9 Darters for free

I've got the Power. Like Bruce

There have been, there are, and there will always be people who are better at doing something than anyone else, e.g. the Don (Bradman), McCoy (AP not the fake one) and Jordan (Michael of course). Am I right?

Phil Taylor is one of these people. He has seen off the challenges of many darting greats: Bristow, Priestley, Part, van Barneveld. He has smashed all records and (one hesitates to say this but at the same time) one wonders if his records will ever be broken. FFS 15 World Championships are included in the 150+ tournaments he has picked up.

His ability to perform under pressure has made him one of the greatest competitors ever to have graced sport. Nobody wants to face him. From the moment he is on the oche an aura emanates from him that is akin to the intimidating presence that once surrounded Tiger Woods.

For example.

Taylor took on his protege, apprentice, and self styled successor to the darting throne James Wade in a Premier League match in 2008. In the warm up before each darts match each player gets to throw at the board three times. Taylor fired a perfect leg. He hit a maximum of 180 (3xTreble 20), a 174 (1xTreble 20+2xTreble 19), and to finish he hit 147 (1xTreble 20+1xTreble 17+1xDouble 18).

A nine darter. Crikey. The video is included below.

How did Wade feel after that? How could anyone feel after that? 9 darters are as rare as 147s in snooker. Remarkabley Wade averaged over 102 in the match a score that would guarantee a victory against anyone else. But the Power followed up his warm up act with a scintillating display and won the game 8 - 4.

In this year's final of the Premier League Taylor did something even more impressive. He hit two nine darters. And the man on the receiving end was James Wade. Again.