PHIL TAYLOR'S run of superb form continued with victory in the Blue Square UK Open North-West Regional Final in Wigan.
Taylor has been back to his best over the past three weeks, and backed up his displays in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with a third final in four PDC Pro Tour events.
He went one better than in the previous Regional Final, when he lost the decider to Colin Lloyd, by seeing off Stoke rival Adrian Lewis 8-7 to claim the £6,000 winner's cheque.
He trailed 2-0 early in the final before edging in front by taking the next three.
Lewis levelled at three-all before Taylor put together legs of 11 and 12 darts - hitting seven perfect darts in one leg - and then landing double four for a 6-3 cushion.
Lewis won two of the next three before stepping in with a 110 finish after Taylor missed double 16 for the match.
Lewis then sent the contest into a decider, hitting double six with his last dart after Taylor failed to leave a double.
But Taylor showed the class of a champion in the final leg, hitting two 180s and landing double six to claim victory.
"I really enjoyed that," he said. "It was a great final and I'm very pleased because Adrian came back well at me.
"I'm practising hard and that's helping my performances. I'm looking forward to the next event now."
Taylor averaged 110.75 in whitewashing Colin Osborne 7-0 in the semi-finals, after easing past Kevin McDine 6-3 in the quarters.
He overcame Peter Wright, Alan Green and Mark Walsh in the early rounds before coming from behind to edge out Chris Mason 5-4 in the last 16.
Lewis came from 2-0 down to win his semi-final 7-2 against Chris Thompson, having previously overcome Colin Lloyd and Simon Whatley in a deciding leg.
Lloyd missed out in the quarter-finals in his bid for a third successive Regional Final win, while Thompson followed up his semi-final appearance from the Irish Regional Final last October to reach the last four again.
The Yorkshireman knocked out world number three James Wade early on, and had two whitewashes before seeing off Alan Tabern - the winner of Saturday's Players Championship - 5-4 in the last 16.
He defeated Stoke's Mark Frost 6-3 in the quarters before losing to another player from the darting hotbed, Lewis, in the semis.
Mark Dudbridge enjoyed a return to form by reaching the last 16, where he lost narrowly to Frost, and he was joined in that round by Spain's Carlos Rodriguez, who has earned a place in the Blue Square UK Open Finals in June with his run.
Dennis Priestley withdrew from the event, having reached the last 16 of Saturday's Players Championship on his return from two months recuperating from a prostate cancer operation. The two-time World Champion reported no ill-effects but was drained from Saturday's efforts.
Quarter-Final Round-Up
Colin Osborne reeled off five successive legs to defeat Alex Roy 6-3 in the first quarter-final.
Roy secured two early breaks of throw in establishing a 3-1 lead, including a 126 checkout on the bullseye, before Osborne took advantage of a missed double top to level at 3-3.
The Derby man took the seventh leg on double eight to lead for the first time in the game, and three missed doubles at double 14 and double seven in the next allowed Osborne in to extend his lead further on double top, before he landed double ten in the next for victory.
Osborne will take on Phil Taylor in the semis, after the 13-time World Champion overcame Kevin McDine 6-3.
After taking the first leg against the throw, McDine was punished for a missed double top as Taylor levelled and then pulled two legs clear in double-quick time, hitting an 11-darter in leg three and a 164 finish to take the fourth.
McDine punished four missed doubles from Taylor in the next, but Taylor won the next two to move 5-2 up.
A 92 finish saw McDine reduce the arrears, but Taylor sealed the win in style in the next, landing 177, 140 and 140 to reach the finish first and taking out double eight for a 13-darter.
Chris Thompson reached his second Blue Square UK Open Regional Final semi with a 6-3 win over Mark Frost.
Thompson made the last four in Ireland last October, and the York thrower held off Frost's challenge to progress in Wigan.
He opened up a 4-0 lead with some fine darts, breaking the throw immediately and also in leg three before Frost punished a missed double 18 to get off the mark.
Frost, a 12/1 chance at 4-0 down, made the odds compilers sweat by also taking the next two - following a string of misses from Thompson - to pull back to 4-3.
But the Yorkshireman regained his range on double eight, and landed the same bed to book his semi-final berth.
Adrian Lewis won the final last eight contest, edging out Colin Lloyd 6-5 in a thriller.
Lloyd was bidding for a third successive Regional Final win, and matched Lewis blow-for-blow throughout, with all 11 legs eventually going with the throw,
Three of the first seven legs saw both players hit 180s, while a fourth maximum from Lloyd set up a double 18 finish in the eighth as he levelled at four-all.
Lewis took the ninth on double 14 before Lloyd landed another maximum in taking the tenth to send the match into a decider.
A sixth 180 from Lloyd in the decider gave him an early edge only for scores of 125 and 123 to put Lewis on a finish. Lloyd missed the bullseye for a 110 finish, and Lewis stepped in to take out 109 on double 16 for the win.
Semi-Final Round-Up
Phil Taylor romped into the final with a 7-0 whitewash of Colin Osborne, the Stoke legend producing a sensational display to average 110.75 in the game.
He kicked off with back-to-back 13-darters, ending on double 16, before landing in the same bed for a 14-darter and a 3-0 lead without Osborne reaching a double.
Osborne landed two 180s in the next leg, only for one from Taylor in between to set up an 81 finish, which he took out on the bullseye for a 12-darter.
Five missed doubles from Osborne in the next allowed Taylor in to take a 5-0 lead on double eight, and a 14-darter took him to the brink of victory.
Another maximum from Taylor in the next pushed him clear, and he returned to the oche after a missed double 16 from Osborne to seal the win, once more on double 16.
Adrian Lewis came from 2-0 down to book his place in the final with a fine 7-2 defeat of Chris Thompson.
The Yorkshireman made a brilliant start, landing a maximum in breaking Lewis' throw in the opening leg and then hitting double five to double his lead.
Lewis kicked into gear with a maximum in taking the next, and a 171 set up a 135 finish in the next - which he took out on the bullseye, with Thompson waiting on 133, to level.
A 13-darter saw him hit the front at 3-2 and he took the next three to lead 6-2.
Thompson opened the next with a maximum, but a missed double top for a 120 finish allowed Lewis in, and he completed the win on the same bed to progress.
Blue Square UK Open North-West Regional Final
Preliminary Round
Chris Beeston 5-2 Graeme Stoddart
Louis Blundell 5-3 Steve Cusick
Kevin Harris 5-3 Andy Relf
First Round
Paul Cooper 5-4 Matt Chapman
Andy Gourlay 5-2 Brian Whybrow
Lee Holden 5-4 Ian Eames
Gary Barnett 5-3 Sean Dowling
Andy Howarth 5-4 Chris Allen
Mark Stephenson 5-4 Scott Kirchner
Ricky Williams 5-3 Aaron Monk
Chris Beeston 5-4 Bob Crawley
Garry Clamp 5-3 Darren Green
Matt Jackson 5-4 Jimmy Dunlop
Jamie Harvey 5-2 Richard Plowman
Shayne Burgess 5-1 Jonathan Overton
Chris Cooper 5-2 Dan Cook
Stephen Hardy 5-4 Mark Jodrill
Ian Lever 5-4 Jim Young
Robbie Parker 5-1 Sean Whyte
James Barton 5-1 Dean Stewart
Scott Marsh 5-3 Robbie Newland
Robert Watson-Lang 5-3 Danny King
Kelvin Painter 5-1 Karl Loiseau
Peter Edmonds 5-4 Mark Tiller
Peter Wright 5-3 Ian Walters
Pat Orreal 5-1 Brian Jones
Frazer Hill 5-4 Daniel Sare
Richard Foster 5-1 Ian Critchett
Brendan Dolan 5-1 Darrell Townsend
Darren Sutton 5-2 Ben Simpson
Carlos Rodriguez 5-0 Lee White
Stuart Holden 5-3 John Quantock
Taro Yachi 5-3 Darren Latham
Alan Reynolds 5-1 Gary Blades
Louis Blundell 5-1 Darren Moulsley
Russell Mason 5-0 Mark Carter
Chris Thompson 5-0 Dave Ansell
Ken Dobson 5-0 Nigel Birch
Nick Fulwell 5-3 Rick Andrews
Darrell Thorpe 5-4 Ian Jopling
Mick Savvery 5-3 Danny Pinhorne
Gary Noonan 5-0 Richard McLaughlin
Tom Wilson Bye (Jimmy O'Regan)
Martyn Turner 5-1 Paul Williams
Chris Oprey 5-2 Geoff Daniels
Dave Honey 5-1 Steve Cupitt
Sean Cain 5-1 Steve Grubb
Paul Knighton 5-1 Matt Sheehan
Ben Burton 5-1 Paul Anthony
Mark Frost 5-2 Michael Barnard
Tony Ayres 5-2 Andy Pearson
Simon Whatley 5-1 Lee Williams
Dave Smith 5-0 Jim Leighton
Tony Littleton 5-2 Jon Archer
Jamie Robinson 5-1 David Platt
Garry Spedding 5-3 Peter Aleman
Dale Pinch 5-1 Andy Mason
Michael Smith 5-1 Lee Palfreyman
Pete Allen 5-2 Chris Daglish
Darren Whittingham 5-3 Norman Fletcher
Tom Martin 5-4 Steve Lane
Alan Priestley 5-3 Kieran Leal
Jason Crawley 5-3 Kevin Reade
Steve Musson 5-4 Joey Palfreyman
Eddie Lovely 5-1 James Keogh
Peter Walford 5-0 Lyndon Davies
Kevin Harris 5-2 Chris Sargeant
Second Round
Steve Brown 5-2 Paul Cooper
Andy Gourlay 5-3 Jimmy Mann
Alex Roy 5-2 Lee Holden
Alan Caves 5-2 Gary Barnett
Matt Clark 5-3 Andy Howarth
Kevin Dowling 5-2 Mark Stephenson
Wayne Atwood 5-1 Ricky Williams
Terry Jenkins 5-2 Chris Beeston
Dave Askew 5-3 Garry Clamp
Darren Johnson 5-3 Matt Jackson
Jamie Harvey 5-2 Barrie Bates
Shayne Burgess 5-2 Kevin Painter
Chris Cooper 5-3 Dave Ladley
Colin Osborne 5-1 Stephen Hardy
Steve Maish 5-1 Ian Lever
Steve Evans 5-4 Robbie Parker
Roland Scholten 5-4 James Barton
Michael van Gerwen 5-1 Scott Marsh
Tony Eccles 5-1 Robert Watson-Lang
Chris Mason 5-1 Kelvin Painter
Alan Green 5-0 Peter Edmonds
Phil Taylor 5-1 Peter Wright
Mark Walsh 5-4 Pat Orreal
Andy Smith 5-1 Frazer Hill
Jamie Caven 5-2 Richard Foster
Wayne Mardle 5-2 Brendan Dolan
Darren Sutton Bye (Dennis Priestley - withdrawn)
Carlos Rodriguez 5-3 Lionel Sams
Stuart Holden 5-1 John Part
Taro Yachi 5-4 Wayne Jones
Alan Reynolds 5-2 Alan Warriner-Little
Kevin McDine 5-3 Louis Blundell
James Wade 5-1 Russell Mason
Chris Thompson Bye (Richie Burnett - did not attend)
Ken Dobson 5-3 Colin Monk
Steve Beaton 5-0 Nick Fulwell
Darrell Thorpe 5-4 Mick McGowan
Mick Savvery 5-2 Gary Mawson
Alan Tabern 5-2 Gary Noonan
Owen Caffrey 5-4 Tom Wilson
Jelle Klaasen 5-2 Martyn Turner
Andy Hamilton 5-3 Chris Oprey
Mark Dudbridge 5-3 Dave Honey
Steve Hine 5-2 Sean Cain
Paul Knighton 5-4 Steve Smith
Jason Barry 5-1 Ben Burton
Mark Frost 5-4 Wes Newton
Tony Ayres 5-1 Dave Jowett
Simon Whatley 5-2 Martin Burchell
Peter Manley 5-4 Dave Smith
Adrian Lewis 5-0 Tony Littleton
Jamie Robinson 5-2 Gary Welding
Vincent van der Voort 5-4 Garry Spedding
Mervyn King 5-0 Dale Pinch
Kirk Shepherd 5-0 Michael Smith
John Kuczynski 5-1 Pete Allen
Dennis Smith 5-0 Darren Whittingham
Adrian Gray 5-0 Tom Martin
Denis Ovens 5-4 Alan Priestley
John MaGowan 5-3 Jason Crawley
John Ferrell 5-2 Steve Musson
Colin Lloyd 5-1 Eddie Lovely
Ronnie Baxter 5-1 Peter Walford
Kevin Harris 5-2 Rico Vonck
Third Round
Steve Brown 5-2 Andy Gourlay
Alex Roy 5-3 Alan Caves
Matt Clark 5-3 Kevin Dowling
Terry Jenkins 5-3 Wayne Atwood
Dave Askew 5-3 Darren Johnson
Jamie Harvey 5-4 Shayne Burgess
Colin Osborne 5-1 Chris Cooper
Steve Evans 5-2 Steve Maish
Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Roland Scholten
Chris Mason 5-3 Tony Eccles
Phil Taylor 5-1 Alan Green
Mark Walsh 5-2 Andy Smith
Jamie Caven 5-3 Wayne Mardle
Carlos Rodriguez 5-0 Darren Sutton
Taro Yachi 5-1 Stuart Holden
Kevin McDine 5-2 Alan Reynolds
Chris Thompson 5-4 James Wade
Ken Dobson 5-4 Steve Beaton
Mick Savvery 5-3 Darrell Thorpe
Alan Tabern 5-3 Owen Caffrey
Jelle Klaasen 5-3 Andy Hamilton
Mark Dudbridge 5-3 Steve Hine
Paul Knighton 5-2 Jason Barry
Mark Frost 5-3 Tony Ayres
Simon Whatley 5-2 Peter Manley
Adrian Lewis 5-3 Jamie Robinson
Mervyn King 5-3 Vincent van der Voort
Kirk Shepherd 5-3 John Kuczynski
Adrian Gray 5-3 Dennis Smith
John MaGowan 5-4 Denis Ovens
Colin Lloyd 5-2 John Ferrell
Ronnie Baxter 5-4 Kevin Harris
Losers £100
Fourth Round
Alex Roy 5-2 Steve Brown
Terry Jenkins 5-2 Matt Clark
Dave Askew 5-3 Jamie Harvey
Colin Osborne 5-4 Steve Evans
Chris Mason 5-4 Michael van Gerwen
Phil Taylor 5-0 Mark Walsh
Carlos Rodriguez 5-4 Jamie Caven
Kevin McDine 5-1 Taro Yachi
Chris Thompson 5-0 Ken Dobson
Alan Tabern 5-0 Mick Savvery
Mark Dudbridge 5-4 Jelle Klaasen
Mark Frost 5-1 Paul Knighton
Adrian Lewis 5-4 Simon Whatley
Kirk Shepherd 5-4 Mervyn King
John MaGowan 5-3 Adrian Gray
Colin Lloyd 5-2 Ronnie Baxter
Losers £200
Fifth Round
Alex Roy 5-2 Terry Jenkins
Colin Osborne 5-3 Dave Askew
Phil Taylor 5-4 Chris Mason
Kevin McDine 5-3 Carlos Rodriguez
Chris Thompson 5-4 Alan Tabern
Mark Frost 5-4 Mark Dudbridge
Adrian Lewis 5-3 Kirk Shepherd
Colin Lloyd 5-1 John MaGowan
Losers £400
Quarter-Finals
Colin Osborne 6-3 Alex Roy
Phil Taylor 6-3 Kevin McDine
Chris Thompson 6-3 Mark Frost
Adrian Lewis 6-5 Colin Lloyd
Losers £800
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 7-0 Colin Osborne
Adrian Lewis 7-2 Chris Thompson
Losers £1,600
Final
Phil Taylor 8-7 Adrian Lewis
Winner £6,000
Runner-Up £3,000