Phil Taylor etched his name into history in 2010 with a breathtaking finish in the final of the Premier League Darts.
As we eagerly approach the beginning of the 2025 Premier League, which starts on Thursday, it’s only fitting to reflect on the achievements of the GOAT of darts.
Back then, Taylor was the undeniable force to defeat. The Premier League featured eight competitors, and they didn’t engage in weekly mini-tournaments.
What unfolded was a true league format, with all players facing off in one match each night for an intense 14 weeks.
No one managed to come close to the darts legend from Stoke-on-Trent; he triumphed in 12 of his 14 matches, often with staggering margins, boasting a leg difference of +58.
Mervyn King and James Wade did manage to hold ‘The Power’ to a draw once.
These players, like Taylor, managed to reach the playoffs of the 2010 Premier League Darts.
In the first semi-final, Wade edged Aussie Simon Whitlock 8-6, while Englishman Taylor delivered an 8-1 defeat to his compatriot King, showcasing an average of 108.
The final pitted Taylor against Wade in a duel for the title, alongside the tempting top prize of £125,000.
Wade secured the first leg. In the second leg, Taylor launched himself with a stunning score of 174, leaving a 147 finish thanks to a 180.
With treble 20, treble 17, and double 18, the multiple world champion achieved his first-ever nine-darter in Premier League Darts, igniting the crowd’s exhilaration.
This was also the first ever nine-darter in a Premier League final.
But Wade wasn’t about to back down, continuing to challenge his celebrated rival.
A second nine-darter from ‘The Power’, however, proved too formidable for the left-handed darter to overcome.
In the 15th leg Taylor delivered his second nine-darter of the match with a dazzling combination of two 180s and a 141 check-out.
This historic moment marked the first time in darts history that a player managed to execute two perfect legs in a single match.
It wasn’t done in darts for another seven years when Michael van Gerwen managed the stunning feat in a qualifier for the UK Open in February 2017.
Meanwhile, Gerwyn Price is the closest to do it in Premier League history having secured two nine-dart finishes on the same night in 2023, but crucially in separate matches.
After that breathtaking second nine-darter, Taylor strung together 16 consecutive perfect darts, beginning the 16th leg with 174 and 180.
He hit treble 20 with the first dart of his third turn, only narrowly missing the triple 17 by an inch.
Ultimately, Taylor clinched a 9-7 victory with a superb 10-darter, eventually winning the Premier League final 10-8.
Taylor’s illustrious career ended when he retired from competitive darts in 2018 after his memorable 29th world championship appearance.
During that match, he also missed a double for a nine-dart finish, which would have marked his first in a world championship setting.
As we gear up for the 2025 Premier League Darts this week, Luke Littler stands proudly at the forefront of a star-studded lineup.
In his debut year, Littler triumphed in the 2024 competition, overcoming Luke Humphries in the final to seize the impressive £275,000 prize money.
Littler now aims to defend his crown on the PDC Order Of Merit, stepping into the contest as a world champion.
The 17-year-old is riding high after his scintillating victory over Michael Van Gerwen at the Alexandra Palace finale last month.
As he prepares to defend his Premier League title, he’ll face off against some of the elite in the sport over a 17-week journey.
Night 1 of the 2025 BetMGM tournament will kick off in Belfast, launching an exciting 17-week tour across England, along with Dublin, Glasgow, Cardiff, and the Netherlands.
The thrilling playoffs will unfold at The O2 in London on Thursday, May 29.