Anderson quashes Taylor’s quest for 17th world title in nervy finale
ENGLAND’S Phil Taylor admitted to being bullied in the deciding set after Gary Anderson last night claimed his first PDC World Championship with a pulsating 7-6 victory at the Alexandra Palace.
Fourth seed Anderson trailed the 16-time world champion 4-3 before surging into a 6-4 lead, while Taylor engineered a dramatic finale by levelling the clash at 6-6.
Anderson claimed the first leg of the final set as Taylor’s finishing deserted him, the 54-year-old missing double 12 in the next which allowed Anderson to capitalise and claim silverware.
“At 6-6 I felt I had him and my energy levels were good but he did a job on me and he beat me up in the last set,” said Taylor. “Doubles cost me a couple of sets. My double eight and 16 were awful but Gary put me under pressure.”
Anderson, who lost nine of 10 legs after going 3-1 up, admitted beating someone of the stature of Taylor to the £250,000 first prize made his triumph all the more rewarding.
Anderson said: “Phil is the best and always will be the best so that makes it more special.”