TEARFUL Phil Taylor admitted that winning the Stan James World Matchplay title for a ninth time was one of the proudest moments of his career.
Taylor produced the highest ever average in a PDC televised final at 109.47 to defeat James Wade 18-9 at the Winter Gardens.
The Stoke legend - a 13-time World Champion who has dominated the sport for 20 years - broke down in tears after collecting the World Matchplay trophy for a ninth time, and admitted he was happier than ever to take the title.
"It all got to me a little bit," he said. "I think when I won my fifth World Championship title [to equal Eric Bristow's record] I got a little bit upset but nothing like that.
"It's wierd and I don't know what brought it on. It was one of the greatest moments of my career.
"I'm proud of myself, maybe prouder than ever in my career. I'll go away from this and pat myself on the back because I feel really, really proud of myself.
"I've won this title nine times but I think this has been my best performance in a final, and I hope it was as good to watch as it was to play in.
"I've won finals where it's been nip and tuck but I don't think I've ever had to play as hard in a final as that.
"I averaged 109 and was still thinking I could lose it because James was relentless, he matched me blow-for-blow.
"When I was 7-5 down I thought I was in trouble. I'd missed double 18 to make it five-each and was wondering how I'd break James back.
"He just let me in, I thought there was going to be a nine-darter because one of us had to do something different."
Taylor finished the event with a tournament average of 105, and added: "From the first round on Monday I was pushed.
"Steve Beaton played superbly, Colin Osborne had beaten me the last time we played and the only player who didn't really play as well as he can was Kevin McDine.
"Playing Dennis is always a massive challenge and he never gives in. I'm elated to win this - I might not care if I never win another tournament again because I'm so proud of myself."
Taylor has now won the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, PartyPoker.net PDC US Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic titles this year - after a barren 2007 saw him written off by many.
He revealed that a first round loss to Adrian Gray in the SkyBet World Grand Prix last October proved a turning point.
"I sat behind the stage in Ireland after losing to Adrian Gray and I thought my whole career had crashed," he said.
"Everything had gone wrong and I thought I was finished, I couldn't do it any more against these kids. I was humiliated - people were chanting 'easy, easy' and I sat there for an hour or so feeling sorry for myself.
"But a couple of weeks later I got off my backside and did something about it, and I can't tell you how hard I've worked.
"It's not been so much a lot of hours but the way I've practised, the way I've changed things and dedicated myself, both in darts and in my personal life."
Taylor sealed the World Matchplay win with a sensational 132 checkout, hitting the outer bull, treble 19 and then a brilliant bullseye from the right of the oche.
"I couldn't believe I hit the bullseye - I was so far away," said Taylor. "Adrian Lewis and James do that type of shot regularly so I thought I'd have a little shot at it.
"I didn't think for a minute I'd hit it, but it went straight in the middle!"