Taylor looks back on final World Matchplay win: "It was a good send-off for my career, it was the final icing on the cake"

Phil Taylor is synonymous with the World Matchplay with the trophy now named after 'The Power' and ahead of the return of the illustrious tournament to the Winter Gardens with fans set to descend on Blackpool once more, he took a look back at some of his memories.

"I think my biggest memory would have been winning the nine-darter, the first one. The trophy was so big you've never seen anything like it, big crystal dart board.

"That's what I was after and the £100,000 was a bonus obviously. But there was one shot of me walking on stage, it's got the picture of my back and the arena itself and that says everything about the World Matchplay.

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Taylor dominates list of highest averages at World Matchplay

Highest averages and tinkering to gain edge

He still holds eight of the top match averages at the tournament including the top four with the highest being 114.99 and he discussed gaining an edge.

"There would have been some stray darts there, that's the daft thing. I would have criticised myself, you're always trying to push yourself. I was anyway, that's why I kept changing my flights, my shoes.

"This is another one I used to do because it was red hot. I used to put a bottle of water into the freezer and then wehn I come off stage, I put me wrists against the water to cool my blood down. You've got to keep thinking of ways to improve yourself."

Final hoorah

His final send off came in 2017 when he claimed his last title at the Winter Gardens and he told of it being the perfect send off.

"I had a tough run that year. It was good. He let me have the walk on which was nice of him, he was a bit upset, he was a bit emotional. It was a good send-off for my career, I wanted to win that again and it was the final icing on the cake."