Phil Taylor (darts Player) - PDC Career - 2009 To 2011

2009 To 2011

Taylor won the World Championship title (his 14th title) for the first time in three years by beating Raymond van Barneveld 7–1 in the 2009 world final. His 110.94 three-dart average was the highest ever recorded in a PDC final. His average during the course of the tournament was 104.08. Taylor beat Colin Osborne 11–6 in the final to win his third UK Open title in June, his first win at this tournament since 2005. His tournament average was 107.38.

Success continued throughout the rest of 2009 winning the last Las Vegas Desert Classic (his fifth time), the World Matchplay, the World Grand Prix, European Darts Championship and the Grand Slam of Darts for the third successive time in November.

Taylor kicked off 2010 by winning his fifteenth World Championship title, beating Simon Whitlock seven sets to three with an average of more than 104 and winning the match with a 131 checkout. Taylor lost in the semi-finals of the Players Championship at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet. Whilst attempting to defend his title earned in the inaugural event of 2009, Taylor lost to eventual champion Paul Nicholson. Taylor admitted, following his defeat, that he had had little time to practice after his World Championship win. He made history again in the Premier League final against defending champion James Wade in the final by hitting two nine dart finishes, the first time this has been done in professional darts.

By the summer of 2010, he was the holder of the World Championship, World Matchplay, Premier League, UK Open, World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts – with only the Players Championship Finals missing from a complete set of major televised titles. These performances, in addition to his longevity contributed to his nomination for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2010, where he was voted runner-up to A.P. McCoy. However, defeats in the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam and a loss to Mark Webster in the quarter finals of the 2011 World Championship meant he started 2011 as holder of three major titles – the World Matchplay, Premier League and UK Open. However he won his first major tournament in seven months by winning the 2011 Players Championship beating Gary Anderson 13 – 12 in a thrilling final. Taylor won the World Matchplay for a record 12th time in 18 years, beating Mark Hylton 10–8 in the 1st round, Wayne Jones 13–7 in the 2nd round, Wes Newton 16–5 in the Quarter finals, Andy Hamilton 17–9 in the Semi finals and James Wade 18–8 in the final, with a tournament average of over 106.

One week later,Taylor flew over to Düsseldorf, Germany to play in the 2011 European Championship to win his 4th consecutive European title. He did this by beating John Michael 6–3, Mervyn King 10–3, Paul Nicholson 10–7, Simon Whitlock 11–4 and Adrian Lewis 11–8. He had a tournament average of 105.15.

On 27 September, Taylor competed in Group 1 of the Championship League, where he won all 7 of his qualifying games, 6–3 vs Adrian Lewis, 6–2 vs Terry Jenkins, 6–3 vs Wes Newton, 6–2 vs James Wade, 6–3 vs Simon Whitlock, 6–2 vs Gary Anderson and 6–1 vs Mark Webster, he finished the Group stage with a maximum 14 points, 42 legs won, 16 lost, for a leg difference of + 28, and won £2,100 during qualifying. He lost the semi final 6–5 in a superb match vs Wes Newton, he won a further £500 in that match, taking his total winnings for the day to £2,600. Due to not winning the Group he returned the next day to play in Group 2.

In Group 2 he won 6 out of his 7 games, losing his 4th match 6–4 to Simon Whitlock. He beat James Wade 6–1, Mervyn King 6–4, Paul Nicholson 6–0, Mark Webster 6–3, Wes Newton 6–4 and Andy Hamilton 6–1, to finish top of the Group with 12 points, 40 legs won, 19 lost, so a leg difference of + 21, he won £2,000 in qualifying. In the semi final he beat Paul Nicholson 6–3 and Simon Whitlock 6–5 to win Group 2 and progress to the Winner's Group.

In the Winner's Group he won all 7 of his qualifying games, he beat Gary Anderson 6–5, Steve Beaton 6–3, Mervyn King 6–3, he also hit a 9 dart leg in this match, his 10th in competition. He also beat Mark Walsh 6–3, Simon Whitlock 6–5, Paul Nicholson 6–1 and Dennis Priestley 6–2 to qualify top of the Group. In the Semi Finals he beat Steve Beaton 6–1 and in the Final he beat Paul Nicholson 6–1 to win his second Championship League title, winning £6,600 in the Group stages, and a further £10,000 for winning the title.

In November, he won the Grand Slam of Darts by beating Gary Anderson 16–4. He lost his Players championship title to Kevin Painter when he was defeated by Mervyn King.