Anyone thinking that Phil Taylor was a spent force who was just going to roll over and have his belly tickled at this world championships had better think again.
Taylor came out with all guns blazing on and off the oche last night. First, he rather comically held up a placard mocking Ian Poulter over his view that Darts isn’t a proper sport.
Then he hammered Per Laursen 4-0 with an average of 102.09, before turing his attentions to attacking the Sky Sports commentators for apparently criticizing him during his 1st round match against Gary Mawson.
I watched that match and heard the commentary and in fairness to them, they were just doing their jobs and calling it as they seen it. I didn’t think they were unfair to Taylor, they pointed out the extenuating circumstances and said that it must be affecting Taylor’s performance.
Taylor seemed to be a bit over sensitive to me, which given what he’s been through lately is understandable. But he isn’t – and shouldn’t expect to be – exempt from crictism, last night suggested that he thinks he is. Either that, or he didn’t actually hear the commentary himself and was just reacting to feedback.
The performance was a return to form for Taylor, but it wasn’t vintage stuff with just the one maximum in the 4 sets. He did what he needed to do and is still favourite to win the title at a best price of
I think Taylor is too short on current form, although to counter that, the draw is opening up for him with a last 16 match against Peter Wright (another player who will be in awe of the power) to come.
I wouldn’t back him at the moment, thats not to say that I don’t think he will win it and I wouldn’t be stupid enough to write Taylor off. Just that on current form, I don’t think it represents great value.