SIMON WHITLOCK warmed up for Sunday's John McEvoy Gold Dart Classic Players Championship with a 6-4 victory over Phil Taylor in the final of the Gleneagle Irish Masters.
Whitlock took the €5,000 first prize at the INEC in Killarney by inflicting Taylor's second defeat in a final inside three days, following the world number one's loss to James Wade in the Championship League Darts decider on Thursday.
Whitlock defeated Gary Anderson in the semi-finals, while Taylor overcame Ronnie Baxter to book his place in the final.
Taylor had won last year's tournament, while Michael van Gerwen - the 2008 Irish Masters winner - was defeated by William O'Connor in a deciding leg in the last 32.
O'Connor went on to reach the quarter-finals, alongside Adrian Gray, Colin Osborne and Andy Hamilton.
Sunday sees play continue in the Killarney Darts Festival, with the PDC-ranked John McEvoy Gold Dart Classic Players Championship taking place alongside events for Women and Youth players.
2010 Gleneagle Irish Masters
Last 32
Phil Taylor 4-0 Mick McGowan
Mark Webster 4-3 Barrie Bates
Colin Osborne 4-1 Alex Roy
Peter Quinn 4-2 Kirk Shepherd
Adrian Gray 4-1 Colin Lloyd
Kevin McDine 4-2 Jamie Caven
Ronnie Baxter 4-1 Colin Monk
Alan Tabern 4-2 Brendan Dolan
John O'Shea 4-3 Adrian Lewis
William O'Connor 4-3 Michael van Gerwen
Gary Anderson 4-1 Steve Hine
Kevin Painter 4-0 Andy Jenkins
Andy Hamilton 4-3 Mark Hylton
Peter Wright 4-3 Wes Newton
Simon Whitlock 4-3 John MaGowan
Steve Beaton 4-3 Tony Eccles
Losers €150
Last 16
Phil Taylor 4-1 Mark Webster
Colin Osborne 4-0 Peter Quinn
Adrian Gray 4-2 Kevin McDine
Ronnie Baxter 4-2 Alan Tabern
William O'Connor 4-3 John O'Shea
Gary Anderson 4-2 Kevin Painter
Andy Hamilton 4-2 Peter Wright
Simon Whitlock 4-3 Steve Beaton
Losers €300
Quarter-Finals
Phil Taylor 5-0 Colin Osborne
Ronnie Baxter 5-3 Adrian Gray
Gary Anderson 5-2 William O'Connor
Simon Whitlock 5-1 Andy Hamilton
Losers €600
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 5-2 Ronnie Baxter
Simon Whitlock 5-1 Gary Anderson
Losers €1,250
Final
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Phil Taylor
Winner €5,000
Runner-Up €2,500