-0 Dave Wilson
Stephen Hardy 3-1 Shane Passey
Denis Ovens 3-0 Alan Priestley
Pete Allen 3-1 David Davies
Adrian Lewis 3-2 Danny King
Joey Palfreyman 3-0 Darren Johnson
Andy Smith 3-0 Paul Dillon
Jacko Barry 3-0 Andrew Davies
Colin Lloyd 3-0 Jonathan Overton
Tony Eccles 3-0 Glyn Humphries
Barrie Bates 3-1 Martyn Turner
Stuart Dutton 3-1 Steve Brown
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Mark Carter
Steve Evans 3-2 Lee WIlliams
Wes Newton 3-2 Joe Cullen
Robert Watson-Lang 3-1 Jim Leighton
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Tom Martin
Aaron Turner 3-1 Colin McGarry
Geoff Wylie 3-2 Andy Jenkins
Lionel Sams 3-2 Darren Whittingham
John Part 3-0 Jamie Harvey
Matt Clark 3-0 Peter Aleman
Mick McGowan 3-0 John Jenkinson
Steve Hine 3-1 Chris Oprey
Alan Tabern 3-0 Nigel Peden
Paul Cooper 3-1 Martin Burchell
Chris Mason 3-0 Arron Monk
Gary Welding 3-1 Carl Minter
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Ken Dobson
Jelle Klaasen 3-1 Ian Waters
Wayne Jones 3-1 Steve Maish
Mark Jones 3-0 James Barton
Kevin Painter 3-0 Steve Cusick
Mark Lawrence 3-0 Russell Mason
Mervyn King 3-0 Jimmy Dunlop
Dickie Foster 3-1 Tony Ayres
Andy Hamilton 3-2 Brendan Dolan
Steve Cupitt 3-1 Andrew Gourlay
Mark Walsh 3-2 Dale Pinch
Steve Grubb 3-2 Ricky Williams
Wayne Mardle 3-0 Justin Pipe
Jim Withers 3-0 Kevin Reade
Dave Smith 3-0 Kirk Shepherd
Dennis Smith 3-0 Alan Warriner-Little
Roland Scholten 3-0 Kevin McDine
John Quantock 3-2 Chris Thompson
Nick Fulwell 3-2 Adrian Gray
Robbie Parker 3-0 Lee White
Peter Manley 3-0 Lee Holden
Mark Layton 3-0 Alan Weist
Vincent van der Voort 3-1 Geoff Whitworth
Jamie Caven 3-2 Richie Burnett
James Wade 3-2 Michael Barnard
Robert Thornton Bye (Alan Caves)
Alex Roy 3-1 Simon Craven
Owen Caffrey 3-2 Stuart Holden
Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Paul Williams
Kevin Dowling 3-1 Sean White
Mark Dudbridge 3-1 Mark Frost
Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Dave Honey
Second Round
Phil Taylor 3-0 Chris Sargeant
Colin Monk 3-2 Steve Beaton
Stephen Hardy 3-2 Colin Osborne
Denis Ovens 3-1 Pete Allen
Adrian Lewis 3-2 Joey Palfreyman
Andy Smith 3-2 Jacko Barry
Colin Lloyd 3-2 Tony Eccles
Barrie Bates 3-0 Stuart Dutton
Terry Jenkins 3-2 Steve Evans
Wes Newton 3-1 Robert Watson-Lang
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Aaron Turner
Lionel Sams 3-0 Geoff Wylie
John Part 3-1 Matt Clark
Mick McGowan 3-0 Steve Hine
Alan Tabern 3-0 Paul Cooper
Chris Mason 3-1 Gary Welding
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Jelle Klaasen
Wayne Jones 3-1 Mark Jones
Kevin Painter 3-0 Mark Lawrence
Mervyn King 3-2 Dickie Foster
Andy Hamilton 3-1 Steve Cupitt
Mark Walsh 3-2 Steve Grubb
Wayne Mardle 3-0 Jim Withers
Dave Smith 3-2 Dennis Smith
Roland Scholten 3-2 John Quantock
Nick Fulwell 3-0 Robbie Parker
Peter Manley 3-0 Mark Layton
Vincent van der Voort 3-1 Jamie Caven
James Wade 3-1 Robert Thornton
Alex Roy 3-2 Owen Caffrey
Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Kevin Dowling
Mark Dudbridge 3-2 Michael van Gerwen
Losers £75
Third Round
Phil Taylor 3-0 Colin Monk
Denis Ovens 3-0 Stephen Hardy
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Andy Smith
Colin Lloyd 3-0 Barrie Bates
Terry Jenkins 3-1 Wes Newton
Dennis Priestley 3-2 Lionel Sams
John Part 3-1 Mick McGowan
Alan Tabern 3-2 Chris Mason
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Wayne Jones
Kevin Painter 3-0 Mervyn King
Mark Walsh 3-2 Andy Hamilton
Wayne Mardle 3-1 Dave Smith
Nick Fulwell 3-1 Roland Scholten
Vincent van der Voort 3-1 Peter Manley
James Wade 3-2 Alex Roy
Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Mark Dudbridge
Losers £150
Fourth Round
Phil Taylor 3-0 Denis Ovens
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Adrian Lewis
Dennis Priestley 3-1 Terry Jenkins
John Part 3-2 Alan Tabern
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Kevin Painter
Wayne Mardle 3-2 Mark Walsh
Nick Fulwell 3-1 Vincent van der Voort
Ronnie Baxter 3-2 James Wade
Losers £300
Quarter-Finals
Phil Taylor 3-1 Colin Lloyd
John Part 3-1 Dennis Priestley
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Wayne Mardle
Ronnie Baxter 3-2 Nick Fulwell
Losers £600
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 3-1 John Part
Ronnie Baxter 3-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Losers £1,250
Final
Phil Taylor 3-0 Ronnie Baxter (2-0, 2-0, 2-1)
Winner £5,000
Runner-Up £2,500