When Taylor comes back, the archenemy gasps after the invasion
Phil Taylor“/> After 1496 days, Phil Taylor played a match again
Source: dpa / Steven Paston
Great cheer in the darts world: Phil Taylor is back. When the longtime dominator returns, there are sometimes amusing scenes. A 20-year-old scandal is settled after the World Seniors match.
EDarts fans had to wait exactly 1496 days until legend Phil Taylor returned to the official stage. At the World Seniors Darts Championship, the 16-time world champion made his much-acclaimed comeback.
The draw caused a bang right at the start. Because Phil “The Power” met his nemesis from days gone by, Peter Manley. Manley of all people. The 59-year-old who caused a scandal after the 2002 World Cup final. After the 7-0 defeat – the “White Wash” – the Englishman left the hall in a rage and refused to shake hands with Taylor.
20 years later things were much calmer. Between the two seniors – Taylor is now 61 years old, but also in the audience. No disguises like in “Ally Pally”, no escalations of joy after 180 throws. For the oldies, the cramped and small Circus Tavern in Purfleet tends to be more moderate.
First Taylor nods his approval, then he races to victory
It somehow fitted into the picture that outsider Manley gasped on stage after his opening song “Is this the way to Amarillo”. With Taylor it looked better after his “I ve got the power”. Of course, the subsequent hit “There is only one Phil Taylor” couldn’t be missing before it got sporty.
Manley set the first exclamation mark with the through throw, Taylor countered in the second leg with the first 180 of the game and an 82 two-dart finish. Bulls eye and double 16, a classic Taylor. But Manley didn’t let that deter him and brought home the throw-off set with an 84 finish. Taylor nodded appreciatively.
And now it was required. A challenge that the former permanent world champion can still master in his sleep. With tops he got the break in the second leg of the second set, he equalized the set with the double 9.
It went on at a rapid pace. The break at the beginning of the third set, a 3:1 lead. Taylor also felt that after a break of more than four years, not everything is going back to the way it used to be. In the second leg of the fourth set, he only scored seven points with his second shot. Even the grandmaster had to smile.
Manley shakes hands with Taylor
But it was still enough for a clear 3:1 victory. With the first match dart on double 16, Taylor made it into the quarterfinals against Kevin Painter with an 81 average. He showed a strong performance in his smooth 3-0 win against Wayne Warren and came up with a 94 average.
And Taylor’s former nemesis Peter Manley also had his big appearance. Unlike the 2002 World Cup scandal, he went to his conqueror – and shook his hand.
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