The Consistent Wizard makes another final

PHIL TAYLOR retained the Championship League Darts title in a brilliant final as he beat Simon Whitlock 6-4 at Crondon Park GC on Thursday. He then led 2-0 in the final against Whitlock, hitting two 180s in the second leg, before the Australian star finished 61 for a 14-darter to reply. Taylor hit an 11-dart finish to move 3-1 up, and after Whitlock took the fifth leg on double ten, he finished legs of 13 and 11 darts to move to the brink of glory. Whitlock finished an 11-darter to keep the match alive in the next after Taylor missed double five for a 130 finish to claim the title, and he continued the fight back on double ten after the world number one missed two more match darts, this time at double eight. Whitlock then had a chance to force a decider in the tenth leg, but missed the double 16 for a showpiece 132 checkout after hitting two bullseyes, and Taylor stepped in to seal the win on double four. Whitlock picked up £5,000 as the runner-up in addition to £15,200 prize money he has won this year, having been the Group Five winner.

He finished third in the Winners Group league phase with four wins from his seven matches and saw off Jamie Caven 6-4 in a high-quality semi-final where both players averaged over 100.

"I^m pleased to have reached the final and it^s been a great tournament," said the Australian, September^s European Championship winner.

"I^m a little bit disappointed that I missed the double 16 in the final leg there because it would have been interesting to see how the decider would have gone, but overall I^m really happy with how I played.

"Phil was fantastic in the final and I was really happy to push him all the way there."

The Championship League Darts paid out a total of £176,750 across nine days of play, with 29 players competing in the tournament which was streamed live on the internet through LIVEPDC.TV and a series of bookmakers^ websites worldwide.