Phil Taylor backed up his success at the World Matchplay in Blackpool by taking home his fourth consecutive European Championship title.
Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor defeated Adrian Lewis 11-8 in the final of the PartyPoker.net European Championship on Sunday in Dusseldorf.
The Power saw off his protégé in a tense final thanks to a crucial break of throw in the 18th leg, with Taylor popping in a 180 before taking out 164 to move 10-8 ahead.
Both men hit two 140s in the next leg, but it was Taylor who was first to the double and hit double ten to claim the £50,000 winner's cheque with a 109.29 average.
"It's a great feeling and a great end to a fantastic event," said Taylor. "The crowd were unreal and stuck behind the players throughout. The atmosphere has been brilliant. Adrian's semi against Raymond was one of the best I've ever seen - he's had a tougher day than me to get to the final.
"I'm looking forward to having a great holiday now and this trophy is down to 30 years of dedication," added the World number one.
Lewis was on a high going into the final after winning a thrilling semi-final against Raymond van Barneveld, clinching a place in final with a 121 checkout against the throw in a deciding leg after hitting a nine-darter in the 17th leg before the Dutchman battled back.
"This is the best atmosphere I've played in and I hope we come here again," said Lewis. "Phil was fantastic and thoroughly deserved the win. The 121 to win the semi was better than the nine-darter really but I've had a great weekend here and I'm full of confidence going into Dublin and beyond."
Lewis jumped 2-0 ahead in the final but was pegged back to 3-3 by the Power and the Stoke pair continued to trade blow-for-blow with Taylor winning the bull before the match looking all the more crucial as they found themselves level at 8-8, before Taylor's crucial 18th leg.
Earlier in the evening, Lewis pipped Van Barneveld in a final-leg decider of a pulsating semi-final that had it all. A nine-darter in the 17th leg from Lewis saw him move to within one leg of the match, but he missed a dart in the 18th leg to clinch it and six more darts in the 20th leg as the tension became almost unbearable.
The momentum and the darts belonged to Van Barneveld, but with the Dutchman sitting on 24, Lewis took out 121 to reach the final.
Taylor and Whitlock had a lot to live up to and it was the World number one who prevailed as the Australian struggled on his doubles.
Taylor took the opening two legs before Whitlock registered, but when the Power moved 5-1 ahead, Whitlock had missed darts to win three of the legs.
An 11th dart leg from Taylor made it 6-1 before Whitlock stopped the rot to take the eighth leg, but again, Taylor powered away from the Australian with three more legs to move within two of the final. Whitlock finally strung consecutive legs together, but with 14 missed darts at doubles during the match he found it hard to keep up with Taylor, who joined Lewis in the final with a 13-darter and a sixth break of throw.
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