CyberDarts
The PDC Skol World Darts Championship makes it annual visit to the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, Essex, with the biggest names in world darts battling for the PDC crown.Sky Sports will be televising the whole event live and exclusive, with not one single dart being overlooked in this mammoth event.
The event has had only two previous winners, Dennis "The Menace" Priestley from Mexborough, South Yorkshire in the event's debut in 1994, and then Phil "The Power" Taylor from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Taylor is the only player to have won six world crowns and is certainly the favourite to lift the prestigious trophy in January again, especially after his13-8 victory over Rod Harrington in the final of the PDC World Grand Prix in Rochester, Kent a couple of months ago.
So just how good a player is Phil Taylor? Well opinions on this matter vary for different reasons. Some, like Sky commentator Sid Waddell, claim that "he is the best darts player to have ever drew breath". This point of view is shared by a vast number of spectators but also players alike. 1988 World Champion Bob Anderson remarked of Taylor in an interview with Jeff Stelling a couple of years ago that: "on his day, Phil is probably the best I have ever seen".
Taylor's scoring in darts is exceptional. Unlike the majority of professional players, whose darts enter the board with a dipping angle, Taylor stacks his darts below the triple 20 bed, so that if the first one lies just underneath the bed, then he can plant the next one in immediately above it. His tally of maximum 180's have rocketed in the past few years due to his clinical mastering of this technique.
However although his scoring power is excellent, and has given him his nickname of "The Power", it is Taylor's devastating ability to check-out doubles so accurately that provides the backbone to his game. Indeed the phrase "180's for show but doubles for dough" comes into play here. A dart player can score brilliantly but if he/she cannot pin the double then they will always lose.
If Taylor is the favourite, then who poses his biggest threat at Purfleet? Well Alan "The Ice-man" Warriner from Lancaster must be a good bet. Former World Championship finalist, Warriner has established himself as a class act in the last few years, most notably when he ousted Dennis Priestley in the 1997 World Matchplay and went on to play the match of his life against Taylor in the final at Blackpool, and finishing an unlucky runner-up. Also his victory at the International Open in Eastbourne back in February this year is sure to have boosted his confidence. Warriner will be hungry for a major title after his early exit at the World Grand Prix in October.
Similarly Shayne Burgess is also very much on form. "The Bulldog" from Hastings, Sussex is a former semi-finalist at Purfleet, but is always unfortunate enough to get a tough first-round opponent, often Taylor, before he has a chance to get settled. Nevertheless he is an excellent player and when he gets going is often unstoppable.
Peter Manley from London is another up-and-coming star of the professional game. Manley reached the semi-finals of the PDC Grand Prix in October, thanks to an inspired defeat over Dennis Priestley, and is tipped to be a future World Champion due to his high scoring and calm attitude. He is a very solid player and on form will give anyone a run for their money.
Another player that cannot be forgotten is Dennis Priestley himself. The twice World Champion has been off-form recently, with early exits in a number of major events. Priestley reached the has reached three World Finals in 1996, 1997 and 1998, and also three Matchplay finals, but has lost all six! Yet to write the pride of Yorkshire off would be a crucial error; he invariably performs to a high standard at Purfleet, and when he maintains concentration is one of the best players to have ever picked up a set of darts. Taylor has always expressed a deep respect for "The Menace".
However without doubt the biggest obstacle that Taylor will face is the man he defeated in this year's Grand Prix final, and also in the World Final of 1995, "The Prince of Style" from Chelmsford in Essex, Rod Harrington.
World No.1 Harrington is undoubtedly playing the darts of his life, and this year won his first major PDC title at Blackpool, the World Matchplay, beating Ronnie Baxter 19-17 in an epic final, when at one point the Lancastrian was 17-15 ahead and needing only one further leg for victory!
The Essex star's No.1 spot and Matchplay victory have led to a string of public appearances including a guest spot on Channel 4's "The Big Breakfast".
If any player is going to achieve a stunning feat, that is to be the first person to defeat Taylor at the Circus Tavern since Priestley's 6-1 victory in the 1994 Final, then Harrington is likely to be the man to do so.
The question must be asked though, as to whether anybody can stop the six-times Champion when he gets into his stride at Purfleet. He just gets better and better, and last year only allowed his friend Priestley the privilege of winning 2 legs during his 6-0 victory ( if it had been a Matchplay Final, the score would thus have been 18-2!). Some people say that Taylor is not unbeatable, simply because he is a human-being, like anyone else. Well yes, Taylor is human....... but only just...!
BY MATT GILBERT
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