Taylor's Perfect Ten In Blackpool

PHIL TAYLOR claimed the stanjames.com World Matchplay title for a tenth time with an 18-4 win over Terry Jenkins at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

Taylor's unmatched run in the summer's biggest tournament continued with an incredible performance, averaging 106.05 to ease past Jenkins.

He also hit a ten-dart finish and checkouts of 144, 121, 116 and a 104 championship-winning shot in picking up the £100,000 title.

"Winning this trophy for a tenth time is one of the most special moments in my career," said Taylor. "It's a tournament that means a great deal to me and a big milestone.

"I was a little bit disappointed that the final wasn't more competitive. Terry is a better player than that but he didn't quite hit form, his head dropped and I took advantage of that.

"I've planned for this all year and I'm over the moon I won. I absolutely love winning and you can't beat the feeling."

Jenkins was condemned to defeat in a seventh major final with the loss, although claimed £50,000 prize money in consolation and also returned to fifth in the PDC Order of Merit.

However, he never looked likely to take victory after Taylor made an imperious start to the final.

He took out 116 to win the opening leg against the throw, 84 in the second and then 144 to win the third for a 3-0 lead.

Jenkins got off the mark with a 128 checkout, only to spark a run of maximums in five successive legs from Taylor.

They included two 11-dart finishes and further 13- and 14-dart legs, with only missed doubles giving Jenkins the chance on double ten to grab a second leg.

Taylor added two further 14-dart finishes before a stunning ten-dart leg, which featured scores of 134, 180 and 171 plus a double eight finish, saw him take a 10-2 lead.

Jenkins missed double top to win a third leg, with Taylor landing double 16, and then posted an eighth maximum in a 13-darter and a 121 checkout for a 12-dart finish to lead 13-2.

Jenkins missed four darts to take the next as Taylor landed double eight for a 14th leg, and added double 16 for a 15-2 cushion,

Further missed doubles from Jenkins allowed Taylor to move two legs away from the win, although the Ledbury man landed a 180 and double top for a 13-darter in his best leg of the game.

A 94 finish for an 11-darter sent Taylor to the brink of victory, although in the next he missed four darts for the title as double five kept Jenkins alive.

Taylor, though, hit his tenth maximum of the game in the next and posted a 104 finish to wrap up another title.

His success meant he dropped just 20 legs in five matches during the event, beating his previous best of 24 set in 1997.

"If I could have held my own early on then I'd have stood a chance but Phil is just incredible," said Jenkins.

"Phil is not a normal person, he's an absolute phenomenon and what he does on a dartboard is amazing. You could play a robot and it wouldn't be as good as him."

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Match Stats