PHIL TAYLOR'S victory in the Skybet World Grand Prix saw him create a further piece of darting history.
The 14-time World Champion claimed a ninth victory in the double-start tournament with a 6-3 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld in Sunday's final.
That victory maintained his record of holding all of the PDC's major ranking titles at present, having won each event since the 2008 UK Open in Bolton.
Taylor previously achieved the feat in 2002, when he won the World Championship, World Matchplay, World Grand Prize and Las Vegas Desert Classic - before the introduction of the UK Open, Players Championship Finals and European Championship.
The £100,000 first prize in Dublin took him beyond £500,000 prize money in 2009 alone, and also means he has earned over £1 million prize money in the last 18 months - since turning around his form a Premier League defeat to Peter Manley in February 2008.
"It's a great achievement and one I'm very proud of to hold all the major ranking titles at once," said Taylor.
"I did it in 2002 when there were just four majors, but now there are a few more and that makes it even harder.
"Someone said I've won £1 million since Peter beat me in Coventry, so I think I'll call this 'Manley's Million'!
"There's still lots of prize money to be won this year so I won't be slacking off, but the titles mean just as much to me.
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"I did it in 2002 when there were just four majors, but now there are a few more and that makes it even harder," Phil Taylor |
"I love it. I love the competitiveness and the players that are in the game now."
Taylor now sits almost £600,000 clear of Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade at the top of the PDC Order of Merit.
However, he will compete this weekend in the John McEvoy Gold Dart Classic in Killarney in a bid to remain in top form ahead of next month's PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts and the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
"Playing tournaments keeps you sharp," said Taylor.
"I miss a couple and I can tell the difference, and the players behind us are hungry, players like Colin Osborne, Andy Hamilton and Wayne Mardle, even Dennis Priestley.
"They're so difficult to beat now and if you let your guard down they sense a weakness and take advantage of you.
"I'm forcing the players to be more professional at the moment and they are like a pack of wolves, they're very good players and they deserve it because they are all dedicated."
Phil Taylor's 2009 Titles:
Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Coral.co.uk Players Championship
Blue Square UK Open
PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic
Stanjames.com World Matchplay
Skybet World Grand Prix
Plus: Eight Players Championships, three UK Open Regional Finals and the Virgin Atlantic South African Masters
Tickets for the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts and Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship are still available - click here for full details of tickets for all PDC tournaments.