Phil Taylor Defeats Denis Ovens to Win German Darts Championship
Phil Taylor defeated Denis Ovens 4-1 to take victory in the inaugural PartyPoker.net German Darts Championship.
The 13-time World Champion made it four successive victories inside a month with an imperious display in the final, hitting six 180s and averaging over 105.
Taylor claimed two Players Championship wins in Holland during November and then swept aside the field at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts last week.
He came from a set down in the final to defeat Ovens by winning eight of the final ten legs, showing superb scoring with six 180s and unerring accuracy on treble 19.
Taylor opened the game with a 180 and took the opening leg before Ovens hit back to take the next two for the first set.
Ovens also had his chances in the second set, missing single 14 which would have left the bullseye in the opening leg and double 12 for a 98 finish in the second; Taylor inevitably on hand to mop up with a 104 checkout and double 16 finish.
Taylor took the third set in a deciding leg, with scores of 137 and 174 setting him up, although Ovens took out a fine 124 on double 11 to lead in set four.
But any hopes he had of squaring the game were crushed by Taylor, who landed near-identical back-to-back 11 darters to move 3-1 up.
The pair traded maximums in the opening leg of set five, but a missed double 12 from Ovens allowed Taylor in to land double top.
Ovens kicked off the next leg with scores of 100 and 180, with Taylor’s first throw of 42 leaving him trailing.
A sixth 180 of the game, followed by a 139 score saw Taylor claw his way back into the leg, and he stepped in following two misses at double 18 from Ovens to seal a superb win on double top.
“I’m over the moon,” said Taylor. “It’s a very emotional win because that is four tournaments I’ve won in a row now.
“It’s the ideal preparation for the World Championship and I’m delighted.
“It’s always nice to win new tournaments, and the standard here was superb. I’m delighted.”
Taylor won his semi-final against Mark Walsh by the same 4-1 scoreline, taking six of the last seven legs in clinical fashion to follow up a brilliant 3-0 quarter-final win over Wayne Mardle.
Ovens overcame Colin Lloyd and Roland Scholten on Sunday to reach the final, with Scholten a 3-1 winner against Raymond van Barneveld in the last eight.
Van Barneveld and Jason Clark had hit nine-darters on the event’s opening day, while Kevin McDine continued to develop his growing reputation by reaching the last eight, where he went down to Walsh.
The event also saw the confirmation of the German Darts Corporation’s two qualifiers for the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship next month.
Austrian Mensur Suljovic, the GDC number one this year, will take on Andy Smith in round one at Alexandra Palace, and Frankfurt-based Michael Rosenauer will face Mervyn King.
PartyPoker.net German Darts Championship
Quarter-Finals
Phil Taylor 3-0 Wayne Mardle (2-0, 2-1, 2-0)
Mark Walsh 3-1 Kevin McDine (2-0, 0-2, 2-1, 2-0)
Roland Scholten 3-1 Raymond van Barneveld (2-1, 2-0, 1-2, 2-0)
Colin Lloyd 1-3 Denis Ovens (2-1, 1-2, 1-2, 0-2)
Losers 3,000 euro
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 4-1 Mark Walsh (2-1, 1-2, 2-0, 2-0, 2-1)
Denis Ovens 4-1 Roland Scholten (2-1, 1-2, 2-1, 2-1, 2-0)
Losers 6,000 euro
Final
Phil Taylor 4-1 Denis Ovens (1-2, 2-0, 2-1, 2-1, 2-0)
Winner 25,000 euro
Runner-Up 12,000 euro
