SKY SPORTS commentator Sid Waddell believes that Phil Taylor was the deserving winner of the Player of the Year title at the PDC's first Awards Dinner.
Taylor took the top honour at the Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday night at a glittering awards ceremony.
The 13-time World Champion had a magnificent 2006, picking up a host of major titles and being nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Although he lost his Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship crown to Raymond van Barneveld on New Year's Day, Taylor was still recognised with the PDC's Player of the Year award.
A highlights package from the evening will be screened on Sky Sports One at 7.30pm on Thursday 11 January.
"The man has done more than anyone else in history to get darts recognised as a sport," said Waddell.
"He has shown this year that he's the best ever, with averages topping 109 in the big events and no-one is more deserving to win the inaugural Player of the Year crown than Phil."
Van Barneveld was also honoured with the Best Newcomer and the Fans' Player of the Year titles.
"He came over from the BDO to the PDC with a bang and has been a sensation," added Waddell.
"His nine-darter in the Premier League plus his victory at the World Championship last week and the UK Open in June proved he's world class.
"I think he'll win three of the next five World Championships."
James Wade took the Young Player of the Year award, having reached his first major final at the Stan James World Matchplay in July and hit three nine-darters on the circuit.
"He's the most exciting player to burst onto the scene this year," said Waddell.
"He took a massive risk turning pro in the summer before the World Matchplay at Blackpool and his guts and determination saw him win a place in the final.
"I think he'll be the first of his generation to win the world title."
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