Anyway … back to the darts. Anderson has a gigantic grin as he lifts the trophy and confetti blows into the Ally Pally arena. “I’ve given myself a hernia,” Anderson says. “It was quite scrappy, to be honest.” Really? Scrappy! “I’ll still send him [Taylor] a Christmas card next year. He’s the best and always will be, even in 100 years time. That makes this a wee bit more special.”
Taylor comes across to give him a hug and says: “Doubles cost me a couple of sets there. Double eights and 16s were awful. Gary didn’t miss. I thought [at 6-6] I’ve got you now but in the last set he beat me up.”
And on that note, I am off. Thanks for your emails and tweets – what great entertainment. Let’s do it again next year, eh? Bye!
Tony McCoy is presenting the award, how bizarre. As my colleague Michael Butler has just said to me: imagine Taylor presenting a trophy after the Grand National.
Gary Anderson is 2015 PDC world champion
Thirteenth and final decided set: Anderson 3-0 Taylor (6-6 on sets; first to seven) Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes. The Scot kicks off with a 180, follows with 134. But then he slips to 57, leaving 130. Taylor cannot keep up and is way back on 244. Anderson leaves himself bull but hits 25. No matter … at the next visit he takes D12 and after two and a half hours of glorious darting action we have a new world champion! What drama. What amazing darts.
Thirteenth and final decided set: Anderson 2-0 Taylor (6-6 on sets; first to seven) 94 from Taylor, Anderson scores the game’s 31st 180. Taylor responds with 136, Anderson scores 137. Taylor scores 137, Anderson slips to a 56. Taylor, on 132, cannot finish and Anderson is down to 128. He errs and leaves 36. Taylor cannot take out D16 with three darts and Anderson comes back to take out D18 and takes the darts to leave himself one leg from victory. This is incredible.
Thirteenth and final decided set: Anderson 1-0 Taylor (6-6 on sets; first to seven) Anderson has the darts here but Taylor outscores him on the first visit. The Scot shoots 140 in his first visit though and Taylor can only manage 60. Next up is 97 from Anderson – he’s left 172 and Taylor comes into to get down to 164. Anderson’s ton leaves 72. Taylor leaves 80 but Anderson takes out 72 and he is, again, two legs from becoming world champion.
Twelfth set: Anderson 2-3 Taylor (6-6 on sets; first to seven) 139 from Taylor, 60 from Anderson. Then Taylor scores 140, Anderson hits 131. Taylor plants 140 on the board to leave 82, Anderson scores 140 to leave 170 and Taylor cannot finish, leaving D8. Anderson hits the first T20 but misses the second and leaves with 65. Taylor then misses his first at D8 but scores the second and takes us to a deciding set. Hold your breath!
Twelfth set: Anderson 2-2 Taylor (6-5 on sets; first to seven) How are your nerves? Anderson comes in with a maximum, and then a 140 and then a 59. Taylor can’t keep pace and is back on 167 when Anderson is in for 122. He can’t take that but leaves D16 at next visit. Taylor cannot take 167 and leaves 124. But Anderson leaves D18 from his next visit. Taylor cannot finish again but Anderson then misses D8, hitting a single 11 leaving a nasty five. He goes single three but misses D1. Taylor comes in with 48 and only scores 16. Finally Anderson comes back to 16 and takes out D4 having hit single eight. This could be the decisive leg.
Twelfth set: Anderson 1-2 Taylor (6-5 on sets; first to seven) Taylor starts with 100, Anderson hits same. Taylor scores 100 again, Anderson 139. But Taylor can only hit 58 on his next visit. Anderson miscalculates by scoring 100, and doesn’t leave himself a finish. Taylor gets down to 106. Anderson’s 94 leaves him on 68. But Taylor can only score 58, giving Anderson one dart off tops but he skies it. Taylor comes back in, 48 remaining, and pings D16 first time of asking.
Twelfth set: Anderson 1-1 Taylor (6-5 on sets; first to seven) Anderson’s average was down to 75 at the beginning of this leg, Taylor’s is over 112. But a 140 from him gets him onto a finish of 65. His first dart slips off target but he hits bull to level the set with his third.
Twelfth set: Anderson 0-1 Taylor (6-5 on sets; first to seven) Straight back in without a break and Taylor pulls away with the darts and wins a fourth consecutive leg despite missing his first two darts on D14. Anderson is wavering.
Eleventh set: Anderson 0-3 Taylor (6-5 on sets; first to seven) Anderson starts with 100, Taylor 140. Anderson scores 140, Taylor, er, 140. Anderson has another dart fall out to score only 37. Taylor scores 58. Anderson has another dart pop out to score, eh, eight. Taylor, on 163, scores 131. Anderson, without a finish, gets down to 139 but Taylor comes in to take D16 first time to pull a set back.
Eleventh set: Anderson 0-2 Taylor (6-4 on sets; first to seven) Taylor starts with 100, 100; Anderson 70, 100. Taylor 140, Anderson 96. But Anderson slips next time around and Taylor finishes 64 in his next visit. This is not over yet.
Eleventh set: Anderson 0-1 Taylor (6-4 on sets; first to seven) Without going all Julian Casablancas on you: Is this it?! Anderson gets us going, knowing he only needs to hold his throw in this set to become world champion. He starts with 100, Taylor goes 180. Anderson can only score 57 but Taylor has six perfect darts … The seventh is good. The eighth is good. BUT THE NINTH MISSES. The tenth dart hits single 12 but on his 12th he takes the leg to break the throw.
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Tenth set: Anderson 3-1 Taylor (6-4 on sets; first to seven) Anderson starts with a ton, Taylor scores 140. Anderson 123, Taylor 180. Anderson goes 180 (27th of the match) and Taylor can only score 58. Anderson is left with 98 and on two darts he takes it out. He is one set away from becoming champion of the darts world. He marches off with a fist pump and a pep in his step.
Tenth set: Anderson 2-1 Taylor (5-4 on sets; first to seven) Taylor can only score 58 first time round, Anderson scores 133. 57 from Taylor next, Anderson scores a ton. Taylor matches that. Anderson scores 85. Taylor’s next throw produces 134. But on 183 Anderson comes down to a 24. Taylor fails to finish 154 and the Scot comes in to break. Are we on the verge of something special?
Tenth set: Anderson 1-1 Taylor (5-4 on sets; first to seven) A maxi for Anderson is followed up by another (his 60th of the tournament. He is down to 141 and on for a nine-darter but can *only* hit 105 . Taylor is way back on 207 after nine darts, Anderson needs three at D18 to finish but levels the set.
Tenth set: Anderson 0-1 Taylor (5-4 on sets; first to seven) Taylor has the darts in this first set on the new board. Anderson has a dart fall out in his first visit (this is bonkers). Taylor is soon on a finish courtesy of a 180. With 103 left and Anderson on 236, the Power cleans up for a 12 darter.
Ninth set: Anderson 3-2 Taylor (5-4 on sets; first to seven) This is another big one … Anderson hits a ton, Taylor 177, Anderson 121, Taylor 100. Anderson comes in with 123 having landed the first two in the red bit, leaving 157. Taylor comes up with 96, leaving him on 128. Anderson takes 93 off his total, 64 remaining, and Taylor can only take 63. And Anderson finishes 64 in two darts to come back from nowhere and retake the lead. Absolutely amazing darts.
Ninth set: Anderson 2-2 Taylor (4-4 on sets; first to seven) Taylor kicks off with 96, Anderson scores 140. Taylor hits the same, Anderson’s reply is 137. Taylor scores 97, Anderson another 140 to leave 84. Taylor gets down to 110 but Anderson takes out the 84 in two darts. We are level. Again!
Ninth set: Anderson 1-2 Taylor (4-4 on sets; first to seven) Anderson is losing his focus now and with each visit is staring back at the perpetrator who was commenting from the crowd. Taylor keeps plugging away as per and is first on a finish: 126. He gets down to bull but hits 25 and Anderson comes back into it. On 94, he hits 54. Taylor fails to finish on D8, allowing Anderson to take tops. “Justice,” Wayne Mardle says on Sky.
Ninth set: Anderson 0-2 Taylor (4-4 on sets; first to seven) Taylor hits 99, Anderson shoots 180. Taylor can only hit 44, Anderson scores 97. There’s a 96 from Taylor next and Anderson scores 140 to leave 84. Taylor is back on 170 after his next visit but Anderson cannot clean up – he gets another chance when Taylor fails to finish 170. No score from Anderson, who stares at somebody who distracted him in the crowd. Taylor cannot finish 111, Anderson goes bust at his next visit. Anderson then points the finger and says something to the person/people bothering him. Taylor comes in and finishes, holds his hands up almost in apology – though none of Anderson’s problems are down to him.
Ninth set: Anderson 0-1 Taylor (4-4 on sets; first to seven) This is breathtaking. Taylor, having missed three darts to got 5-3 ahead is now level. We could be here for another hour yet! Ludicrously, preposterously, Anderson is on for 180 with the first two in but his third dart knocks the first two out and he scores a big fat zero. To rub salt in, Taylor scores 180 but you can only feel sorry for Anderson there. He scores 100, 140 in his next two visits but Taylor is left with 124 … he can’t take that out, giving Anderson the chance to take 161 ‘against the darts but with them’. He shoots 79, Taylor is on D16 and he takes it out to break the darts. Unlucky on Anderson but that’s darts!
Eighth set: Anderson 3-2 Taylor (4-4 on sets; first to seven) The 33rd leg of the night and Taylor starts with 140. Anderson shoots 96 and Taylor manages another ton. Anderson scores 140, Taylor only hits 60. And the Scot shoots 180 – his 12th, the 20th of the match. Taylor hits 177 to leave 24, but on 85 Anderson gets down the bull … and only hits 25. Taylor comes in on D12, misses the first, misses the second and misses the second. His face is a picture but Anderson still needs to take out 25 … and his second dart at D8 is a good’un. We’re level!
Eighth set: Anderson 2-2 Taylor (3-4 on sets; first to seven) Anderson isn’t swayed and he reaches double figures in the 180s race by shooting consecutive ones. He’s on 84 with Taylor miles back on 243 after nine. Anderson can’t finish and must come back to finish eight. He can only manage single four and must go down to D2 to level the set.
Eighth set: Anderson 1-2 Taylor (3-4 on sets; first to seven) Taylor shoots 100, Anderson 140. Sixty from Taylor is met by 128 from Anderson. Taylor plants a stacker next to come away with a ton, Anderson’s reply is 140 to leave himself on 93 and Taylor back on 241. He shoots a ton, Anderson is soon down to D16 … but he hits a single. Taylor comes in and cleans out 141. Brilliant and potentially decisive – that was his highest finish of the tournament.
Eighth set: Anderson 1-1 Taylor (3-4 on sets; first to seven) Anderson had only won one of the past 10 legs before this set but he starts strongly in this leg again. Taylor is just that little bit stronger though and is down to 86 before Anderson has a finish and the Power breaks straight back by finishing with his first dart on D16.
Eighth set: Anderson 1-o Taylor (3-4 on sets; first to seven) Taylor has the darts in this set and he starts with 99. Anderson scores 96, Taylor scores the same with his second visit but the Scot manages 180. Taylor shoots 96, Anderson replies with 105 to leave 120. And he has yet another dart stuck in his flight to score only 40 next time. But with 80 left, Anderson audaciously finishes D20, D20. Delightful darts!
Seventh set: Anderson 1-3 Taylor (3-4 on sets; first to seven) Anderson has had six darts come back off a flight now and, with luck evading him, Taylor is soon left on 70. He hits T18 and only needs one on D8 this time to take the lead. Not quite as ferocious pace now but Anderson’s advantage has slipped and you’ve gotta fancy the 16-time champion to kick on.
Seventh set: Anderson 1-2 Taylor (3-3 on sets; first to seven) Oof – against the darts Taylor hits another 180 to set himself up. He is left with 32 with Anderson back on 110. But Taylor struggles to finish, missing three darts at a double. Anderson manages the first two darts of his finish but misses tops. Taylor comes back in and … after missing the first, lands the second.
Seventh set: Anderson 1-1 Taylor (3-3 on sets; first to seven) Ninety-nine from Taylor, Anderson hits 60. Taylor goes 140, Anderson has another dart fall out and can only hit 21. Taylor’s is miles clear with another 140. He has 122 to Anderson’s 320 and Taylor takes 90 to leave himself on D16. Anderson’s ton counts for little as Taylor finds his double. “Stand up if you love the darts,” bellow hundreds in the crowd who aren’t even watching the action.
Seventh set: Anderson 1-0 Taylor (3-3 on sets; first to seven) No break between sets and Anderson comes straight at it with a 177. Taylor score 97. Anderson follows up with a ton, Taylor shoots 137. But then Anderson nails a maxi – the 15th of the match – to leave 44. Taylor is back on 184 but Anderson can’t finish and needs to come back with 10 left. Erratic from Taylor who is still on 138 but Anderson leaves himself on double one. First signs of standards slipping here but he comes back to find the green and wins his first leg in seven.
Sixth set: Anderson 0-3 Taylor (3-3 on sets; first to seven) Taylor scores 80, Anderson 100. Taylor then hits 136, Anderson 140. A ton for Taylor is followed by Anderson hitting *just* 80. Taylor leaves tops on his next visit. Anderson leaves 88 but doesn’t get a sniff of it as Taylor comes in to wipe the set.
Sixth set: Anderson 0-2 Taylor (3-2 on sets; first to seven) Anderson starts 140, Taylor matches him. Anderson can only hit 58, Taylor shoots 100. And his next visit produces 140 leaving him 121 and Anderson is without a finish on 187. Taylor’s 89 leaves him D16, Anderson leaves himself tops. And Taylor struggles round the bottom left of the board but wins the leg with his third dart.
Sixth set: Anderson 0-1 Taylor (3-2 on sets; first to seven) Taylor gets us going in the sixth, beginning with 140. Anderson hits 134. Taylor scores 125, Anderson scores another 134. Taylor leaves 136 after nine with a ton and Anderson scores 39 after one of his darts falls out. Taylor cannot finish D8 but with Anderson without a finish (scoring 50), the Power comes back in and hits single 8 but nails D4.
Fifth set: Anderson 0-3 Taylor (3-2 on sets; first to seven) Taylor motoring now and starts with 140 again. Anderson keeps plugging away though with a 140 of his own. Taylor hits another maximum though and Anderson can only respond with 59. Forty-one from Taylor leaves a finish of 140 while Anderson gets down to 70. Taylor can only manage 60, letting the Scot in – he cannot finish though, leaving D10. And Taylor, on 80, hits two single 20s followed by tops to make it 3-2.
Fifth set: Anderson 0-2 Taylor (3-1 on sets; first to seven) Taylor starts with a 140, Anderson replies with the same. Then he hits another and Anderson hits 96. Taylor’s 137 leaves 843 after nine. Anderson’s 57 keeps him back on 208 and Taylor finishes with an 11 darter to make it two zip.
Fifth set: Anderson 0-1 Taylor (3-1 on sets; first to seven) They’re back from a break but Anderson eases back in with a ton. Taylor scores 58. Anderson hits 98 and 58 but Taylor edges clear of him with a 99. Anderson’s 140 leaves him 105 but Taylor matches that score to leave 64. Anderson gets down to D20 but hits D5. Taylor comes in to finish and break the throw.
And, what’s this, the crowd have stopped singing about the Touré brothers and are actually watching the action in front of them. Incredible
Fourth set: Anderson 3-1 Taylor (3-1 on sets; first to seven) Anderson scores 100, 131. Taylor is 96, 60. Anderson is 140 next to leave 130, while Taylor’s 93 leaves him back on 252. Anderson leaves 72 from his next throw and Taylor puts the squeeze on with a 174. Anderson has one dart on tops though and of course he hits it. And it’s three sets to one. Taylor needs to up it on the doubles or we’re going to have a new world champion here.
Fourth set: Anderson 2-1 Taylor (2-1 on sets; first to seven) Anderson is 56% on his doubles and Taylor is only managing 22% according to Sky. But Taylor is quick out in this leg and is on 130 after nine darts. After 12, he is on 25. He manages the single nine, obviously, but after a shaky miss at D8 with his next, he pulls a leg back with his third throw.
Fourth set: Anderson 2-0 Taylor (2-1 on sets; first to seven) Having broken the throw, Anderson comes in with 100, 180 in the next leg. He’s on 136 after nine darts and Taylor is back on 145. Anderson leaves tops, Taylor back on 100 … and the Flying Scotsman takes it out with his next dart.
Fourth set: Anderson 1-0 Taylor (2-1 on sets; first to seven) Taylor hits 60, then 100. Anderson a 140 and 43. Taylor produces the match’s 12th maxi to leave 161 after nine but with Anderson back on 266 he tees himself up for D16. Anderson’s 96 leaves 170 … and Taylor fails to hit D16 with his next visit. No matter, Anderson can only score 98 but – what madness – Taylor misses nine darts at a double. Anderson is left with D18 after trying to go D18/D18 in the previous visit but finally finishes and
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Third set: Anderson 3-1 Taylor (2-1 on sets; first to seven) Both still averaging over 100 in the 13th leg. And Anderson’s first six darts leave him on 181 with Taylor back on 244. The Scot scores 130. Fifty-one, left he comes in to clean up. Anderson’s 180 in that leg was the tournament’s 604th – a record for the stattos among you.
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Third set: Anderson 2-1 Taylor (1-1 on sets; first to seven) Anderson hits 100, Taylor 78. The Scot follows with an unlucky eight as his third dart gets stuck in the flight of his first en route to the red bit. Taylor produces a ton next time, Anderson follows with the same. Taylor manages 94 against the throw but Anderson scores 145 to leave a two-dart finish on 76. Taylor bangs in 140 to leave 89 but he has no chance to finish when Anderson finishes with ease.
Third set: Anderson 1-1 Taylor (1-1 on sets; first to seven) A maximum from Taylor gets the next leg underway and the enables him to open up a bit of gap. After a ferocious start they’ve slowed down a bit now and Anderson’s average is dropping. Taylor comes in and nails 127 for a stunning 12-darter.
Third set: Anderson 1-0 Taylor (1-1 on sets; first to seven) Anderson gets us going in the third but manages *just* 60. Taylor scores 134. But Anderson nails his fifth maximum. Taylor hits 140. Anderson hits 131, Taylor’s next visit produces 83. With 130 remaining, Anderson can only score 58 and Taylor, on 144, is given a chance to nip in and break. But he can only score 60. Anderson, on 72, fails to hit tops with his 15th dart of the leg. Taylor cannot finish 84 – leaving himself with D5 – but Anderson’s 16th dart claims the leg.
Second set: Anderson 2-3 Taylor (1-1 on sets; first to seven) Oh yes! Taylor’s average reaches 110 with an opening 180. Anderson scores 96, Taylor finds only 59 next time. Anderson is a bit behind after an 83 though. Taylor scores the same to leave himself on 179, Anderson scores 100. Taylor leaves tops after his next throw … he can’t hit it though – too high with the first, single 20 with the next and misses D10. Anderson on 82 fails to finish on D10. You cannot give Taylor another chance and after hitting the wire with the first two, he lands the third to level the match. Something tells me we are in for a long night.
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Second set: Anderson 2-2 Taylor (Anderson leads one set to nil; first to seven sets) Anderson kicks off with an 81, Taylor goes 140. An Anderson ton is followed up by a Taylor maximum – the 600th of the tournament. Taylor’s next visit is 165 to leave D8 after nine darts. He misses the first but breaks back with his next. All level!
Second set: Anderson 2-1 Taylor (Anderson leads one set to nil; first to seven sets) Taylor scores a maximum and a 140 in his first two visits. Anderson accumulates 181 in six darts. Taylor scores a ton to leave himself on 81 after nine darts with Anderson way back on 260. Taylor misses tops on his 12th dart but Anderson remains without a finish following his next visit and the 16-time winner pulls a leg back with his 13th dart.
Second set: Anderson 2-0 Taylor (Anderson leads one set to nil; first to seven sets) Anderson starts the next with a 99, Taylor hits 131 before the Scot bangs in a ton. Taylor hits 140 before Anderson moves to the 18s without much success. Taylor scores another 140 to leave 90 but Anderson leaves 68 with another 180. Taylor fails to finish bull and Anderson comes in to hit double four.
Second set: Anderson 1-0 Taylor (Anderson leads one set to nil; first to seven sets) Taylor gets the second set underway with 58, Anderson responds with 91. Taylor hits a ton, Anderson 57. Taylor’s next visit produces 136 but Anderson pings three into the red bit for his third 180. Ninety-seven next for Taylor leaves him on 110. Anderson matches the 97 to leave himself on 76. Taylor botches his attempt at finishing – scoring 50 – and Anderson comes in to break. Could be a big leg.
First set: Anderson 3-2 Taylor (Anderson leads one set to nil; first to seven sets) Taylor starts the fifth leg with a 177 to give Anderson, pacing himself a bit more steadily, something to think about. The 16-time champ nails 100 with his next throw but Anderson responds with his second 180 of the night to leave 121. He hits T20, single 11 and … finds the bull to go one up. Terrific start.
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First set: Anderson 2-2 Taylor (first to seven sets) Steady, comfortable start from both. And the fourth leg goes with the throw again as Taylor sticks double eight having narrowly missed double 16.
First set: Anderson 2-1 Taylor (first to seven sets) Anderson hits 180 to start the next leg and has five perfect darts before the sixth goes into the single 20. Taylor is quite a way back and after nine darts, the Flying Scotsman leaves himself with 81 and Taylor is way back on 246. Anderson misses double 16 to finish with his 12th but comes in next time round to take the leg.
First set: Anderson 1-1 Taylor (first to seven sets) Taylor starts with a ton and his next throw brings up the evening’s first 180. He’s on 81 with nine darts thrown, while Anderson is back on 238. Taylor finishes on his next throw.
First set: Anderson 1-0 Taylor (first to seven sets) Anderson hits 123 with his first three darts, followed by a 59 from Taylor. A swift ton follows from the Scot before Taylor puts his first two darts into the red bit only for the third to narrowly miss the treble. Anderson scores 58, Taylor 81. Then a 100 from Anderson leaves him with 120. He hits the treble, then the single and notches his first double.
Here we go then, Anderson and Taylor make their grand entrances to a typically raucous welcome and we’re only a few warm-up throws from the first leg. Anderson to get us going …
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Has there been such a dominant individual across sport as Phil Taylor? Sixteen world titles before tonight, over £6m in prize money (impressive considering the winnings when he started off) and an 88.85% win rate. And he’s still as hungry as ever for glory.
It makes Anderson’s task all the more difficult. He has been outstanding in this tournament so far but facing Taylor on darts’ biggest night is the sport’s most intimidating situation. He’s reached this stage before in 2011 and lost 7-5 to Adrian Lewis – will he have taken enough from that defeat (hurt mostly, you’d assume) to get him across the line four years on?
John McEnerney, via email, reckons Taylor’s name is on the trophy again
Hi Alan, some match in store tonight, have a feeling The Power will nab world title number 17 but after the way GA dispatched MVG he’ll make life tough for PT! Magic Darts as Sid Waddell used to say, I’m sure there will be!
Arrers fans like abbreviations
It really annoys me that Sky have continuously referred to Alexandra Palace as ‘the Alexandra Palace’. Why? Just why?
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An email in from Simon McMahon while we count down to the showdown
Evening Alan, Happy New Year and well done the Guardian for covering the darts. Really looking forward to tonight’s final. For all that Phil’s done for the game, I’m rooting for Gary. And not just cos he’s Scottish. I mean, how many world titles does one man need? You want darting songs? How about Double Barrell by Dave and Ansell Collins, and 54-46 That’s My Number by Toots and the Maytals for starters?
Go on then … It sure beats Chase the Sun on loop.
STATS!
STATS: Phil Taylor's tournament stats so far in the @WillHillBet World Darts Championship! #WorldDarts pic.twitter.com/6r7crZ3PNx
— PDC (@OfficialPDC) January 4, 2015
STATS: Gary Anderson's tournament stats heading into tonight's @WillHillBet World Championship final! #WorldDarts pic.twitter.com/QbxchL0RXQ
— PDC (@OfficialPDC) January 4, 2015
Darts of pleasure
This is what we have been waiting all year for: who will be crowned the first sporting world champion of 2015? Will Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor win his 17th title or will Gary ‘The Flying Scotsman’ Anderson become king of the oche for the first time?
Anderson shocked the reigning champion Michael van Gerwen 6-3 last night, while Taylor eased past Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 (yes, I refuse to refer to yesterday’s vanquished as MVG and RVB) to set up this showdown at Ally Pally.
This pairing have never met in the World Championship but Taylor has a far superior head-to-head record, winning 27 compared to Anderson’s nine. But how long can The Crafty Potter keep going – he’s 55 now and while undoubtedly the greatest dartist of all time, he surely can’t keep winning world championships?
The action is set to get underway some time around 8.15pm but while we wait, read Martin Kelner on why he #lovesthedarts
When the comedian Mel Smith died in 2013, most of the tributes on TV included his famous “darts sketch”, from the 1980s TV satire show Not the Nine O’Clock News. In the sketch Griff Rhys Jones is Dai “Fat Belly” Gutbucket, competing against Smith, as Tommy “Even Fatter Belly” Belcher. Puffing away on cigs, they stand by a table groaning with bottles of booze, the joke being that instead of throwing doubles, they’re downing doubles; brandy, vodka, and so on.
Oh how we laughed, the young, savvy, Guardian-reading – there, I’ve said it – audience for that show. But in recent years, darts has become much more than a reliable source of cheap laughs for the chattering classes. Its major events sell out fast (darts historian Patrick Chaplin tells me World Championship tickets were the eighth-quickest seller online this year, not far behind Kate Bush and Fleetwood Mac), while TV audiences approach a million on Sky, and top two million for a rival tournament on the BBC.
You might like to think that’s because viewers have lost the taste for feeling superior, that sneering has somehow become unfashionable, but in a TV world where The Only Way is Essex flourishes, a second season of Benefits Street beckons, and Jeremy Kyle’s circus rolls relentlessly on, that can’t be the case.
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