PDPA Hat-Trick For Taylor

PHIL TAYLOR took a third successive PDPA Players Championship title with a 3-0 win over Denis Ovens at the Citywest Hotel, Ireland.

Taylor was in imperious form, dropping just two sets throughout the day's event to pick up another £5,000.

Following his wins in the Bobby Bourn Memorial in Blackpool and Newport a month ago, Taylor claimed another title in style.

He took the first set 2-0, although Ovens missed chances to punish wayward Taylor finishing in both legs before double ten came to the 13-time World Champion's rescue.

Taylor landed a maximum on his way to the opening leg of the second set, but a 180 from Ovens enabled him to break back immediately.

Despite another maximum from Ovens in the deciding leg, Taylor stopped in with a 14 darter to take the second set against the throw.

He landed a second maximum of his own before taking out double ten for the first leg of the third set, and wrapped up victory with a marvellous 11-dart leg.

Ovens hit three successive scores of 140 to leave himself an 81 finish, but after he saw that chance slip away Taylor - who had shot 140, 180 and 165 - took out double 16 at the second attempt for the title.

"I'm very happy," said Taylor. "Despite the scorelines there were some tough games there and it was hard work."

Ovens had earlier shown some superb form in seeing off James Wade, Raymond van Barneveld, Dennis Priestley and Lionel Sams.

Andy Jenkins enjoyed a good run of form in reaching the semi-finals, while World Matchplay finalist Wade knocked out John Part and Colin Lloyd on his way to the last four.

PDPA Players Championship - Ireland
Round One
Lee Palfreyman 3-1 Henry O'Neill
Colin Lloyd Bye (Deta Hedman)
Paul Williams 3-1 Nigel Langton
Wayne Jones 3-2 Paul Watton
James Wade 3-2 Steven Smith
Stuart Dutton 3-0 Jimmy Mann
John Part 3-0 Mark Tiller
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Gary Noonan
Alan Tabern 3-0 John Kuczynski
Tom Kirby 3-0 Bob Anderson
Dennis McCarthy 3-0 Mark Thomson
Kevin Painter 3-1 Bill Davis
Tom Wilson 3-1 Keith Deller
Alan Green 3-0 Wes Newton
Peter Manley 3-0 Ben Burton
Wayne Atwood Bye (Jon Archer)
Steve Beaton 3-0 Alan Taylor
Mark Dudbridge 3-1 John Quantock
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Dave Honey
Dave Askew 3-0 Geffrey Matthews
Dennis Priestley 3-1 John MaGowan
Jamie Harvey 3-0 Daniel Sare
Dennis Smith 3-1 Steve Brown
Chris Hook 3-1 Michael Barnard
Denis Ovens 3-0 Steven Cusick
Ian Branks 3-2 Chris Sargeant
Lionel Sams 3-0 Sean Palfrey
Alan Caves 3-1 Matt Sheehan
Phil Taylor 3-1 Jason Clark
Ray Farrell 3-2 Graeme Stoddart
Alex Roy 3-1 Mark Stephenson
Chris Mason 3-1 Dave Johnston
Robert Watson-Lang 3-2 Paul Whitworth
Alan Warriner-Little 3-0 Gary Welding
Roland Scholten 3-2 Simon Whatley
Tony Randell 3-1 Michael Kendrick
Andy Callaby 3-1 Steve Maish
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Steve Grubb
Mark Robinson 3-0 Geoff Wylie
Barrie Bates 3-0 Ian Critchett
Wayne Mardle 3-0 Owen Caffrey
Mark Lawrence 3-0 John Scott
Matt Clark 3-2 Rocco Maes
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Martyn Turner
Bob Crawley 3-2 Brendan Dolan
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Andrew Davies
Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Paul Harrison
Gary Spedding 3-0 Colin Osborne
Richie Burnett 3-0 Colin Monk
Mick McGowan 3-0 Tony Smith
Mark Walsh 3-1 Kieran Lennon
Steve Hine 3-0 Adrian Gray
Andy Smith 3-0 Jason Crawley

Round Two
Colin Lloyd 3-0 Lee Palfreyman
Wayne Jones 3-1 Paul Williams
James Wade 3-2 Darren Latham
John Part 3-0 Stuart Dutton
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Simon Craven
Alan Tabern 3-2 Tom Kirby
Kevin Painter 3-1 Dennis McCarthy
Tom Wilson 3-1 Alan Green
Peter Manley 3-2 Darren Johnson
Steve Beaton 3-2 Wayne Atwood
Mark Dudbridge Bye (Shayne Burgess)
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Dave Askew
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Ian Eames
Dennis Smith 3-1 Jamie Harvey
Denis Ovens 3-1 Chris Hook
Lionel Sams 3-0 Ian Branks
Phil Taylor 3-0 Alan Caves
Alex Roy 3-1 Ray Farrell
Chris Mason 3-0 Robbie Parker
Alan Warriner-Little 3-0 Robert Watson-Lang
Roland Scholten 3-1 Yves Cottenge
Andy Callaby 3-1 Tony Randell
Terry Jenkins 3-2 Darren Moulsley
Barrie Bates 3-0 Mark Robinson
Wayne Mardle 3-1 Ray Carver
Matt Clark 3-0 Mark Lawrence
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Martin Burchell
Andy Hamilton 3-1 Bob Crawley
Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Jason Lowe
Gary Spedding 3-1 Richie Burnett
Mick McGowan 3-1 Mark Walsh
Andy Smith 3-2 Steve Hine
Losers £75, 4 ranking points

Round Three
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Wayne Jones
James Wade 3-1 John Part
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Alan Tabern
Kevin Painter 3-2 Tom Wilson
Steve Beaton 3-2 Peter Manley
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Mark Dudbridge
Dennis Priestley 3-2 Dennis Smith
Denis Ovens 3-2 Lionel Sams
Phil Taylor 3-0 Alex Roy
Chris Mason 3-1 Alan Warriner-Little
Roland Scholten 3-1 Andy Callaby
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Barrie Bates
Matt Clark 3-1 Wayne Mardle
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Andy Hamilton
Gary Spedding 3-1 Ronnie Baxter
Mick McGowan 3-1 Andy Smith
Losers £150, 6 ranking points

Round Four
James Wade 3-2 Colin Lloyd
Kevin Painter 3-1 Adrian Lewis
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Steve Beaton
Denis Ovens 3-2 Dennis Priestley
Phil Taylor 3-1 Chris Mason
Roland Scholten 3-2 Terry Jenkins
Andy Jenkins 3-2 Matt Clark
Mick McGowan 3-1 Gary Spedding
Losers £300, 8 ranking points

Quarter-Finals
James Wade 3-0 Kevin Painter
Denis Ovens 3-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 3-1 Roland Scholten
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Mick McGowan
Losers £600, 10 ranking points

Semi-Finals
Denis Ovens 3-0 James Wade
Phil Taylor 3-0 Andy Jenkins
Losers £1,250, 12 ranking points

Final
Phil Taylor 3-0 Denis Ovens
Winner £5,000, 20 ranking points
Runner-Up £2,500, 16 ranking points

Pictured is Phil Taylor receiving a set of commemorative glasses from PDPA Chairman. Courtesy PDPA Press Secretary Chris Sargeant