Four-Some Taylor's CLD Joy

PHIL TAYLOR booked his place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group with a flawless display to claim Group Four glory in the internet-streamed event on Tuesday.

Taylor, the reigning champion in the event, had failed to win through in the first three groups for the first time since the introduction of Championship League Darts in 2008 - narrowly avoiding elimination in Group Three recently.

However, after the disappointment of that result and his narrow second round exit to Robert Thornton in last week's PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix, when he missed five match darts, the Stoke great was back to his best at Crondon Park GC.

Taylor won all seven of his league games in a superb day of darts, holding off Simon Whitlock's fightback from 5-0 down to win his opening game 6-4 before dropping only five more legs in the group stage.

He whitewashed both Andy Smith and Paul Nicholson, dropped only one leg against Terry Jenkins, Dave Chisnall and Mervyn King and won 6-2 against Mark Walsh in what would prove a dress rehearsal of the day's final.

Taylor enjoyed another great performance in a high-quality semi-final win over Paul Nicholson, who averaged 107.95 in reply to a 110.32 average from the world number one as he swept into the final with a 6-3 triumph.

Taylor then saw off Walsh 6-1 with a fine display in the final, with the Hertfordshire ace taking out 116 to win the game's opening leg only to see Taylor take the next four to assume control, finishing 77 and 120 to break.

Walsh missed three darts at double 19 to win the sixth leg as Taylor posted double 16, and he sealed victory in the next with a superb 11-dart finish - with his average in the final of over 107 matching his mean total across nine games on the day.

"It's been a tough event this year but my form's picking up at the right time," said Taylor. "I'm glad I'm through but I've actually enjoyed playing in this in the four groups.

"I was disappointed to go out in the World Grand Prix. I didn't play too badly but I missed five darts at double 16, which is ridiculous really, but my form's getting there.

"I'm playing in Holland in the European Tour next week and then I'll get ready to come back for the Winners Group at the start of November."

Taylor had been pushed all the way during the league phase by Dave Chisnall, who was the Group Three runner-up on his debut in the event and won six of his league games this time around - losing only to the world number one.

Chisnall, though, suffered semi-final disappointment as he went down 6-4 to Walsh, despite finishing 103 and 82 to lead early on and 100 in levelling at three-all before a late surge pushed the Hertfordshire thrower into the final.

Walsh won four of his league games to progress to the semi-finals, with Nicholson claiming fourth place ahead of Terry Jenkins on leg difference after they both won three matches.

Simon Whitlock, like Jenkins, will progress to Group Five on Wednesday to remain ever-present this year, although the Australian only survived when he defeated Andy Smith 6-4 in the final round of matches to leapfrog the Studley thrower on leg difference.

Mervyn King, who was Sunday's runner-up in the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix, won just one game in Tuesday's Group Four as he suffered elimination alongside Smith.

Reigning Speedy Services UK Open champion Robert Thornton, Colin Lloyd and Wayne Jones are the three players who enter the fray on Wednesday, as they join Whitlock, Jenkins, Walsh, Chisnall and Nicholson in Group Five.

Taylor's success sees him join Wes Newton, Justin Pipe and Ronnie Baxter in the Winners Group on November 1.

Championship League Darts is screened exclusively live worldwide through LIVEPDC.TV and a series of 50 bookmakers' websites worldwide, with prize money paid at £50 per leg won in the league phase and £100 in each day's play-offs.

All LIVEPDC.TV Subscribers will be able to watch live coverage from Championship League Darts, featuring play in the league stage simultaneously on two boards. Highlights are also available in LIVEPDC.TV.

All LIVEPDC.TV Subscribers will be able to watch live coverage from Championship League Darts, featuring play in the league stage simultaneously on two boards.

2012 Championship League Darts
Group Four Results

Final League Table

Match Information
First Set of Matches
Phil Taylor held off Simon Whitlock's fightback from 5-0 down before winning their Group Four opener 6-4. Taylor made a brilliant start, hitting double eight and double 16 to win the opening two legs and hitting seven perfect darts in the third, which he took on double 16. He then posted back-to-back 14-darters to move five legs clear before Whitlock got off the mark with a 12-darter, punished three misses from Taylor to win a second leg and then posted legs of 11 and 12 darts to reduce the gap to 5-4. He also missed tops in the next for a 120 finish to force a decider, and Taylor posted double 13 for the win. 
Andy Smith made a winning start with a 6-1 defeat of Mervyn King. The pair shared the opening two legs, but Smith pulled away by winning the next three to move 4-1 up. King missed three darts to hit back in leg six as Smith finished double 18 in his second visit on a double, before landing double 16 to complete the win.
Mark Walsh came from 4-1 down to defeat Paul Nicholson 6-5 to take victory in their Group Four opener. Nicholson hit finishes of 115 and 121 as he took four of the game's first five legs, before Walsh fired in an 11-darter to win the sixth. He punished a miss from Nicholson to win the seventh and then took out 116 to level. Nicholson took the ninth, before Walsh fired in a 180 to force a decider, which he won on double top after his opponent missed double 18 for the match.
Dave Chisnall hit three ton-plus finishes as he hit back from trailing 4-3 to win 6-4 against Terry Jenkins. Jenkins won the opener in 13 darts before Chisnall levelled with a 136 finish and hit double four leg lead. Three of the next four went to Jenkins as he moved 4-3 up, with Chisnall then hitting 112 and 146 to regain the advantage at 5-4 before he landed a 180 and double four to complete the comeback.

Second Set of Matches
Phil Taylor whitwashed Andy Smith to claim his second win of the morning. Smith hit a 180 in the game's opening leg, but Taylor finished double 16 for a 14-darter before winning the next two with legs of 11 and 12 darts, both times hitting three 140s and an 81 checkout, before landing legs of 13 and 12 darts to lead 5-0 with an average above 121! He was unable to score above 100 in his first four visits of the sixth leg, but Smith missed three darts to win his first leg of the match and Taylor sealed the win by finishing 121 on the bull.
Simon Whitlock powered past Mervyn King 6-1 to pick up his first victory of the day. Whitlock took the game's first four legs to take command - hitting legs of 12 and 13 darts in the process - before King defied a 180 from the Australian to hit double ten and win the fifth. Whitlock, though, hit tops to regain his cushion before sealing the win by taking out 130 on double five for another 12-dart leg.
Dave Chisnall continued his winning start with a 6-3 defeat of Mark Walsh. After Walsh won the opener, Chisnall took the next three to take command at 3-1 before missing three darts to take the fifth as his opponent reduced the gap to one. The next two legs were shared on tops before Chisnall finished 80 for a 5-3 lead and hit two 180s and tops to secure the victory.
Terry Jenkins hit back from 5-3 down to take a 6-5 win against Paul Nicholson, who went down in a deciding leg for the second successive leg. Jenkins held the early advantage at 2-1 before Nicholson levelled on double two, broke in leg five and finished tops to lead 4-2. The next two were shared as Nicholson moved a leg away from the win at 5-3, but Jenkins finished 97 and then hit a 180 to leave double eight as he forced a decider, which he took on double ten.

Third Set of Matches
Andy Smith won his second game of the day, defeating Terry Jenkins 6-4. Smith took the opener, before Jenkins finished double five and then broke in the third on double ten, after Smith hit a 180 but missed his doubles. Double 12 levelled for Smith, and after Jenkins took the fifth he won three in a row to lead 5-3. Tops saw Jenkins hit back, but he missed two darts at tops to force a deciding leg and Smith pinned double 16 for a 101 checkout to take the match.
Phil Taylor's immense start to the day continued with a second successive whitewash, this time against Paul Nicholson. Taylor began ominously with a 13-darter, hit an 11-dart finish to double his lead and won the third in 14 darts. He then landed a third 180 in another 11-dart finish to win leg four, and when Nicholson was unable to take out 18 in the fifth he landed double ten to move a leg away from the win. Taylor then sealed the win in style, scoring 140, 180, 165 and finishing double eight for a ten-darter.
Dave Chisnall remains unbeaten following three games after edging out Mervyn King 6-5. Chisnall made a fine start to lead 3-0 before King, aided by two 180s, hit back strongly to level. The next two were shared before Chisnall landed a 180 in the ninth as he edged towards victory. King took out 98 to level as the pair traded maximums, but it was Chisnall who took the decider with a fine 13-darter to seal a third victory.
Mark Walsh took the final two legs of his clash with Simon Whitlock to edge a 6-5 victory over the Australian. The game's first four legs went with throw before Whitlock missed three darts at double ten to break in the fifth, as Walsh followed a maximum by winning the leg to move 3-2 up. The pair traded 180s as Whitlock levelled in the sixth, before Walsh posted another maximum and 76 to lead 4-3. Whitlock then won the next two to move ahead 5-4, but Walsh finished 86 to force a decider and posted a 180 and a 68 finish to take the points.

Fourth Set of Matches
Phil Taylor picked up his fourth victory of the day and continued his dominant form with a 6-1 win over Terry Jenkins. Taylor finished 104 to win the first leg before missing two darts at tops in the second as Jenkins levelled, despite a 177 from the world number one. Jenkins missed the bull to take out 161 in the third as Taylor hit double four to lead and double nine to move 3-1 up. Double 16 gave Taylor a fourth leg and he hit 177 to leave 28 in the next as double seven moved him 5-1 up, before double eight sealed victory with a 105.68 average.
Paul Nicholson gained his first win of Group Four, defeating Andy Smith 6-2. Smith started well, hitting a 180 and a 64 finish to win the opener in 12 darts and another maximum in leg two as Nicholson levelled. Nicholson added a 174 as he broke in leg three, before double 16, double five and double ten saw him take a 5-1 cushion. Smith finished 96 to keep the game alive, but missed the bull to take out 170 in the next as Nicholson sealed the win on double eight.
Dave Chisnall came from 3-0 down to take a brilliant 6-4 win over Simon Whitlock in a high-quality contest. Whitlock started superbly to win the first three legs, breaking twice in the process, before Chisnall hit legs of 11, 12 and 12 darts to level, hitting four 180s in the three legs and finishes of 56, 85 and 88, on the bull. He also posted a 177 to leave 24 as he moved 4-3 up with a 14-darter, only for Whitlock to level with a 108 finish. Chisnall landed a 180 and finished 78 for an 11-darter to move 5-4 up, and after hitting his sixth maximum he took out double 16 for a 13-darter to seal victory - ending with an average of 111.54 to Whitlock's 104.
Mark Walsh won his third game of the day with a 6-3 win over Mervyn King in a fine game. Walsh won the opener before the pair traded 180s as King levelled, before an 85 finish gave the Hertfordshire man the third. King hit a 177 to set up double 18 in the fourth, and after Walsh hit double five to edge the next he hit a 180 and 168 score in levelling at three-all. King also landed a maximum as Walsh edged the seventh to lead 4-3, before the Hertfordshire ace broke for the first time as he followed a 180 with double three to move 5-3 up, and Walsh sealed victory on tops in the next - ending with a 107.83 average.

Fifth Set of Matches
Mervyn King hit top form to win his first game of the day - leapfrogging Terry Jenkins in the table with a 6-1 defeat of the Ledbury ace as both players hit a 102 average. Jenkins made a fine start with a 180 on his opening visit as he took the first leg in 13 darts - but after King took out 68 to level, the Ledbury man could offer little resistance to checkouts of 95 and 152 as King moved 3-1 up. King also broke in leg five, finished double 18 to lead 5-1 and posted a 177 and a 100 finish to claim victory.
Phil Taylor won his fifth game of the day, defeating Mark Walsh 6-2. The pair shared the first four legs of the game before Taylor found an extra gear, hitting double 12, double ten and finishing 76 to move 5-2 up before punishing a miss at tops from Walsh to seal victory on double four, winning a fifth successive game with a ton-plus average.
Paul Nicholson won a second successive game, defeating Australian World Cup team-mate Simon Whitlock 6-4. The pair shared the opening four legs, with Nicholson missing the bull to break on a 121 finish in the latter. He took the fifth with a 72 finish after landing a 177, but again missed the chance to break as Whitlock finished double ten to level at three-all. After Nicholson posted a double 16 finish to win the seventh, Whitlock took out 101 on double 16 to level - only for Nicholson to regain the edge with a 13-darter and take out 82 for the win, his second of the day.
Dave Chisnall came from 4-2 down to retain his unbeaten record with a 6-4 win over Andy Smith. Smith started superbly to hit double top in the first two legs before Chisnall levelled, landing double 18 and then finishing 100 with two double tops in the fourth. Smith then took another brace, hitting a 180 in successive legs, before Chisnall won leg seven, edged a nervy eighth to level and hit double two to lead for the first time at 5-4. Chisnall then sealed the win, his fifth of the day so far, by finishing 108.

With two games remaining, Phil Taylor and Dave Chisnall are assured of semi-final places.

Sixth Set of Matches
Mark Walsh secured a semi-final place alongside Dave Chisnall and Phil Taylor with a 6-3 win over Andy Smith. Walsh took out double top and double 18 to win the first two legs, before Smith finished 96 and double four to level. Finishes of 132, 42 and double seven moved Walsh 5-2 up, and although Smith hit back with a 62 finish, Walsh sealed the win in the next on double 12 for a 13-darter.
Terry Jenkins picked up what could be a crucial win over Simon Whitlock to leave the Australian in danger of elimination from Group Four. The pair shared the first six legs before Jenkins took the next two to move 5-3 up. Whitlock hit back and levelled with a 13-darter to force a decider - in which the pair traded 180s before the Australian missed the single 15 which would have left the bull when needing 82, and Jenkins took out 101 for the points.
Paul Nicholson ensured he cannot be eliminated in Group Four with a 6-2 win over Mervyn King, who remains on just two points at the foot of the table with Whitlock. The pair shared the first two legs, but Nicholson took out 106 to win leg three, double 12 for the fourth and a 100 finish - following two misses from King - as he moved 4-1 up. King finished 65 on double 16 to win his second leg of the game, but Nicholson landed two 180s in winning his fifth leg and took out double 16 in the next for the win.
Phil Taylor won the clash between the day's unbeaten players, seeing off Dave Chisnall 6-1. A high-scoring contest began as both players hit 180s in the first leg, which Taylor won on tops after two misses from Chisnall. Taylor landed a 177 and double four to move 2-0 up before Chisnall replied with a 180 as he got off the mark. The St Helens thrower, though, was punished in the next two legs for further misses as Taylor moved 4-1 up, before the world number one landed 180s in the next two legs to complete the victory.

Final Set of Matches
Dave Chisnall secured second place in the final league table with a 6-5 win over Paul Nicholson - hitting a 141 finish to take the deciding leg, although Nicholson will still finish fourth and earn a semi-final against Phil Taylor. The tone for the match was set when Nicholson finished 161 to win the opening leg, despite a 180 from Chisnall, before the St Helens man defied a maximum from his opponent in the next to finish 130 on the bull to level. The next four legs were shared before Chisnall hit a 180 and two 140s to break and move 4-3 up, before punishing misses from Nicholson to win the next and lead 5-3. Nicholson replied with a 130 finish and then took out 104 to level and force a decider. Nicholson also hit a 180 in the decider, and left 40 after 12 darts only to be denied a chance for the match as Chisnall took out 141 to grab the win, his sixth of the afternoon.
Terry Jenkins edged a dramatic 11-leg thriller with Mark Walsh to ensure survival in Group Four, with Walsh finishing third despite the loss. In a rare run, the first eight legs all went against the throw, before Jenkins hit a 180 in edging 5-4 up. Walsh took out 121 to force a decider, but missed four darts at double 16 and Jenkins took out 62 on double 16 to grab the win.
Phil Taylor ensured a perfect record in the league stage with a 6-1 defeat of eliminated Mervyn King. Taylor finished 116 in the game's opening leg and also won the next two before wiring the bull for a 130 finish in the fourth, as King followed a 180 by finishing 56 to get off the mark. King added another maximum in leg five, but Taylor finished 74 and then hit a 177 to leave 90 in the sixth, taking out the finish on tops. Taylor then landed a 180 in the next, and sealed the win with double eight.
Simon Whitlock took a dramatic victory in his winner-survives battle with Andy Smith, who is eliminated following his first day in the event this year. Whitlock took an early 3-1 lead before Smith hit back to level at four-all. Whitlock landed a 180 and tops to move 5-4 up, with Smith giving himself a chance to force a decider only to miss four darts at double 16 - and the Australian took out 130 on the bull to take victory, saving himself but eliminating the Studley thrower.

Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 6-3 Paul Nicholson
Dave Chisnall 4-6 Mark Walsh

Phil Taylor averaged 110.32 to Paul Nicholson's 107.95 in a high-quality semi-final which saw the world number one reach the final with a 6-4 triumph. Taylor opened the game with a 180 only for Nicholson to win the opening leg on double 16, with the world number one levelling with a maximum and an 87 finish for a 12-darter. Nicholson hit a 180 and a 121 bullseye finish to edge back ahead, but Taylor took the next three to move 4-2 up - finishing double eight with Nicholson waiting on 24 after hitting a 177, an 11-darter with a 63 finish and a 107 checkout on double 14. Nicholson hit tops to pull back to 4-3, but even landing 180s in the next two could not help stem the tide as Taylor hit double ten to win his fifth leg and then opened with 174, 140 and 140 before landing double 16 for the match.
Mark Walsh overcame Dave Chisnall 6-4 to reach the Group Four final. Walsh won the opener before Chisnall finished 103 to level and 82 to break in the third. Walsh then took the next two before Chisnall finished 100 to level at three-all. Walsh hit a 174 and finished 74 to win the next, and moved to the brink of victory by finishing 118. Tops from Chisnall kept him in the contest, but Walsh posted a 180 and finished double 16 to book his place in the decider.

Final
Phil Taylor 6-1 Mark Walsh
0-1 - Taylor initially scores the better, but misses two darts at double eight and Walsh follows an earlier 180 by finishing 116 on tops.
1-1 - Taylor finishes 68 on tops to level the final.
2-1 - Walsh sets up a 121 finish, hitting the treble 20 but missing the 11 or treble 11 by hitting treble 14, and Taylor finishes 77 on double five to break.
3-1 - Taylor opens with 140 and 180 before taking out 16 to win a third leg.
4-1 - Taylor finishes 120 to move three legs clear with another break.
5-1 - Walsh lands a 180, but misses three darts at double 19 to allow Taylor in to finish double 16.
6-1 - Taylor scores 140, 180 and 140 and finishes double 16 to seal the win in 11 darts.

Final Match Stats

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