PHIL TAYLOR celebrated a decade since landing the PDC's first live televised nine-dart finish on August 1 - a date which brings back vivid memories from a momentous achievement in the sport's history.
Taylor became the first player in PDC history to hit a nine-dart finish live on television during his Stan James World Matchplay quarter-final against Chris Mason in 2002, with the leg seeing him claim a £100,000 bonus from the sponsors.
Screened live on Sky Sports, the commentary of Sid Waddell and Dave Lanning has become almost as famous as the nine darts thrown by the Stoke great as he achieved history.
The article below is reproduced from the 2012 Betfair World Matchplay programme, which celebrated the achievement a decade on...
"HISTORY, HISTORY, HE DID IT..."
A DECADE ago, Phil Taylor created history with the PDC's first live televised nine-dart finish, hitting his perfect leg during a quarter-final against Chris Mason.
Sky Sports commentators Sid Waddell and Dave Lanning had the honour of calling the nine-darter, which came with the scores locked at 2-2 in the early stages of their clash.
"I think the nine-darter was in the air before that week in Blackpool," reflects Waddell. "I'd been spending some time with Phil writing a book, and it was clear that he was on song.
"I had a feeling that somebody would do it and I was almost sure it was going to be him.
"The circumstances were very interesting, because he said he wouldn't be thinking about it when he did it and it would happen in the heat of the moment against a very good opponent, when he was trying to get the edge.
"Lo and behold, I'm sitting in the Gods commentating, and Chris Mason, who was then at his peak, gave him a right hard time in the opening four legs of a match.
"In the fifth one, he didn't want to go into a break 3-2 down, and that's when the nine-darter came, when he wasn't even thinking about it - he was saying 'I have to stop this guy's charge'.
"So the beauty of it was that it came out of the nature of the game."
Until 2006, Taylor remained the only player to hit nine-dart finishes in a PDC major, with Raymond van Barneveld then achieving the feat in the Premier League.
Van Barneveld went on to hit the second World Matchplay nine-darter in his first round win over Denis Ovens two years ago, with John Part hitting a nine-darter last year against Mark Webster - only to go on to lose the match.
Nine-dart legs are seen on a much more regular basis now in televised events, with Taylor and Simon whitlock both achieving the feat in the McCoy's Premier League Darts and Gary Anderson landing a perfect leg in the Speedy Services UK Open this year.
There have also been 11 nine-dart legs on the PDC ProTour, including two from Taylor, one from Whitlock and others from Ian White, Michael van Gerwen, Steve Farmer, Richie Burnett, Raymond van Barneveld, Michael Smith, Kim Huybrechts and Colin Lloyd - further proof of the ever-increasing standards of the modern game.
Editor's Note: Michael van Gerwen and Wes Newton both hit nine-dart finishes during the 2012 World Matchplay, thrilling the Winter Gardens crowd with their achievements against Steve Beaton and Justin Pipe respectively.
TAYLOR'S NINE-DARTER
HOW IT HAPPENED...
[MASON THROWS 135]
Sid Waddell: "So Mace the Ace, he will be tested here, he knows that The Power will probably maintain his average, which is now 109."
[TAYLOR THROWS 180]
Sid Waddell: "Mace knew this was gonna happen - look at him come again with another max! OH IT'S INCREDIBLE! This is darting by numbers."
[MASON THROWS 41]
Dave Lanning: "Taylor, switching on The Power and Mason just wilting a fraction in the blast, in the furnace heat which Taylor's power exudes."
[TAYLOR THROWS 180]
Sid Waddell: "Oh, he's thinking about it. He's on it again. He's on the nine-darter. Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. He's on the nine-darter, for £100,000."
[MASON HITS 100]
Dave Lanning: "Three darts away from £100,000. It's never been seen live on television. Don't miss this!"
[TAYLOR THROWS T20]
Dave Lanning: "Got to get treble 20 with the first dart."
[TAYLOR THROWS T19]
Sid Waddell: "Yes, he's got it. Treble 19..."
[TAYLOR THROWS D12]
Sid Waddell: "...double 12 for history. HISTORY! HE'S DONE IT! HE DID THE NINE-DARTER! £100,000 quid!"
Dave Lanning: "You have to agree, that was a moment in television history. The first live nine-dart finish, and you have shared a great, great moment."
Sid Waddell: "It had to come. It had to come. I'm nearly in tears."