The Machine runs out of Power

Phil Taylor 'Powered' to the top of the Premier League after a dramatic night of darts in front of a sold-out Brighton Centre.



Taylor leads the table after Raymond van Barneveld was shocked earlier in the evening by Wayne 'Pulls stupid faces' Mardle with John Part and Adrian Lewis also picking up maximum points on another pulsating night of darts.


Taylor gained revenge on James Wade with a comfortable 8-4 win in the showpiece encounter of the evening.


'The Power' notched up his fourth successive win as his average of 104 was too much for Wade, who fought bravely against the 13-time world champion.


The pair were locked at 3-3 before Taylor took the decisive break with a clinical 164 check-out in what is becoming his trademark style- treble 19, treble 19 & bull.


Taylor continue to pepper the trebles and after 'The Machine' missed three darts at double 11 'The Power' capitalised to cruise into a 6-3 lead.


Both players exchanged 180s but it was Taylor who was more deadly on the doubles and he finished the match with one dart at double 12 to lead the way after week eight.


'The Power' has produced a dramatic turnaround since his 8-3 defeat to Peter Manley four weeks ago, and the world number one admitted his decision to change his darts has been the key to his recent success.

"I know what I can do and I think everyone that supports me believes in me which is fantastic.


"I'm over the moon to be top of the league and these darts are doing me good."


Elsewhere Adrian 'Jackpot'Lewis leapfrogged Terry Jenkins and moved into the play-off positions with a stunning 8-3 victory over 'The Bull' in the opening game of the evening.


Lewis emphatically bounced back from last week's defeat to Raymond van Barneveld to wound an out-of-sorts Jenkins on the south coast.


'The Bull' never really got going and was fortunate to pick up the first-leg of the night after Lewis missed three darts at double 19.


The Stoke-on-Trent player made no mistake in the second-leg and he and Jenkins continued to trade blows until Lewis pounced on a weak leg from 'The Bull' to break the throw and take a 4-2 lead just before the break.


Jenkins gathered his thoughts at the interval and hit back with the first 180 of the night as he went on to close the gap to 4-3.


However, that was to be the Hertfordshire player's last moment of joy of the night as a ruthless Lewis produced a fine spell of arrows to move 7-3 ahead.


'Jackpot' sealed the win in stylish fashion as he nonchalantly took out 134 to boost his average up to 102 and claim the two points.


Perhaps the biggest shock was how by Wayne Mardle produced the performance of the evening to stun Raymond van Barneveld with a sensational 8-5 victory.


A fired-up 'Hawaii 501' flew out of the traps against the five-time world champion with a 12-darter which ultimately set the tone for the rest of the match.


Barney struggled to find any sort of rhythm and was simply blown away by Mardle's high-scoring and clinical finishing.


Cheered on by a strong following of 'Hawaii' fans on the coast, Mardle surged into a 4-2 lead at the break as Barney stood in disbelief at what was unfolding in front of him.


The Dutchman responded with the class we come to associate with him after the interval and restored parity at 4-4 against the throw.


However, Mardle wasn't to be denied a memorable win and after back-to-back finishes of 112 the Dagenham player regained the initiative and crossed the line for only his second win of the campaign.




In the battle of the also-rans Canadian John Part bounced back from his defeat to Phil Taylor last week with an impressive 8-5 win over Peter Manley.


In a topsy-turvy encounter which saw seven legs won against the throw, Part clawed his way over the line to maintain his challenge for a top-four finish.


Manley hardly had time to blink as he stared down the barrel at a 4-0 deficit as 'Darth Maple' stormed out of the traps with a relentless assault on the trebles.


Part was guilty of letting 'One Dart' back into the match and Manley doesn't need asking twice, and he seized the opportunity to win three successive legs to take the score to 5-4.


However 'Darth Maple' regained control and after Manley missed three darts at double 16 - Part pounced to leave his opponent level on points with Mardle at the foot of the table.

Be Very Afraid!!! The Power is Back.

Following his first three defeats ever in the Premier League, Phil 'The Power' Taylor announced what every dart player feared- " I'm back"

As we headed into Week 6 of the 2008 competition, the knives were well and truly out for 'The Power' (or as Legendary Commentator Sid Waddell calls him 'The Powaaa'). Having switched his darts to something reminiscent of those found at seaside funfairs, Taylor had managed only two victories so far, the latest an 8-0 drubbing of comedy player Wayne 'Hawaii 501' Mardle. Taylor insisted that it would take time to become comfortable with the new Tungsten arrows and that it was only a matter of time until he was back to his best.

The sceptics sensed blood. Was 'The Power' no longer the invincible machine of old. From the darts he was playing, they had a point. So far removed was his throwing from what we were accustomed to that Taylor looked like a spent force.

So to the biggest test so far, 2007 World Champion and long time rival Raymond 'Barney' van Barneveld. Undefeated so far in this year's event and looking to put another dart in Taylor's coffin, 'Barney' must have been feeling confident.

Taylor announced pre-match that he'd lengthened his arrows to give better flight and was confident in his new 'understacking' technique. So, GAME ON.

What followed was to many a darting miracle. 'The Power' was suddenly throwing with superb confidence, accuracy and finishing with aplomb. Barneveld looked shaken. A 121 check out in the opening leg set the tone. To his credit, 'Barney' managed to hold the score at 3-3 when the players went for their break.

Returning re-Powered (ouch!) Taylor stepped on the gas and left his old foe trailing. Averaging at 111, Taylor banged in another 121 finish and a 144. Suddenly it was 7-3 to 'The Power'. And so to the final coup de grace, a stunning 167 checkout finishing with the bull. 8-3 to Taylor.

Cue delirious scenes from the 5,000 strong audience and worried faces from the other players. 'The Power' had just put in one of the greatest displays in recent times and with a 'I told you so' look on his beaming face took the deserved plaudits.

With other results going his way & his darts once more doing his bidding , Taylor now looks poised to charge back up the league when the action resumes in Manchester. But a week is a long time in darts.....

How has the once low key sport of darts become such big news? If, like many, you associate darts with Bullseye on the TV, smoky pubs and an annual two week appearance on our screens for the world championships, then think again.

Thanks to the emergence of the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) and big time exposure from Sky Sports, darts has quickly become the new Rock 'n' roll. During a recent visit by a long time family friend, I suggested we watch some sports. After his initial comments of "Darts!! Are you serious?" we settled down to some PDC Premier League arrows. Within five minutes he was, as I had been for weeks, transfixed by the spectacle on view. Still the players were the mainly overweight men in brightly coloured shirts but that was where the connection with the past ended.

Now sell-out crowds of thousands, madly waving '180' or 'Hello Mum' banners, greet the players as they enter the 'arena' to a Rockstar style fanfare. 'Is this the way to Amarillo', 'Rocky' and 'The Power' blast out as the pros make their way to the stage along a walkway of flashing lights and grasping hands all keen to touch skin with their heroes.

This sporting metamorphosis has changed the players into entertainers which the crowds and viewing TV public (myself included) lap up. Gone are the plain old Jocky Wilsons. No self respecting darts pro is complete without a nickname. Phil 'The Power' Taylor, Adrian 'Jackpot' Lewis' & Peter 'One Dart' Manley are just some of the wondrous nom de darts these arrow throwing icons adopt.

Darts has now, more than in the past, become a truly global, high profile sport. Big events in Europe, Asia and Las Vegas highlight its burgeoning popularity. One time rulers of darts, the BDO (British Darts Organisation), have even woken up to the 'entertainment' factor in today's game. With so many of their players defecting to the PDC, the BDO had become the 'poor man's' version of pro darts. Thankfully, they are adding the glitz and showmanship of the PDC to their many fine tournaments.

None of this Rock 'n' Roll style should detract from the fact that these dartsmen are greatly skilled at what they do. Countless hours of practice along with the natural raw talent are needed to attain the levels of skill these players regularly exhibit. To be able to throw a pointed 23 gram object into a tiny target area is certainly no small feat.

And now I hear that darts is to be considered as an invitational sport for the 2012 London Olympics!! Cue mass hysteria from sports snobs. ("It's not a real sport, just a pastime", "They're not athletes). I and countless darts fans worldwide would disagree. Sure, these men can't run 100m in under10 secs or a 4 minute mile. Some sportsmen are built for speed, some for endurance. These sporting behemoths are built for precision.