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Phil Taylor provided some first-class darts to waltz into the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Grand Prix at Rochester's Casino Rooms, Kent.The defending champion, from Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire opened his account with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over former World Champion Dennis Priestley on the first day of the event. Despite some good play from theYorkshireman, he simply could not live with his good friend Taylor, and his missed doubles allowed the seven-times World Champion to win his first match without even dropping a set.
"Unfortunately Dennis has got problems with his darts at the moment" he told Sky Sports presenter Johnathan Green after the match, "He'd told me that his usual set had just broke. Of course this gave me extra confidence - whilst I felt sorry for Dennis I wasn't going to let that interfere with my own play, as a professional you cannot afford to do that. Anyway I was able to take advantage, and win".
But the real top class performance was yet to come from "The Power" - having gone on to defeat Alan Warriner in his second-round match, Taylor faced Peter Evison in the first of Day Three's Quarter-finals. Evison, who beat Taylor 8-1 en route to winning the World Matchplay back in 1996, was confident of doing well.
However, when the action started, "The Fen Tiger" must have wished he had not even set foot on stage. Evison did play well, but Taylor was in another league. Hardly ever missing doubles, and rolling off 180 after 180, Taylor methodically began to destroy Evison as he had never been destroyed before.
Despite some good 100+ scoring and a sheer refusal to lie down, Evison simply could not even get down to a double. He laughed in disbelief as Taylor coolly checked out 106 to beat him 3 sets to 0, and had it been Matchplay, 9 legs to 0.
"The Power" had really been turned on - Taylor booked his semi-final place with a superhuman 101.84 average. Incredible as it is, but then adding to the fact that the players have to both start and finish on a double, it was virtually unbelievable.
A solid performance from "The Bulldog" Shayne Burgess, who had already defeated Evison along with American Steve Brown in the first round, saw him comfortably beat Priestley in his Quarter-final ( Priestley qualified for this match by winning his other two round-robin games). He would now face World Championship and World Matchplay runner-up Peter Manley in the second semi-final, whose victims included former World Champions Keith Deller and Canada's John Part.
But who would Taylor face in his? None other than "The Prince of Style" Rod Harrington, who amidst all the 'Taylor-mania' had been forgotten by many as the first-ever player to retain the prestigious Matchplay crown at Blackpool in August.
Chelmsford-based Harrington had to concentrate to see off Bob Anderson in his first game, but his most difficult obstacle was in the form of the brash, outspoken Bristolian Chris Mason on Day Two.
Essex fans looked on in disbelief as the World Number 2 found himself two sets down with three to play, and it looked as if he was destined for the play-offs. But then the tides turned, and "Mace the Ace" just could not find the final edge to see off Harrington. He missed three vital darts for the match at double 16, and his opponent was able to check out the double himself.
At 2-1, Mason still looked to have the advantage, but the memory of that missed opportunity seemed to plague his mind, and he watched in horror as Harrington drew level at 2-2.
From then on, he took control, and Mason just could not believe that he had missed seven doubles to beat one of the favourites, as Harrington took the final set to complete one of his most famous escapes yet.
"I don't know why I keep on doing it!" he said in exasperation after the game, "The amount of times that I come from behind to win matches is unbelievable. Chris had his chances to beat me, and it's not often that I feel sorry for a player after they have lost against me, but I really do feel for Chris. He is a great player, he says what he thinks which I respect - I just hope he can take something positive from this match now".
Having overcome what he often calls "first-round nerves", Harrington went on to defeat Keith Deller in a convincing3-0 Quarter-final, and now faced Taylor in the semi-final.
"Phil is the only player that I don't get nervous against" he mused, "He certainly didn't miss a thing against Peter".
The bookmakers had Taylor as odds-on favourite to reach his 12th major televised final with an easy victory over Harrington, but "The Prince of Style has a habit of being involved in classic battles with the seemingly undefeatable Staffordshire wizard.
See the next article for reports on the semi-finals between Harrington and Taylor, and Burgess and Manley.
Who will lift aloft the trophy on Finals Day?
by Matt Gilbert
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