Las Vegas Desert Classic
Phil Taylor 8-0 Dennis Priestley
Phil Taylor ruthlessly whitewashed Dennis Priestley at the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic - and was left in tears following the emotional victory.
The pair have enjoyed a great rivalry over 20 years at the top of the sport, but Taylor showed no sentiment in destroying Priestley's hopes in the event.
Taylor only allowed Priestley to have two darts at a double in the contest as he remained on course for a fifth Desert Classic title.
"I didn't feel comfortable but I had to do it," said a tearful Taylor. "Dennis didn't play as well as he could do and I don't like beating him like that.
"He'd have done the same to me and I had a job to do, but it is very difficult to beat a fellow pro 8-0. He's a great guy and I feel for him."
Taylor landed a 180 with his second visit to the oche, and took the first leg on double 16 before landing two 13-darters to move 3-0 up.
Opening scores of 140 and 180 in the fourth sent him clear, with double top extending the lead before he took advantage of a missed dart from Priestley at the same bed in the next to lead 5-0.
Priestley fired in a 180 in the sixth leg, but Taylor denied him a chance to get off the mark by landing double four, and another 14-dart leg sent the Stoke legend to the brink of victory.
Back-to-back 137 scores from Taylor set him up on double 16 in the next, which he landed at the second time of asking to ensure his quarter-final berth.
