Taylor versus Van Gerwen? This World Matchplay statistic says no contest

That Phil Taylor is the most successful player in the history of the World Matchplay will surprise few darts fans. With no fewer than sixteen titles, “The Power” wrote a chapter in the sport that will likely never be matched. Yet beyond his impressive honors list, there is another statistic that perhaps shows even more clearly how exceptional his dominance in Blackpool truly was.

Since the start of the World Matchplay, Taylor has recorded no fewer than 62 matches in which he averaged 100 points or higher. That puts him head and shoulders above every other player. In fact, his lead over the competition is so large that he has more ton-plus averages to his name than the numbers two, three, and four on the list combined.

Michael van Gerwen occupies second place on this remarkable list with twenty matches. For years, the Dutchman was the only player who came remotely close to Taylor’s level at the World Matchplay, but even he has to acknowledge that the gap is enormous.

Peter Wright follows with fifteen ton-plus averages, while James Wade sits on twelve. Gary Anderson completes the top five with eleven matches in which he broke the magical 100 average barrier.

Behind them are Adrian Lewis with nine 100+ averages and the trio of Luke Humphries, Rob Cross, and Gerwyn Price, each of whom posted a minimum 100 average seven times at the World Matchplay. Dimitri Van den Bergh stands on six, and reigning world champion Luke Littler, despite his young age, already has five ton-plus averages to his name.

That last name makes the statistic especially intriguing. Littler has only a few World Matchplay appearances under his belt, but in that short span he has already cleared the 100 average mark five times. That not only underlines his immense talent, but also shows that if he remains at the top for years, he has the potential to climb significantly on this list. The gap to Taylor, however, remains gigantic.

The figures also illustrate how extraordinary Taylor’s performances in Blackpool were. Not only did he collect sixteen titles, he also delivered matches for years on end at a level his rivals could only reach sporadically. His tournament average of 114.99 at the World Matchplay still ranks among the highest ever at a major televised event. In addition, he was the first player to average over 100 in every match during a single edition of the tournament, an achievement he even managed to repeat multiple times.

Although the current generation, with players like Van Gerwen, Humphries, and Littler, regularly posts impressive averages, this statistic remains tangible proof of Taylor’s unparalleled supremacy. Sixty-plus ton averages at a single televised tournament constitute a record that seems out of reach for now and may be just as striking as his sixteen World Matchplay titles.