The top five moments of the PDC World Matchplay 2018

The Blackpool crowd were treated to nine days of incredible darts at the Winter Gardens. In the end, Gary Anderson claimed his second PDC title of the year. But a lot happened before the Flying Scotsman could pick up the World Matchplay crown. Here are five of the best moments from the tournament.

Kim Huybrechts arrived in Blackpool with all the weight of history on his shoulders. For six years he had come to the Winter Gardens, and been dumped out in the first round. Attempt number seven was to begin against John Henderson, a man with recent success in destroying major dreams. It wasn't billed as one of the big first round ties - but it ended up being the best.
Time and time again, one took an advantage and the other clawed it back. That was after Huybrechts had opened up a 5-1 lead, which was brilliantly erased by the Highlander. Two missed match darts came and went for the Belgian before Henderson, who was hitting more than half of his double attempts, forced a decider. In the 25th and final leg, it was the Hurricane who came out on top to finally end his losing streak. He'd go on to lose to Peter Wright in the second round.
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The World Matchplay was meant to open with Michael van Gerwen setting out for glory. Instead, day one was the final day for Mighty Mike. Losing at the first hurdle in three of his last five major appearances is enough of a shock. To go out to the same man twice in a row is a step beyond.
Yet Jeffrey de Zwaan has now claimed van Gerwen's scalp at the UK Open and the Matchplay. The Dutch youngster was outstanding, holding off his compatriot and striking at all the right times to take a 10-6 triumph. The Black Cobra struck to knock out Adrian Lewis and Dave Chisnall before going out in the semi-finals.
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Gary Anderson vs Joe Cullen was one of the very best games in recent PDC history. It truly had it all - the big finishes, high scoring, a certain leg which will be discussed later - and no darts fan complained when the match went the distance. But above Cullen's 170 finish and Anderson's pair of 141s, an attempt at double nine proved the most pivotal.
At 15-14 up, Cullen gave himself a pair of match darts. The first, at double 18, fell short. As the Bradford thrower switched across the board and lined up match dart number two, there was an intervention from above. A fly chose that moment to buzz across Cullen's eyeline, doing just enough to distract him. The dart went just outside the wire; Anderson pounced. The rest, as they say, was history.
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That reprieve against Cullen allowed Anderson a run at the final, which he duly reached. His opponent was Mensur Suljovic, a man still looking for his first major title. After beating Steve Beaton, Ian White, Darren Webster and Peter Wright, the Gentle was one win from a place in the history books. He earned a spot in history anyway, as it turned out. He and Anderson played out the longest final in World Matchplay history.
With both averaging in three figures, the final was a high-octane affair. Two 11-darters and three 14-darters had Suljovic in contention, but Anderson punished any mistake the Austrian made. It meant that neither player ever led by more than four legs. The Scot did, twice, but Suljovic wasn't giving up that easily.
Incredibly, the Gentle claimed five legs on the spin to take an 18-17 lead. But there was yet another twist in store. Anderson grabbed the next two legs, and set himself up for the win. He needed the bull, and hit it - only for the dart to bounce out. The crowd were stunned, and so too was Anderson when Suljovic made it 19-19.
But the mark of a champion is bouncing back from a blow. The Flying Scotsman did just that, and claimed the next two legs to win 21-19. Picking up the Phil Taylor trophy for the first time after a marathon match, Anderson joined the small cabal who have completed a PDC hat-trick. Next year's final - and tournament, generally - has a lot to live up to.
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Sit back. Watch this. Enjoy.
It doesn't get better than a nine-darter.
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