Power responds in style by winning in Salzburg despite nine-darter
Phil Taylor responded to a rare defeat on Saturday by beating Simon Whitlock 6-4 in Sunday's final in Austria, despite the Australian hitting a nine-darter.
The World number one suffered a surprise final-leg defeat to Steve Beaton but made no mistake on Sunday to claim the £6,000 first prize and deny Whitlock back-to-back victories in Austria.
Two of the form men around, Taylor and Whitlock could meet in next week's Premier League final, and the Australian showed he meant business by kicking in with a nine-darter in the opening leg of the final.
The Australian came out of the blocks all guns blazing with back-to-back maximums. He then hit another treble 20 which was followed by accurate attempts at treble 15 and double 18, to complete a dream start for the World Championship finalist.
It was the third nine-dart finish recorded in the last four Pro Tour events - Andy Hamilton and Co Stompe having achieved the same feat in Wigan, last weekend.
Fast start
The Australian moved 2-0 ahead courtesy of a 13-dart-finish, but in third leg he missed four darts at doubles to move further clear of his opponent, and Taylor took the chance to open his account.
The World Champion then won the fourth leg in 15 darts to square the game at two apiece and he then took the lead for the first time with a 74 finish to win the fifth.
Whitlock hit-back by hitting his sixth maximum of the game in an 11 darter to win the leg but Taylor regained the lead in the seventh leg to go 4-3 up. Taylor then hit fantastic ten-dart finish to break throw and move one leg away from victory.
In the next leg Taylor was waiting on 40 for the match but Whitlock managed to keep his hopes alive by recording a 112 checkout.
In the tenth leg, Whitlock had the advantage of throw but one dart at double top to take match to a deciding leg and Taylor hit the same bed to secure his fifth Pro Tour title of 2010.
The Stoke star defeated Thomas Grill and Peter Hudson with ease in his opening game before overcoming John Part 6-3 in with an average of 114.
Mervyn King and Tony Randell were dispatched by the same scoreline before he beat Colin Lloyd in the semi-finals with a whitewash victory, which was completed with a 12-dart finish that included two 180s.
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