Sunday 25 March 2012

Taylor Claims Qualifier Three Win

PHIL TAYLOR took victory in the third Speedy Services UK Open Qualifier with a 6-2 defeat of Brendan Dolan in Saturday's final at the Barnsley Metrodome.

The 15-time World Champion and world number one created a further slice of history with his 60th career PDC ProTour win, having only competed in 100 of the PDC's non-televised tournaments which were introduced in 2002.

The victory also secures his place in June's Speedy Services UK Open televised finals in Bolton, and saw him pick up £6,000 in prize money.

He had to endure some nervous moments early on, edging out Irishman Keith Rooney 6-5 in the first round and defeating Steven Pearson 6-3 in the last 64, before dropping only one leg in wins over young duo Adam Hunt and James Hubbard to reach the quarter-finals.

Taylor had to come from 3-0 down against Colin Lloyd before taking a 6-5 win over the former World Matchplay champion, who missed the bull to take victory himself in the deciding leg.

Taylor then swept to victory by following up his 6-2 semi-final win over emerging star Michael Smith with a triumph by the same scoreline against Dolan in the final.

Dolan actually led in the repeat of last year's World Grand Prix final, with Taylor taking the opening leg with an 80 finish before the Northern Ireland ace finished a 14-darter to level and broke on double eight.

He would, though, be punished for missing double 16 for a 102 finish in the next for a 3-1 lead as Taylor took out double eight to level with a 14-darter.

Taylor then hit back-to-back 12-dart finishes to move 4-2 up, finished double eight for a 14-darter to edge towards victory and then hit a 180 before landing double four to secure the win.

Dolan's run saw him reach his first PDC ProTour final since October 2009, and included a 6-4 semi-final win over Brierley Hill's Mark Jones and a quarter-final triumph against five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld by the same scoreline.

He also overcame reigning McCoy's Premier League Darts champion Gary Anderson on the day, and takes home £3,000 prize money.

West Midlands thrower Jones enjoyed a superb run to reach his first professional semi-final, defeating Dutch pair Jelle Klaasen and Vincent van der Voort in the latter stages, and was joined by the last four by St Helens' Michael Smith, who came from 5-3 down to defeat Andy Smith in the quarters.

Shropshire's Steve Farmer became the latest member of the PDC's Nine-Dart Club after achieving a perfect leg - the sixth in a PDC event this year - during his first round win over Andy Relf, earning him a £400 bonus.

He was almost forced to share the bonus with Stoke's Ian White, who hit a nine-dart finish in Benidorm in January but agonisingly missed double 12 for another perfect leg in the first round against Peter Wright.

Sunday sees the fourth UK Open Qualifier held at the Barnsley Metrodome, with a further £35,000 on offer.

Qualifying events for amateur players will also be held, with both the Speedy Qualifiers and Rileys Qualifiers to be held in April and May to offer 32 places each in the televised finals.

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