Taylor battles back to edge past McGarry in tie-break thriller at World Seniors Darts Championship
WSDT
Phil Taylor is through to the Last 16 of the 2023 World Seniors Darts Championship and 'The Power's charge continues at the Circus Tavern albeit surviving a scare against Colin McGarry and having to battle back from 2-1 down in sets and surviving a match dart in a tie-break.
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Taylor will now face Darren Johnson in the next round who was expecting to face 'The Chief' with some predicting that the Northern Irishman would defeat the 16-time World Champion and that looked on the cards.
But pressure tolled and the trebles dried up and 'The Power' as he did during his professional career produced when it mattered most.
It was a strong start for Taylor as McGarry missed a dart to hold and Taylor surged into the lead claiming the set from there 3-1 on double 20.
McGarry went into a 2-0 lead to begin the second set, Taylor held throw but 'The Chief' sealed it with an 81 checkout on double 10.
He kept the next set alive with an incredible 130 checkout and turned it on its head with a 95 checkout which was even applauded by 'The Power'.
But roles were reversed as Taylor reeled off three consecutive legs to send it to a decider. A 14-darter and a 16-darter followed up to consolidate on his own throw. He sealed it with a 78 checkout with McGarry ready to hold to send it to a deciding leg.
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McGarry missed 118 for the first leg of the decider but returned to hold and broke throw on double four to go one away.
The trebles dried up as he was throwing for the match and Taylor set up 40 from 134. He missed three to break and McGarry missed double 20 for a 160 checkout to win. Taylor returned to hit double 10 to break back.
Taylor missed 120 to take it to a decider but returned with McGarry continuing to not handle the pressure trebles wise and it was suddenly a tie-break.
Taylor miscounted and McGarry left 55 but couldn't make Taylor pay and 'The Power' returned to break on double 10 last dart in hand. He finally got a maximum throwing for the match which broke the spirit of McGarry and he pinned double 20 first time for the win.
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