Day 2: Evening session

:00:17. > :00:25.17 the tops and 31. This is an opportunity.

:00:26. > :00:43.Triple 20. Unlucky again on the tops. Three times in a row. James

:00:44. > :00:53.Wade has missed double top. Two 10s for Taylor.

:00:54. > :00:59.James will feel a bit of pressure now. You don't want to go two breaks

:01:00. > :01:37.a throw down. Here we go with the Icelandic fan

:01:38. > :01:52.club. We saw Phil Taylor joining in at the world final this year.

:01:53. > :02:01.Great 140 from Phil Taylor, James Andrew bit of pressure now. He won

:02:02. > :02:04.the trouble with this one, you really does. So essentially, Phil

:02:05. > :02:25.Taylor has nicked the darts. James will be a bit concerned,

:02:26. > :02:31.finding the triple 20 with regularity in his game this

:02:32. > :02:45.afternoon. He is not settled at the moment.

:02:46. > :02:55.He will be back with 101 with a 4-1 lead, Phil Taylor. James under a bit

:02:56. > :03:14.of pressure. Really needs this. In the context of

:03:15. > :03:22.the match, you feel already he has to take this out. Treble 7 for

:03:23. > :03:29.double 16. No. No, no, no. Treble 14 with the last dart but it is the red

:03:30. > :03:39.bit at the top of the board for Phil Taylor. Ten now for Phil Taylor.

:03:40. > :03:46.Another break of throw. When he's on the shots like the 84, 86, he always

:03:47. > :03:50.hits the big numbers. Visibly frustrated, James Wade. The Machine

:03:51. > :04:05.just malfunctioning. Phil Taylor to be fair is not

:04:06. > :04:10.playing anything like as well as he played last night or this afternoon.

:04:11. > :04:14.But he is doing enough. I thought he would have to reach those peaks

:04:15. > :04:20.again against James Wade but James just doesn't seem settled, it is

:04:21. > :04:27.unlike him. He is a strong start in the game. How hard is it to play on

:04:28. > :04:35.a big stage, on TV, more than once in a day? It is tough. I haven't

:04:36. > :04:39.done it for a while if I'm honest. It is tough but both of them have

:04:40. > :04:46.massive experience. Although Phil Taylor has more, but James Wade has

:04:47. > :04:52.been doing it for now. He will be frustrated more than anything

:04:53. > :04:58.because he has good rhythm but they are not landing how he would like at

:04:59. > :05:10.the moment. He just can't find those troubles, that was better. Staying

:05:11. > :05:16.on the nine teams. -- 19 s. Treble 24 66. Sensible visit from Phil

:05:17. > :05:44.Taylor. No need to use the bowl. You can see James trying to psych

:05:45. > :05:51.himself up. Just haven't been scoring heavily enough with his

:05:52. > :06:01.first nine darts. The first maximum of the match. That is in the

:06:02. > :06:10.tournament. They are following each other. 180, 180. We did mention nine

:06:11. > :06:15.daughters at the beginning of this game. Phil Taylor had two against

:06:16. > :06:22.James in the Premier League, can he do it again? Eight perfect darts

:06:23. > :06:30.this afternoon. Not to be in this leg. Phil Taylor mentioned the dart

:06:31. > :06:38.at double 12 slipped out of his hand. The point I was making about

:06:39. > :06:46.the scoring, the first nine darts from James, 95 only. He is not

:06:47. > :06:54.getting away in legs. He had 180 in this one but, the leg when he was

:06:55. > :07:01.broken last time it wasn't until you hit a triple 20. He started the leg

:07:02. > :07:07.with a 180. A chance for another break for Phil Taylor. That is what

:07:08. > :07:20.he does, applies pressure, making James Miss at the moment. He is

:07:21. > :07:28.going for a 6-1 lead. Right in the middle of the bed. It is one-way

:07:29. > :07:47.traffic just at the moment on the key. -- on the oche. Phil Taylor

:07:48. > :07:53.going for the jugular. Putting James Wade Un so much pressure. The

:07:54. > :07:58.cricket he can get off the oche, the more time he can put his feet up and

:07:59. > :08:02.relax and watch the other semifinal and recharge his batteries. If he

:08:03. > :08:06.can get off here playing the minimal amount of legs, he will be hoping

:08:07. > :08:10.Gary and Michael go all the way while he is just sitting there

:08:11. > :08:16.getting ready for his final. Still all ifs and buts at the moment but

:08:17. > :08:25.it is one way back for James Wade. But this will help.

:08:26. > :08:33.What he is doing is keeping the pressure on the Taylor throw. But

:08:34. > :08:44.Phil Taylor is responding to that pressure. We touched on it in the

:08:45. > :08:46.last like he was on 50 after nine, he has left 86 after nine in this

:08:47. > :09:16.leg. Look at the 54. Treble 24 four. He is moving up through the gears

:09:17. > :09:22.now, Phil Taylor. An early finish tonight, he can then get ready the

:09:23. > :09:28.final. A bit lonely up there for James at the moment. It is not nice

:09:29. > :09:32.on the receiving end of these from Phil Taylor and you end up trying to

:09:33. > :09:36.force the issue. He is never happier than when he is playing well and he

:09:37. > :09:40.has got you way you don't want to be. We played each other in the

:09:41. > :09:49.semifinals of the World Championships and I was 4-0 down,

:09:50. > :09:53.two legs to nail down. He gave it the big one, just to show me who was

:09:54. > :10:23.boss. No danger of me coming back but that's how he likes it.

:10:24. > :10:34.Big score here and the chance of another break.

:10:35. > :10:44.James Wade needs a big score, at least 140. The way Phil Taylor has

:10:45. > :10:56.been playing you would expect to leave a two darter in. You said it,

:10:57. > :11:07.you called it. You were absolutely right. It is why we pay you the big

:11:08. > :11:12.bucks! He is just putting James under so much pressure. Took his

:11:13. > :11:29.foot off the gas. No easy legs for James at all. This is for a title

:11:30. > :11:39.one. -- 8-1. He has hit his last five doubles in the row. Absolutely

:11:40. > :11:42.ruthless. James with a snigger, it is just frustration. He can't

:11:43. > :11:48.believe how he has played after looking is a solid in this

:11:49. > :11:50.tournament so far. James Wade hasn't had a dart at a double since the

:11:51. > :11:56.fourth leg. Phil Taylor as won eight legs in a

:11:57. > :12:15.row. That trumps James's seven in a row.

:12:16. > :12:21.James just have to try to keep going. It is a thankless task for

:12:22. > :12:44.him but he just has to keep going. This is a better lead. -- leg.

:12:45. > :12:56.Just need something to getting going. A big score, 161 might do it.

:12:57. > :13:03.Definitely. Seems really frustrated with his throw. You fancy him to go

:13:04. > :13:18.first. Can't be done. You wouldn't put this past Phil

:13:19. > :13:29.Taylor. Not the way he has been going tonight, you would half expect

:13:30. > :13:43.it. He hasn't done this in a while in a double. Two 6s, he needs. One

:13:44. > :13:53.more chance. He stops the rot. The rot may well be terminal. As they

:13:54. > :14:09.break after ten, it is the power who leads 8-2 in a race to heaven.

:14:10. > :14:17.What is going through the mind of James Wade right now? Three minutes

:14:18. > :14:21.to compose himself. This year, Taylor has won both Premier League

:14:22. > :14:24.meetings and the Dubai masters and at the moment, he is cruising into

:14:25. > :14:30.the final of this year's Champions League. This is magnificent stuff

:14:31. > :14:38.from Phil Taylor and James Wade can't cope.

:14:39. > :14:46.It's very frustrating for James, after what was an incredible

:14:47. > :14:49.performances afternoon. Really steady and just hasn't turned up the

:14:50. > :14:54.night, almost like this tournament has been a game of two cars for him.

:14:55. > :14:59.He just hasn't managed to find a game that brought him to the stage,

:15:00. > :15:03.in the evening. The exact opposite to how we said James, if he it will

:15:04. > :15:10.reach the final, how he has to play today. His scoring has let him down

:15:11. > :15:13.but his finishing, certainly on double top, he didn't have many

:15:14. > :15:16.chances but some of them were very early in the match. If you hit them

:15:17. > :15:22.last dart in hand, it gives you early in the match. If you hit them

:15:23. > :15:27.bit of confidence. All of a sudden, he loses a few on the trot and his

:15:28. > :15:31.head went down... Phil Taylor is loving this at the moment because

:15:32. > :15:35.the crowd every time he hits a double, the crowd cheering and legs

:15:36. > :15:40.are stacking up and sadly, the final is in sight. He is not over the line

:15:41. > :15:45.yet but you have to feel he will definitely do it. The way things

:15:46. > :15:50.seem to be turning for Phil Taylor, it is likely has a big piece of

:15:51. > :15:53.cheese on a stick. The way he has played, look at the stats, he is

:15:54. > :15:58.averaging for the first nine, roughly the same as what he has done

:15:59. > :16:03.before and he hasn't really had the urgency to just kick up that extra

:16:04. > :16:06.3%, he has just done what he usually does, plays really well in the first

:16:07. > :16:14.nine and when he gets the double, he kills it. Does anyone do cheese

:16:15. > :16:21.fondue parties? Maybe we should! What is going to James Wade's mind?

:16:22. > :16:26.He will be disappointed, having a break now. You will want to go out

:16:27. > :16:31.and just make himself feel better by getting his teeth into the match and

:16:32. > :16:35.maybe scoring a bit better. A long way to go and he probably won't win

:16:36. > :16:39.but he needs to get something from it. Phil Taylor prodigious was to

:16:40. > :16:45.get out there and concentrate on the final. The boys in the country box

:16:46. > :16:52.said Phil Taylor wants to get off as soon as possible and if he can win

:16:53. > :16:56.this 7-2, get up there and relax and watch the other guys stress it out

:16:57. > :17:00.on the next thing you know, he is in the final. Let's hand you back to

:17:01. > :17:19.our commentary team. Phil Taylor 8-2 James Wade. Is there

:17:20. > :17:25.any part of James Wade which believes he can come back and win

:17:26. > :17:30.this? You would have to say no but he has got to be positive. He has to

:17:31. > :17:35.try to play himself into a bit of form. Probably won't win this game

:17:36. > :17:41.but so much talk, he has to try to take something positive from this

:17:42. > :17:49.match now. You can't say that when you are 8-2 down, I guess.

:17:50. > :17:59.He didn't leave the stage during that short break. He just threw some

:18:00. > :18:02.rather desolate looking darts at the board. Didn't look like he wanted to

:18:03. > :18:08.be practising but didn't looked like he wanted to be doing anything else.

:18:09. > :18:11.He looked very frustrated and rightly so because he will have been

:18:12. > :18:14.up to this game and it isn't happening for him. But it looks like

:18:15. > :18:30.he will win a second leg in a row. Probably the first time James has

:18:31. > :18:37.been on a finish like this and are not massive pressure.

:18:38. > :18:49.Hasn't been afforded this luxury at all in this game, hasn't had an easy

:18:50. > :19:07.legs where he has no pressure. Phil Taylor then hits a 180 to

:19:08. > :19:16.pressurise the top. Much better leg from James.

:19:17. > :19:27.Phil Taylor will obviously not panic. If he can hold his throw

:19:28. > :19:33.three times he can get in that back room and prepare for the final. It

:19:34. > :19:37.has set up perfectly for him, especially the semifinals close, he

:19:38. > :19:41.will be loving it. The only player last night the guaranteed

:19:42. > :19:45.complications he was the first man through to the semis. Played Robert

:19:46. > :19:50.Thornton under no pressure this afternoon and it is looking good for

:19:51. > :19:54.him again tonight. Played Robert beaten easily, it was like a

:19:55. > :19:59.practice session. That is what the semifinal is turning into for him

:20:00. > :20:07.really. Unfortunately for James, it just has not happened. It is his

:20:08. > :20:15.scoring that has let him down, James Wade. An average of just 94 with his

:20:16. > :20:21.first nine darts. That is just not going to cut it against Phil Taylor.

:20:22. > :20:27.Phil Taylor got 109 with his first nine darts. Touching on James on the

:20:28. > :20:32.break, one thing he is good at, if he doesn't want to lose this game,

:20:33. > :20:35.you doesn't dwell on defeats, he picked himself up and will be ready

:20:36. > :20:41.to go in the next tournament. Obviously he will be disappointed.

:20:42. > :20:55.18 is what he will go for her. -- here. Outside chance here for James.

:20:56. > :21:04.The 120 is what they call Shanghai, treble, single, double. But will he

:21:05. > :21:15.get a chance? Bull's-eye for tops. He will get a chance. Shanghai for

:21:16. > :21:22.20s for James Guy. His first break at the table of throw. The odd

:21:23. > :21:35.little deflection here and there. Not going for him.

:21:36. > :22:10.Two away, now, Phil Taylor, from the final, which is also a first to 11

:22:11. > :22:13.match. I think Phil Taylor will get straight back on the ball. He is one

:22:14. > :22:18.to keep his rhythm going. He will keep an eye on the game but he will

:22:19. > :22:59.be concentrating on his game so he is ready for the final. Here we go.

:23:00. > :23:19.Triple 19 will leave the double top. 78.

:23:20. > :23:55.Can Phil Taylor show him how it is done? Two at double 12. Yes, that is

:23:56. > :23:58.how it's done. Phil Taylor now throwing for the match, will want to

:23:59. > :24:01.get its own up now and get into the back room. Ruthless performance from

:24:02. > :24:34.Phil Taylor. It's been clinical, from Phil

:24:35. > :24:36.Taylor, hasn't it? Without hitting the heights of some of his

:24:37. > :24:44.performances earlier today or last night. It has. It has been a perfect

:24:45. > :24:49.similar Willey semifinal for him, he hasn't hit the average but he hasn't

:24:50. > :24:54.really needed to. He will be saving his best arts for the final tonight.

:24:55. > :24:59.When you played brilliant dance and you have to come back and play, do

:25:00. > :25:06.you think you have left your best arts in the semifinal? Whenever I've

:25:07. > :25:11.had a good game and you have to come back and play, you feel flat and it

:25:12. > :25:15.doesn't happen. It is so frustrating, you can't put your

:25:16. > :25:19.finger on it but it just happens. James Wade will be disappointed but

:25:20. > :25:25.it has happened to him before and probably will again. Top six player

:25:26. > :25:31.for a reason and he will get on with this, no worries. He has lost yet.

:25:32. > :25:38.We should stress that. -- he hasn't lost yet. But it is pretty much on

:25:39. > :25:46.the brink now. Surely the greatest comeback of all if he manages to

:25:47. > :25:56.come back and win this game. Well, here we go, Phil Taylor for a place

:25:57. > :26:05.in the final. Trouble 18, double 16. No, so James Wade still alive. Stay

:26:06. > :26:16.there for the bull's-eye. Bull's-eye for the one, two, two. Just not

:26:17. > :26:26.happening for James Wade tonight. Here we go, then, two 16 s for a

:26:27. > :26:39.place in the final for a fourth victory in a row. 88. Their riches.

:26:40. > :26:49.Clinical, calculating, cool, calm and collected. He is through to the

:26:50. > :27:02.inaugural final of the Champions League of Darts.

:27:03. > :27:09.James Wade worked so hard this afternoon to book his place in the

:27:10. > :27:16.last four but he has been well and truly dispatched by that man, Phil

:27:17. > :27:22.Taylor. Powering into the final. James Wade won their last two

:27:23. > :27:27.meetings in the Shanghai Masters semifinals and the Tokyo Masters,

:27:28. > :27:36.two close matches but look at bat, 11-3. That is a thrashing. It is and

:27:37. > :27:40.the stats don't like, James Wade didn't have the energy of Phil

:27:41. > :27:48.Taylor tonight. Over the last couple of months, ... Phil Taylor came in

:27:49. > :27:53.fresh and he showed why having that break has paid dividends. He has

:27:54. > :27:57.given himself more chances and he has taken them. He couldn't compete.

:27:58. > :27:58.He couldn't because Phil Taylor has come into this tournament really

:27:59. > :28:09.fresh. He is in the final now. And he did

:28:10. > :28:13.everything right, didn't make any mistakes, got his chances and took

:28:14. > :28:20.them and you said he was dispatched and he has done that. He will want

:28:21. > :28:24.to put his feet up for a few minutes now and recharge and then get

:28:25. > :28:28.himself ready for the final. It is surprising because we said before

:28:29. > :28:32.the start of the night's matches, we said James Wade had done very well

:28:33. > :28:36.to get into the semifinal because he lost yesterday and was under a lot

:28:37. > :28:42.of pressure. We also said if he gets a good start, we might see him and

:28:43. > :28:50.we used the phrase, battle hardened. There was no fight this afternoon.

:28:51. > :28:54.There needs to be a postmortem as to what has gone on. On the European

:28:55. > :28:59.tour that we play regularly, there is more than one games on a Sunday

:29:00. > :29:05.and he played really well this afternoon but not, to those

:29:06. > :29:09.standards, tonight. He has to figure out why. Yes and because the pattern

:29:10. > :29:14.of this tournament, it is what has happened to him. Played well in the

:29:15. > :29:18.first game, not so well in the second and gave himself a lot of

:29:19. > :29:22.work to do to win the third match. No second chances at this stage. And

:29:23. > :29:30.these guys are used to it, playing knockout darts most of the year. Not

:29:31. > :29:35.many are group circuits. It will be interesting to see what he thinks.

:29:36. > :29:41.Phil Taylor is in the final. The second semifinal is underway. Phil

:29:42. > :29:48.Taylor is on his way into the studio. This is your third interview

:29:49. > :29:52.in two days. Two hours! I'm shattered!

:29:53. > :30:01.How do you feel? Shattered. That's where I was on I had to come all the

:30:02. > :30:07.way up the stairs. Shut your face, you! It's all right for you. You

:30:08. > :30:13.have made a lot of people judging by them waving at you. That's what I

:30:14. > :30:18.mean. Only one of them responded, by the way. Brilliant performance.

:30:19. > :30:22.Thank you, thank you. What you have to be thinking now is you got rid of

:30:23. > :30:25.that game a lot quicker than you may have imagined and have more time to

:30:26. > :30:31.rest before the final, is that a good thing? I don't think there is

:30:32. > :30:39.any difference in terms of resting. They depends... Michael against

:30:40. > :30:44.Gary, this is going to be a cracker, I think. This could go a long way so

:30:45. > :30:50.I might have a bit longer than I think. Or because Gary hasn't been

:30:51. > :30:53.practising, been away on holiday and Michael has been winning, it could

:30:54. > :30:57.be over in half an hour, you don't know. You have 20 minutes from the

:30:58. > :31:03.end of the second semifinal until your Mac. Thank you. Before you came

:31:04. > :31:07.up here, Paul was saying you are looking fresh, do you feel

:31:08. > :31:14.refreshed? I feel shattered, I am old! No, not at all. One game in the

:31:15. > :31:18.morning and two gains at night time is not for me any more, do you know

:31:19. > :31:23.what I mean? But I will push on and try. There is massive prize money at

:31:24. > :31:28.the end of it. This is the hardest I've ever worked in my life, for

:31:29. > :31:33.less money than this, 1000% less money than this! I will carry on,

:31:34. > :31:38.push on and try to win this. How much do you want Michael and Gary to

:31:39. > :31:42.batter themselves? I wanted to go to a tie-breaker! You're asking a

:31:43. > :31:50.question you already know the answer to this he is crafty. Of course I

:31:51. > :31:53.do. Is like Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury knocking seven bells out of

:31:54. > :31:57.each other and saying, you've got the winner. Obviously, of course you

:31:58. > :32:01.do. You want them to go out there, drag it out and be as long as you

:32:02. > :32:05.can. I would rather play Gary Anderson or Michael van Gerwen at 11

:32:06. > :32:12.o'clock tonight. When you came out this afternoon after you won... I

:32:13. > :32:20.had a haircut. You are still looking good. You claimed Michael van

:32:21. > :32:24.Gerwen's head within the shed. No, I said he was in the shed. He denied

:32:25. > :32:28.that and said he was fully focused on beating whoever is put in front

:32:29. > :32:36.of him. Might be as big as the shed if he wins this, a big shed as well.

:32:37. > :32:39.He is a brilliant player, cocky and confident, gives it large. Some of

:32:40. > :32:44.the face as he pulls up there, trust me, he has pulled some places in his

:32:45. > :32:52.time but never as ugly as Michael van Gerwen, close. I try. He is a

:32:53. > :32:58.character, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he cries, he does cry a

:32:59. > :33:02.lot. He is one of those characters, he is like Nigel Benn, you have do

:33:03. > :33:04.batter him into submission, otherwise you won't beat him. He is

:33:05. > :33:14.a brilliant player stopped did you watched the video of the

:33:15. > :33:21.players what they think about you? What they've done is say what you've

:33:22. > :33:25.done for the sport. I've made them rich, that's what I've done! When we

:33:26. > :33:31.first left the BBC and BDO, there was no money, I was winning, winning

:33:32. > :33:34.and winning. I brought a lot of money into it. A lot of these

:33:35. > :33:40.players, a lot won't tell you, they might say it on camera but they

:33:41. > :33:45.won't mean it, they've earned a lot of money off me. But I've earned a

:33:46. > :33:50.lot myself. Without the players, without you, BBC, sky, ITV, I

:33:51. > :33:54.wouldn't be talking to you now. It's not about me. To be honest it's

:33:55. > :33:58.about these people down here, paying their ticket money to come and see.

:33:59. > :34:02.You have made a lot of people happy in the last few days. I have spoken

:34:03. > :34:05.to a lot of these darts fans who have come to Cardiff and they've

:34:06. > :34:08.been saying, I've come here, I've never seen Phil Taylor before in

:34:09. > :34:15.action and I want to see him before he packs it in. Any plans? LAUGHTER

:34:16. > :34:20.For those people who went tuning in this afternoon? At people will be

:34:21. > :34:25.asking for their money back! You have been hinting at finishing. I

:34:26. > :34:29.have to finish, of course I have, probably in about 18 months' time. I

:34:30. > :34:34.have qualified for next year anyway, I will see my career out. Whatever

:34:35. > :34:39.I'd qualified for, if I qualify for the Lincolnshire open, I will play

:34:40. > :34:44.in it. Making good progress on that Six Nations England and Wales to get

:34:45. > :34:50.that you want. Talking rugby again? You want to go to the match. He has

:34:51. > :34:55.a complex about England, hasn't he? Not at all.

:34:56. > :35:00.I present Six Nations coverage as well, I have to be impartial.

:35:01. > :35:03.England is light snow at Christmas, you know it's coming that you don't

:35:04. > :35:05.now how deep it will be, a bit slushy now and again. Time to look

:35:06. > :35:17.forward now to our second semifinal. I like playing Michael. I must be

:35:18. > :35:20.one of the only players out there who likes playing him, because

:35:21. > :35:25.Michael is like myself. He gets up there and gets on with the game.

:35:26. > :35:29.Gary is great otherwise he wouldn't be back to back world champion. He

:35:30. > :35:37.is a big talent, and he knows that as well. I need to find a weakness

:35:38. > :35:41.in his game. I've had some right ding-dong games. To me, that's when

:35:42. > :35:49.I enjoy the game. Michael will be heads favourite, but I have a really

:35:50. > :35:53.good record against him. You are not allowed to make any mistakes because

:35:54. > :35:59.you can afford them with Gary, as simple as that. He's won 18

:36:00. > :36:03.tournaments out of 19, so he's definitely up there. He's like a

:36:04. > :36:08.machine when he gets going. Like I say, if I get him, I'm there to be

:36:09. > :36:12.Timani knows that. I have had eight couple of good results against him,

:36:13. > :36:18.so I feel all right. We will see what happens. I'm really looking

:36:19. > :36:21.forward to it. It's an amazing tournament, it's a long format, so

:36:22. > :36:27.it probably suits me. I hope I can put in a better performance. Oh,

:36:28. > :36:33.yes, game on! Gary Anderson has 13 wins the Michael van Gerwen's 31 and

:36:34. > :36:38.there has been one draw. When you look at these numbers, it is so

:36:39. > :36:42.tough to call. It is tight. Michael van Gerwen's first nine average is

:36:43. > :36:46.slightly higher, because he has more practice under his belt and more Mac

:36:47. > :36:51.experience in the last few weeks. You are commentating on this one

:36:52. > :37:02.plasma yes, I am doing shortly. Two players, when they start eating

:37:03. > :37:06.their groove, the 180s, two of the biggest 180s hitters in the game.

:37:07. > :37:09.Gary has got better as the tournament has gone on but not

:37:10. > :37:14.firing on all cylinders at the moment, he will have doing this one.

:37:15. > :37:19.The fact Michael lost to Phil and Anderson has sailed into the

:37:20. > :37:23.semifinal, played three and won three, does that make a difference?

:37:24. > :37:28.I think the losses will help Michael. He hasn't lost a lot

:37:29. > :37:31.recently. When you win 50 odd games out of 50 odd matches you find

:37:32. > :37:35.yourself thinking, I'm going to win, I'm going to win, then you get a

:37:36. > :37:40.loss and it makes you go, OK, now I have to switch back on again. That's

:37:41. > :37:45.what Michael is like. It's like pouring water on a gremlin, it just

:37:46. > :37:49.wakes him up a bit more. He will say, we've made mistakes, let's fix

:37:50. > :37:54.it. That's not to say Gary has had it easy in the three matches? No,

:37:55. > :37:58.he's done what he needed to do. He's got through the game, I wouldn't say

:37:59. > :38:02.easy but with a little bit of ease. He hasn't played his best but done

:38:03. > :38:06.enough to get over the line. This is a different thing now, the

:38:07. > :38:09.semifinals, one away from the final and two away from winning the

:38:10. > :38:16.tournament. He's been there before, knows what it's all about and what

:38:17. > :38:19.he has to do. Can I just say how much we are loving the darts? They

:38:20. > :38:22.are singing stand up if you love the darts. You don't get this if you're

:38:23. > :38:25.doing football or the Six Nations on BBC, Phil Taylor kiss me on the head

:38:26. > :38:34.before he went out and said, I love talking to you. They are kisses from

:38:35. > :38:38.Stoke! Alan, you are off to the commentary box, thank you for your

:38:39. > :38:43.time. The crowd already, you are ready at home, let's join John

:38:44. > :38:47.McDonald. Thank you ladies and gentlemen, who will join Phil Taylor

:38:48. > :38:51.in the final? We are about to find out as we present the second

:38:52. > :38:57.semifinal of the Champions League of Darts. Ladies and gentlemen, it's

:38:58. > :39:03.time to meet the players, and it's time to meet the former two time

:39:04. > :39:11.Premier League champion and the reigning back-to-back two time

:39:12. > :39:19.champion of the world... The Flying Scotsman...

:39:20. > :40:16.And now, ladies and gentlemen, from the Netherlands, it's time to meet

:40:17. > :40:22.the reigning world number one, the former champion of the world...

:40:23. > :40:30.Mighty... # Seven Nation Army -

:40:31. > :41:19.The White Stripes It is all getting a little bit

:41:20. > :41:31.raucous here in Cardiff. COMMENTATOR: The world number one

:41:32. > :41:35.Michael van Gerwen takes on the world champion, Gary Anderson, for

:41:36. > :41:39.the right to play in the final against the greatest player of

:41:40. > :41:44.all-time, Phil The Power Taylor. What a climax we have the first ever

:41:45. > :41:53.Champions League of Darts. And with these two on stage, it is almost

:41:54. > :41:56.guaranteed to be entertaining. These are box office players, and they

:41:57. > :42:03.tend to bring the best out of each other. Michael van Gerwen, has the

:42:04. > :42:10.tournament average around about 100. I think it is fair to say he's not

:42:11. > :42:15.hit top gear yet. But you can also level that accusation at the world

:42:16. > :42:19.champion Gary Anderson. Despite winning every game he's played so

:42:20. > :42:26.far this weekend, he's just been doing a professional job. We know he

:42:27. > :42:31.has more in the tank. Well, they certainly feed off each

:42:32. > :42:39.other when they get the pace of the game. Big scorers, as we've seen so

:42:40. > :42:43.often. Van Gerwen debt is underway. The crowd have been looking forward

:42:44. > :42:51.to this one, and so have we. Whoever wins this one will be playing, as we

:42:52. > :42:59.mentioned, the Power in the finals of which ever one of these two it

:43:00. > :43:07.is, we will have two cracking games to finish off in Cardiff. Gary

:43:08. > :43:12.Anderson certainly the start of the year. He fires in his first 180. He

:43:13. > :43:17.looked the most likely person in world darts to be able to beat van

:43:18. > :43:25.Gerwen. Nobody else was really doing it, but Anderson managed it on more

:43:26. > :43:29.than one occasion. A couple of finals in the World Series. He has

:43:30. > :43:34.the game and composure at right times. He has certainly got the

:43:35. > :43:38.scoring and both players know that that other person could beat them if

:43:39. > :43:56.they are not an full charge. Needed two trebles so can't do it

:43:57. > :44:01.this time. Anderson hit a 180 in the leg and needs tops to put the first

:44:02. > :44:06.one on the board. A bit low there. He will be disappointed. I know it

:44:07. > :44:14.is only the first leg, but it can mean so much.

:44:15. > :44:28.Both players feeling the pressure. Anderson returns. A wry smile from

:44:29. > :44:33.the world champion. He takes the first leg. He won't be bothered

:44:34. > :44:41.about averages, they just want to beat their opponents.

:44:42. > :44:52.Michael van Gerwen only as the one world title to his name. But he's

:44:53. > :44:57.won everything else. There are only a couple of big TV titles in

:44:58. > :45:03.existence that he doesn't currently hold.

:45:04. > :45:10.He will certainly feel better if he wins this one. The crowd are really

:45:11. > :45:25.responding to these two players. Maximum? Just 140. That is a bit of

:45:26. > :45:30.a mistake from van Gerwen. What it was, he just looked like there was

:45:31. > :45:36.so much room underneath, that's why he went for it. He didn't even think

:45:37. > :45:41.about missing. The problem is, in that fact he has been let off, the

:45:42. > :45:48.168 is a finish you can't take out in three darts, but you can set it

:45:49. > :45:53.up, set it up very well. If Gary Anderson had scored more than he did

:45:54. > :45:59.he would have had a shot for a 2-0 lead but as it like it will be 1-1.

:46:00. > :46:04.Double tops he wants wants and gets. He will feel better now he has hit

:46:05. > :46:10.the double. Doesn't want to miss too many doubles early on in the match.

:46:11. > :46:23.Just makes those next doubles a bit harder. Wasn't really a grimace, was

:46:24. > :46:34.it? That will do for the world champion, his second 180. He has

:46:35. > :46:43.certainly got his scoring boots on. Probably quite obvious who the lads

:46:44. > :46:48.in Orange are supporting. The future's bright, the future's

:46:49. > :46:55.orange... Certainly when this young man came along. As it surprised you

:46:56. > :47:06.just how good Michael van Gerwen has become? Not really, but the standard

:47:07. > :47:09.on a regular basis, or when you look at the standard trees to have, they

:47:10. > :47:16.always rise and develop and get more players involved. But the continual

:47:17. > :47:23.times he does it, that's what's really impressive. He just wants to

:47:24. > :47:30.win everything. His desire is incredible. Double top.

:47:31. > :47:41.Same target hit by the world champion. Three consecutive breaks

:47:42. > :47:47.of throw here. It is anyone's in the opening stages. By a virtue of both

:47:48. > :47:50.darts at the double in the first leg, the averages have dropped a

:47:51. > :47:58.little bit, but the scoring has been pretty good. Michael yet to hit a

:47:59. > :48:01.180, Gary with two. I am sure Michael will hit one at some point.

:48:02. > :48:07.Neither one of these players wants to be too far behind, because it is

:48:08. > :48:15.hard to get back, especially against the throw, when people are playing

:48:16. > :48:24.12 and 13 dart legs. Michael van Gerwen hasn't picked --

:48:25. > :48:27.won any of the past few meetings between these two but has

:48:28. > :48:33.significant victories against Gary Anderson. Last year he was trailing

:48:34. > :48:41.10-7 and won the last four legs. This is his first 180, a potential

:48:42. > :48:48.11 darter coming in for a 2-2 scoreline. Yes, wants to clean it up

:48:49. > :48:55.pretty quick and clean it up pretty quick he does. Two darts, and then

:48:56. > :49:14.the quality. The Cardiff crowd are loving it,

:49:15. > :49:22.they really are. Known for their vocal singing, the Welsh sporting

:49:23. > :49:29.fans. They've certainly been outstanding all over this weekend.

:49:30. > :49:36.And why wouldn't they? We have the world champion and world number one,

:49:37. > :49:42.slugging it out to play the greatest player in the final. It is heating

:49:43. > :49:45.up here in this one. Anderson's scoring has probably been the best

:49:46. > :49:50.of the tournament so far. We mentioned it, winning his three

:49:51. > :49:56.games, but he has been improving as the tournament has gone on. This

:49:57. > :50:01.would really get the crowd going... Bull. Arles, very nearly. The

:50:02. > :50:06.biggest checkout you can get. Double top for Anderson for a fifth

:50:07. > :50:12.consecutive break of throw. That's exactly what we've got. Well, the

:50:13. > :50:14.crowd are loving it, we are loving it, I hope you are loving it at

:50:15. > :50:17.home. It opens the door. If van Gerwen can

:50:18. > :50:41.put in a couple of big scores. Those lists doubles in the opening

:50:42. > :50:46.leg didn't do anything for the averages, but they've been going up

:50:47. > :50:52.and up and up since then. Michael van Gerwen now around the 105 Mark,

:50:53. > :50:57.and this is a bit more like it. From MVG.

:50:58. > :51:05.There's no doubt they are both certainly in the rhythm and on the

:51:06. > :51:09.scoring. They seem to be finding the treble on a regular basis with the

:51:10. > :51:14.first or second dart, which is obviously important for the scoring.

:51:15. > :51:26.A slip there, disappointed with that one, went treble 18. Yet another

:51:27. > :51:33.chance for a break of throw. Not with darts like that and mathematics

:51:34. > :51:36.like that, leads a bogey. It is rare that you see Michael van Gerwen do

:51:37. > :51:42.that once in a game, let alone twice. And he might be punished for

:51:43. > :51:46.it. A 177 from Anderson will give him three darts at a double for the

:51:47. > :51:56.first holder of throw in this match. Van Gerwen will be very frustrated.

:51:57. > :52:00.Surprising. Players are normally meticulous with leaving finishes,

:52:01. > :52:01.and he is punished. Anderson holds throw for the first time in this is

:52:02. > :52:22.an. Now leads 4-2. Here comes MVG! When Gary Anderson is celebrating

:52:23. > :52:28.things like that, when he has a bit of swagger about his game... That is

:52:29. > :52:35.when Gary Anderson is that his most dangerous. -- at his most dangerous.

:52:36. > :52:39.He has had a couple of slips but on the whole he is playing pretty well

:52:40. > :52:49.here. Van Gerwen is not doing that much wrong. Trailing by two, but

:52:50. > :52:52.looking in pretty good position here to move back within one. He doesn't

:52:53. > :53:03.want Anderson to get too far away. That is fine for MVG, he will

:53:04. > :53:10.return, looking to hold his throw for the first time. Only needs

:53:11. > :53:15.double 16. And after failing to hold his throw at all against Phil Taylor

:53:16. > :53:19.in the group stages, this would make him feel a little bit better about

:53:20. > :53:26.proceedings, although another miss here and he's in a bit of bother.

:53:27. > :53:34.Right on the wire, 111 from Anderson here and we have a serious gap

:53:35. > :53:41.opening up. Double top... That was a big chance for Gary. He has let van

:53:42. > :53:53.Gerwen off the hook. He certainly has. Anderson, by virtue of that 140

:53:54. > :53:54.had an opportunity to finish but couldn't hit a treble with the first

:53:55. > :54:06.two darts. He's back in again. A little high,

:54:07. > :54:37.but still happy with the visit. Back-to-back 140s. Leads him on 161.

:54:38. > :54:44.Van Gerwen trailing. Not challenging in this leg so far.

:54:45. > :54:55.Gary has thrown a Batley and Spen is -- a bag of spammers. Rescue sick,

:54:56. > :55:02.leaving himself made two dart finish. But a maximum here from the

:55:03. > :55:06.world number one... Pressure applied, asking the question of

:55:07. > :55:12.Anderson. Does he have an answer? Double 18. Double 9. That would have

:55:13. > :55:20.hurt, that really would have her. Gary Anderson in command of the leg.

:55:21. > :55:28.He had a big visit. Anderson hit the 180, putting the pressure on. Just

:55:29. > :55:37.couldn't quite hit the 96 finish. Two on the wire causing the trouble.

:55:38. > :55:42.Great game. 212 in four darts, that's what the world number one

:55:43. > :55:48.does and does it on an alarmingly regular basis. In a blink of an eye

:55:49. > :55:54.you can be in control of the leg and then you've lost it. And he keeps on

:55:55. > :56:00.doing it, he keeps on doing it! 180 number four the Michael van Gerwen,

:56:01. > :56:06.112 for the tournament. It is incredible, isn't it?

:56:07. > :56:13.Sometimes those visits are important, as well. We love to see

:56:14. > :56:24.the 180s and a big finishes, but sometimes the tidy up scores can

:56:25. > :56:32.mean so much. 2-edged and 20. -- 220. And that will make it just a

:56:33. > :56:38.shade easier. It should mean he gets a dart, Michael van Gerwen, to go

:56:39. > :56:43.into the lead for the first time this match. He might get two at the

:56:44. > :56:49.double. Only the one, double top. Moves across, opens up the bed but

:56:50. > :56:54.cannot stay out of the way of the first couple of darts. Now then, now

:56:55. > :56:59.then, this would really hurt van Gerwen. Just couldn't quite get over

:57:00. > :57:10.their far enough, you could see how close it was, but it wasn't in.

:57:11. > :57:14.Double 5 will do it. 5-4. For the first time Gary Anderson trails in

:57:15. > :57:22.this one. An important leg here for Gary. Was leading 4-2, has lost the

:57:23. > :57:30.last three legs. He has had chances. Van Gerwen is just turning on the

:57:31. > :57:36.gas, just a little bit higher. Back comes Anderson. Darts of the highest

:57:37. > :57:54.quality here in Cardiff. Anderson will be telling himself,

:57:55. > :57:58.just get to the break level. Give himself an opportunity to come out

:57:59. > :58:04.all guns blazing and take out the world number one. Good thinking from

:58:05. > :58:25.van Gerwen there. Not quite this time. Two darts at

:58:26. > :58:30.the treble 18. Now he needs to hit it for the bull. How close is it? He

:58:31. > :58:39.knows it is not in, but is just checking. Van Gerwen returns. Two

:58:40. > :58:44.darts for a 6-4 lead for the world number one. Double 16, double 16 he

:58:45. > :58:50.takes out first time. Michael van Gerwen has roared back into this

:58:51. > :58:51.one. He trailed 4-2, leads 6-4, against the world champion, Gary

:58:52. > :59:10.Anderson. Gary Anderson against Michael van

:59:11. > :59:16.Gerwen, rapturous applause when these came out and in Cardiff and

:59:17. > :59:21.it's living up to its billing. What a match here at the Motorpoint

:59:22. > :59:26.Arena. Absolutely incredible. Paul and Mark, look at these stats, this

:59:27. > :59:31.is just incredible darts. This has been a very good game so far. Gary

:59:32. > :59:34.Anderson was the boss of this game in the first eight legs but Michael

:59:35. > :59:38.van Gerwen in leg nine found his first lead and has managed to take

:59:39. > :59:42.advantage with that last shot just before the break, to get a bit of

:59:43. > :59:48.aggression. Gary Anderson under the cosh a bit. What is your assessment,

:59:49. > :59:52.Mark? High quality staff, both players miss darts in the first

:59:53. > :59:57.legs, a bit of nerves. Gary got himself in front. We talked about

:59:58. > :00:01.Michael, did the other 4-2 and got himself in a 6-4 lead. An

:00:02. > :00:05.interesting position Gary is in, given he played three and a won

:00:06. > :00:09.three. Went into the interval in front in every single match and now

:00:10. > :00:13.confronted with a big challenge. Yes, a big challenge against the

:00:14. > :00:17.biggest player in the world. We will find out where Gary's game is out

:00:18. > :00:21.right now. He's been in the ascendancy going into these breaks,

:00:22. > :00:26.but now it is a different task. When he comes back I think he will throw

:00:27. > :00:31.everything at MVG as soon as he can and MVG will be loving the fact he

:00:32. > :00:34.is in front rather than behind. Phil was sitting in your chair a while

:00:35. > :00:38.ago and said he wanted them to bash themselves up and that is what

:00:39. > :00:43.they're doing. This plays into his hands perfectly? Absolutely. If you

:00:44. > :00:46.looked at Phil at this stage he was 8-2 and almost home. Whoever gets

:00:47. > :00:50.throughout this will know they have been in a gay man still have a final

:00:51. > :01:06.to come. Let's have a look at nickname's final checkout.

:01:07. > :01:12.Gary has done really well to get the ascendancy at the start but Michael

:01:13. > :01:16.has done even better to wrestle it back from the Scotsman. How much of

:01:17. > :01:20.this do think it is down to the fact Michael lost the big game against

:01:21. > :01:26.Phil Taylor last night, which is why he is in this position, gunning for

:01:27. > :01:31.Phil Taylor? It's a huge because he hasn't lost a lot in the last couple

:01:32. > :01:37.of months. It is almost refocusing him and sometimes that is what

:01:38. > :01:45.losing does to you. We talked about it, Michael van Gerwen will be

:01:46. > :01:52.deadly. I will ask you now, nail your colours firmly to this post.

:01:53. > :01:55.Scotland or Netherlands? If it was 5-5, I would've said Gary but I have

:01:56. > :02:07.to say MVG. And me. COMMENTATOR: I remember in the World

:02:08. > :02:12.Championship campaign when Gary Anderson went on to win his first

:02:13. > :02:18.title, he found himself trailing and he went off for the break, walked

:02:19. > :02:28.past me and mind and then he came back after the break with fire in

:02:29. > :02:31.his belly and and he threw devastating darts that took him to

:02:32. > :02:36.the victory and then he went on to win his first title, defending it

:02:37. > :02:39.the following year. He will need something similar against Michael

:02:40. > :02:45.van Gerwen here to book his place in the final for the first ever

:02:46. > :02:49.Champions League of Darts. He is like a dog with a bone. Doesn't want

:02:50. > :02:55.to let go. Certainly one of the aggressive players. Seems to pull

:02:56. > :03:04.the best out of himself when he feels a little angry. He needs a

:03:05. > :03:11.little more of that. Gary does. No need to take this out on the

:03:12. > :03:21.bull's-eye, there is no need to! I'm sure he would like to hit it. Gary

:03:22. > :03:29.is in a position now, four legs on the trot, 4-2 ahead, now five legs

:03:30. > :03:33.on the trot, just want it to continue. He has to stop the rot as

:03:34. > :03:40.soon as possible and hopefully get on one of his runs where he can

:03:41. > :03:53.produce darts like that. It is a fifth 180 four Gary Anderson. It

:03:54. > :04:05.might be a sixth. Not sure Gary liked that. It was almost in. He is

:04:06. > :04:33.back to scoring well. 20, double top, to stop the rot. Now

:04:34. > :04:40.double 10. We have a response. Very important for Gary to take that leg

:04:41. > :04:43.and take it well. Now leads the challenge the van Gerwen throw like

:04:44. > :04:51.you did in the early part of this match. Gary Anderson, for a long

:04:52. > :04:59.time, every single time he used to play on the TV, before he went on

:05:00. > :05:02.stage,... That is as good as 180 with Van Gerwen. Anderson used to be

:05:03. > :05:06.physically ill, Satch with the nerves. And yet he could still

:05:07. > :05:16.produce darts that would take him to big titles. Looking good for Van

:05:17. > :05:19.Gerwen in this leg. I feel Gary needs another one to give him an

:05:20. > :05:28.outsides chance, if van Gerwen misses the 54, though... Anderson

:05:29. > :05:34.hits with a 12 darter and he responds with an 11 darter. These

:05:35. > :05:39.are top two in the world, knocking lumps out of each other. They are

:05:40. > :05:47.certainly toe-to-toe now on the scoring particularly. Again, Gary in

:05:48. > :05:54.the same position he was five minutes ago, just needs to win his

:05:55. > :05:57.throw well. He has hit another maximum. Maximums are flying in

:05:58. > :06:15.here. Just the 58 but he wanted to stay on

:06:16. > :06:19.the 20s, even though it is hard to find the treble because he has left

:06:20. > :06:27.the 170. But Van Gerwen is much better placed. Van Gerwen for

:06:28. > :06:43.another break of and a 9-5 commanding lead. This would really

:06:44. > :06:59.hurt. For the bull's-eye. Treble 18. Interesting. Treble 20. It matters

:07:00. > :07:02.not. Van Gerwen comes back. Gary Anderson is left needing to do

:07:03. > :07:09.something extraordinary to stop the world number one setting up a final

:07:10. > :07:20.with Phil The Power Taylor. Is certainly on a roll. Gary is

:07:21. > :07:24.certainly a quality player he needs to pull out his absolute best in the

:07:25. > :07:30.next 15 or 20 minutes. If you can. To be in with a chance of getting

:07:31. > :07:40.into the final tonight. He's just had that blip in the middle but this

:07:41. > :07:41.is better. This is the sort of stuff Van Gerwen has been doing for a

:07:42. > :08:02.while. Anderson has been able to stop him

:08:03. > :08:39.on a number of occasions. Is it all too late rush to mark --?

:08:40. > :08:45.Michael van Gerwen trailed 4-2 to the world champion. He has won eight

:08:46. > :08:51.of the last nine legs. This is a man that for a good few years in PDC

:08:52. > :08:55.darts, could barely win games. He was in tears on a regular basis.

:08:56. > :09:01.Other players questioned if he would ever be any good. It is not as if

:09:02. > :09:06.Gary has had that many chances either. It is not as if he's missed

:09:07. > :09:12.a lot of doubles and let Michael in. He deserves the right to win the

:09:13. > :09:22.leg. Van Gerwen effectively stealing the darts here, looking to leave a

:09:23. > :09:29.finish. Which he will do. 135 should start. He really need the trouble

:09:30. > :09:41.with this last one. 160 is a tall order, 135 could be done. Trouble 50

:09:42. > :09:46.not to be. Anderson is not going to take the 160 and Michael van Gerwen

:09:47. > :09:53.will get two match starts here to set up the final. Double top and the

:09:54. > :10:00.world number one Michael van Gerwen wins it. The best player in the

:10:01. > :10:06.world right now. The greatest there has ever been, in the final of the

:10:07. > :10:08.first Champions League of Darts. He will play Phil The Power Taylor in

:10:09. > :10:34.Cardiff. In the 2014 World Championship

:10:35. > :10:39.third-round, Van Gerwen won 4-3 from 3-1 down and Anderson credit that

:10:40. > :10:44.defeat for firing him up on words. Only one winner this evening and

:10:45. > :10:51.that is Mighty Mike, the Dutchman, he is into the final. We have got I

:10:52. > :10:56.suppose, the dream final, the final everyone wanted. It is the right

:10:57. > :11:00.stage, the right players, now we just have to have the performances.

:11:01. > :11:04.Michael van Gerwen after that break just absolutely sprinted for the

:11:05. > :11:09.line. But performance, his best of the week. He's gradually been

:11:10. > :11:18.getting better. Did really well early on and now he is gunning. He

:11:19. > :11:20.was doing his damage in the first nine and I don't think Gary

:11:21. > :11:28.recovered from those four legs on the spin.

:11:29. > :11:36.As the tournament caught up with Gary? I think the middle part of

:11:37. > :11:40.that game, everything changed. Gary started really well, he was in the

:11:41. > :11:43.lead and what you have to do with Michael van Gerwen is keep that lead

:11:44. > :11:48.because if he gets in front of you, he is like Mo Farah, he tends to get

:11:49. > :11:54.quicker and quicker. He never looked back when he got that lead, it was a

:11:55. > :12:01.different lead. -- a different game. Different territory for Anderson,

:12:02. > :12:06.sadly he had to claw his way back. It must require a different set of

:12:07. > :12:13.mental skills. Yes but credit to Michael, you put him under pressure.

:12:14. > :12:20.When Gary got that break at 4-2, Michael never looked back. He came

:12:21. > :12:27.out and did a professional job and got himself in the final. Michael is

:12:28. > :12:31.not coming for an interview because he has a final to get ready for

:12:32. > :12:33.against Phil Taylor in about 20 minutes. We can hear from Gary

:12:34. > :12:43.Anderson. All right after that? He came

:12:44. > :12:52.flying. He did at the start but it wasn't good enough. I made a mess of

:12:53. > :13:00.a few of the legs. He kicked on from his advantage. I keep thinking if I

:13:01. > :13:04.could break and get as throw, I was only a couple of legs behind but it

:13:05. > :13:10.wasn't to be. I was quite happy at the start. You met Michael van

:13:11. > :13:22.Gerwen when he is bang on form, he played his best. It was that the

:13:23. > :13:27.start, I was 4- two up, but then he picked up and did what he does. When

:13:28. > :13:32.he came into this it was, he said because he had been playing hard.

:13:33. > :13:40.You had that break, did it make a difference? I've had nine hours and

:13:41. > :13:44.four weeks practice. I'm actually quite happy with the way I played.

:13:45. > :13:50.There have been some scrappy darts and some good ones. The crowd were

:13:51. > :13:57.fantastic. This is going out on the big screen. What would you say to

:13:58. > :14:05.them? Party more! Just about. I think last night was party mode. At

:14:06. > :14:09.five o'clock this morning it was still kicking with the streets. They

:14:10. > :14:15.are singing your name, go and join them. In case you missed it earlier,

:14:16. > :14:18.he couldn't get any sleep last night and he got up at 4am to have a

:14:19. > :14:25.little walk around Cardiff which would have been very interesting.

:14:26. > :14:31.Gary Anderson walks away as a losing semifinalist but ?25,000 richer.

:14:32. > :14:40.Phil Taylor against Michael van Gerwen in the final.

:14:41. > :14:47.Stand by and expect fireworks. I think it's fair to say that. Phil

:14:48. > :14:50.Taylor has been trying to conserve energy in his earlier matches in

:14:51. > :14:55.case he was up against someone like Van Gerwen in the final. There will

:14:56. > :14:58.be no love lost here. They both want to put their name on this title for

:14:59. > :15:02.the first time because I want to come back and say, that is my name

:15:03. > :15:12.on the trophy and I want to defend it. Abu Dua to do that is to win it

:15:13. > :15:17.first. Michael van Gerwen will be a slight favourite. Is their mutual

:15:18. > :15:21.respect between these two? From a professional respect, absolutely.

:15:22. > :15:25.They would be talking to each other at this point, head plugs in years,

:15:26. > :15:29.looking at the border and getting things done. Michael will probably

:15:30. > :15:34.try to bring a very angry, aggressive game of the blood Phil

:15:35. > :15:40.Taylor will probably want to reciprocate. Phil Taylor will try to

:15:41. > :15:47.do what he did last night. It has to be a difficult game,. Phil Taylor

:15:48. > :15:52.will be buoyant but Michael Van Gerwen will be gunning for him at

:15:53. > :15:58.the same time. It will be an interesting game. The final coming

:15:59. > :16:01.up in about 17 minutes. In the meantime, we will have a bit of fun

:16:02. > :16:05.because lots of celebrities have got involved with the nine darts

:16:06. > :16:12.challenge on the BBC sport website to take a look at this.

:16:13. > :16:19.I don't like the way you are holding it.

:16:20. > :16:32.Don't talk! Have some respect for the game. The best thing about darts

:16:33. > :16:38.is that anyone can do it and if you get really good, you can do tricks.

:16:39. > :16:45.As a darts expert, I thought about this, complicated strategy. Hit the

:16:46. > :16:48.board, not the wall. Come on! Three! Always a brilliant atmosphere and in

:16:49. > :16:56.Cardiff, I'm sure that will be three times as good as normal. Last one.

:16:57. > :17:04.Gosh! It ricocheted. That is probably worth about a hundred,

:17:05. > :17:08.isn't it? Darts was huge in Bolton one I was growing up. Both my mum

:17:09. > :17:16.and my Nanna were in the local darts team. If I score anywhere near

:17:17. > :17:25.anything on that board, I will be very happy. 20. The worry is that

:17:26. > :17:33.you will invite another sportsman to do it. Phil Tufnell will be the most

:17:34. > :17:39.traditional. He will be fluid. Come on! You want 51 to beat Phil

:17:40. > :17:54.Tufnell. Now you want 50. I like the pressure, the moment that

:17:55. > :17:58.darts player is looking, that ultimate pressure of trying to hit a

:17:59. > :18:07.triple. I was think a much I would be shaking if I was trying to do it.

:18:08. > :18:16.I have never played darts before. Look at that! Whenever we play, he

:18:17. > :18:22.seems to be a hundred odd in front of me. LAUGHTER

:18:23. > :18:40.I'm too intimidated. What can I do? You look at the physique, I was made

:18:41. > :18:45.and primed to play darts. Haven't played this game in 30 years. I do

:18:46. > :18:51.watch it amongst the mayhem and the Dutchman isn't bad, is he? He's

:18:52. > :19:03.bald, as well. That's not bad, is it? Great shot. Great shot.

:19:04. > :19:12.When you are playing someone who is 11 foot two, who just leans forward

:19:13. > :19:16.and puts the darts in, what is that? I'm really pleased with my

:19:17. > :19:23.performance today. These are my peers. You cheated! I now stand

:19:24. > :19:30.literally above them but also mathematically above them. Well

:19:31. > :19:35.done, Greg, he has obviously been spending a lot of time in his local

:19:36. > :19:38.pub. I have no idea why I agree to this but the producer thought it

:19:39. > :19:43.would be a good idea if I did the nine darts challenge on live

:19:44. > :19:46.television. I didn't have to do this in the Rio Olympics. Two

:19:47. > :19:52.commentators here who will talk me through it. You will commentate. I

:19:53. > :20:00.have no idea why I'm doing this. You will need some well starts. Well

:20:01. > :20:10.starts, that is a good start. -- Welsh darts. I'm sure we will see a

:20:11. > :20:16.ton 40. No pressure. I haven't played for about 30 years. We are

:20:17. > :20:22.about to see if you are as good as Sarah cox, Alan Shearer, Trevor

:20:23. > :20:29.Nelson, no pressure! 61, he's getting better. 62, a great start.

:20:30. > :20:47.You can do it! Four, 12 and 20. 36 on top of 98.

:20:48. > :20:54.Deep breath. We will edit this out. What you mean, it's live!

:20:55. > :21:08.Shanghai 5s. That isn't bad. 65. 163 in nine darts, not bad at all.

:21:09. > :21:17.That's not allowed. So you are better than Alan Shearer. What did I

:21:18. > :21:20.get? 163. That's not bad considering this is live. I know how those guys

:21:21. > :21:25.are feeling. You said you were nervous. That was the first time

:21:26. > :21:32.I've played darts for about 30 years. My best checkout was double

:21:33. > :21:38.two. That is one of the hardest ones. Thank you. Humiliation on live

:21:39. > :21:42.television. I need a nicknames so we should ask you via Twitter and

:21:43. > :21:46.Facebook, get involved. Keep them clean! These guys have been telling

:21:47. > :21:51.us what they are highlights of this weekend have been. Highlight so far

:21:52. > :21:56.has to be the high quality finishing that we have seen. James Wade

:21:57. > :22:00.starting with 161 in the afternoon session. Setting the tone for what

:22:01. > :22:04.we were about to see the rest of the day. He will need two troubles. This

:22:05. > :22:21.would be a killer. A killer bull's-eye! James Wade

:22:22. > :22:27.really put the Cat amongst the pigeons. As if that shot wasn't good

:22:28. > :22:32.enough, he did one better, 164. He could use treble 19 twice and the

:22:33. > :22:38.bull's-eye, but he went a conventional route, treble 20,

:22:39. > :22:48.treble 18 and another bull's-eye. Triple 20 or two triple 19 is. Could

:22:49. > :22:53.he? He could! Then, to go one better, Phil The Power Taylor takes

:22:54. > :22:57.167 against Michael van Gerwen. At that point in the match, he needed

:22:58. > :23:06.something to go his way, treble 20, treble 19 and the bull's-eye.

:23:07. > :23:11.People are saying Phil Taylor is finished, he is far from finished,

:23:12. > :23:22.still playing at a very high standard. This would be for 167,

:23:23. > :23:28.third break in a row. Yes! My moments of the week and so far was

:23:29. > :23:31.Phil Taylor's celebration after he wins the penultimate leg against

:23:32. > :23:36.Michael van Gerwen last night. We thought Phil Taylor was going to

:23:37. > :23:46.take it easy and he wasn't going to expend useless energy. When that 138

:23:47. > :23:51.went in, it wasn't an accident that he celebrated like it did. The

:23:52. > :23:56.context of the match was a kind of worlds will collide, it was the best

:23:57. > :24:03.of all time against the best in the world. Hadn't lost since losing to

:24:04. > :24:07.Phil Taylor 36 games ago. It was a big moment, a big celebration and a

:24:08. > :24:09.big statement of Phil Taylor. Telling the world, I am duffing up

:24:10. > :24:22.the Dutchman and he did. We were talking about two worlds

:24:23. > :24:27.colliding and it is happening all over again. We had it last night,

:24:28. > :24:31.that was the start and now we will see who will finish it. Michael van

:24:32. > :24:35.Gerwen was playing better now than he was yesterday, Phil Taylor has

:24:36. > :24:40.steadied off. Doing the same thing all weekend. Interesting to see who

:24:41. > :24:46.will win this because I wanted to be an angry contest. I want drama and I

:24:47. > :24:51.don't think I will be disappointed. It will definitely be angry, they

:24:52. > :24:57.will be pumped up. It will be very interesting. I think it will be a

:24:58. > :25:03.steady start by both players. We will see who can kick on. It is fair

:25:04. > :25:07.to say, it took us a while to get to the big checkouts but when they did,

:25:08. > :25:12.they were really impressive. It was an edgy start with the first game

:25:13. > :25:15.yesterday but shortly after, James Wade lit the touch how things went

:25:16. > :25:22.over the course of yesterday and today. Full credit to him, he has

:25:23. > :25:26.played really well. Now, all about Van Gerwen and Taylor, the greatest

:25:27. > :25:30.ever against the greatest right now. We will find out who will be the

:25:31. > :25:33.first ever Champions League champion. More build-up to come

:25:34. > :25:41.after we find out which moments mark and Alan chose. The nine-darter on

:25:42. > :25:44.the big TV stage. They all love to see it, we all love to watch it.

:25:45. > :25:52.Phil Taylor said earlier in the week, you wanted to hit one on the

:25:53. > :25:56.BBC. I was commentating on the game. Thornton hit the two 180 's and you

:25:57. > :25:58.could feel the noise level is rising in the auditorium, as it was in the

:25:59. > :26:04.commentary box. Phil Taylor really wants to do this.

:26:05. > :26:29.Yes. It is on. Double 12... Oh! Double 12, just wasn't to be, it was

:26:30. > :26:33.a long way off. It slipped! Good to see you smiling, though! I can't

:26:34. > :26:50.swear, can I but it was a rubbish dart.

:26:51. > :27:11.There is only one Jason Mohammad, only one Dan Dorton and he has been

:27:12. > :27:16.with us all week. -- Dan Dawson. What a couple of days it has been.

:27:17. > :27:19.It has been phenomenal and look at the showpiece we have got, the

:27:20. > :27:25.greatest in the world right now against the greatest there has ever

:27:26. > :27:32.been. Some love Phil Taylor, some love Michael van Gerwen. That lad

:27:33. > :27:40.loves his Nan, good on him! Did you think these two would be in the

:27:41. > :27:47.final? There was always a chance. Ominously, for Phil Taylor, Michael

:27:48. > :27:50.van Gerwen has just put in his best performance of the weekend in the

:27:51. > :27:54.semifinals. If you have time this right, we could see something very

:27:55. > :27:58.special from him. But Phil Taylor knows how to win big titles and he

:27:59. > :28:06.is desperate to get a big TV title to his name. We were let down do

:28:07. > :28:09.that and we are ready for you, Jason. It looks a wonderful

:28:10. > :28:25.atmosphere. Two legends of the game. The head to

:28:26. > :28:30.heads, it can be a bit misleading because Michael van Gerwen had a big

:28:31. > :28:38.dip in form a few years back but recently it has been all him and

:28:39. > :28:49.that is what he has to cling to. Mentally, I think he is very fresh.

:28:50. > :28:53.11 TV nine-darter is for the power and five from McGhee. -- Mighty

:28:54. > :29:06.Mike. It will be littered with 180 s. What

:29:07. > :29:11.has been amazing is talking to the players when they have come up and

:29:12. > :29:14.having a chat. You get that sense of relief it is over and then they have

:29:15. > :29:21.another group match to concentrate on. I wonder how these two guys are

:29:22. > :29:25.feeling, given what is at stake tonight. Put everything into it now,

:29:26. > :29:29.nothing left after the night. Do what you can and don't leave

:29:30. > :29:35.anything in your locker. Both guys know that. It is what we will see.

:29:36. > :29:41.We talk about Will Championships and all the big titles as well these two

:29:42. > :29:46.have played, but what about tonight, the first time this event has been

:29:47. > :29:48.held. The first time it has been on the BBC as well. Does that make it

:29:49. > :29:58.even more special? Yes, everything has got to start

:29:59. > :30:02.somewhere. 40 years from now, this tournament could be willing to the

:30:03. > :30:08.future. We will be seeing, who won the first one? Was it Michael van

:30:09. > :30:15.Gerwen, Phil Taylor? They want to be the answer to that question. Michael

:30:16. > :30:19.has just gone through in the second semifinal. Does that make a

:30:20. > :30:24.difference? Not really. Phil will be happy that he played first. Michael

:30:25. > :30:30.has got to pick up where he left off, he has got momentum. He will

:30:31. > :30:35.want to set off like a house on fire in the final. What about the crowd?

:30:36. > :30:39.How important? You have stood in front of massive crowds. How

:30:40. > :30:43.important is it to get the fans on your side early on? It is

:30:44. > :30:48.interesting. If Gary Anderson made the final, he probably would have

:30:49. > :30:53.been the crowd favourite. With van Gerwen Ann Taylor, it is 50-50. When

:30:54. > :30:59.it comes to games like this, sometimes the winner in the game at

:31:00. > :31:03.that point gets the most. Whoever really does breakthrough and gets at

:31:04. > :31:10.two leg lead, they will have the crowd on their side. ?100,000 to the

:31:11. > :31:11.winner. The players are standing by. The referee will talk us through

:31:12. > :31:29.this one. Point, barrel, flight. The dart, the

:31:30. > :31:37.straightest, near weightless, an elegant and gracious tool. Despite

:31:38. > :31:41.trepidation, calculation, perspiration, a binding weight of

:31:42. > :31:52.expectation. Yearning for a celebration. Time to raise the

:31:53. > :31:57.anti-, a flutter, a flick, a flight of fancy. Anything is possible in

:31:58. > :32:06.this Champions League of dance finale. Point, barrel, flight. And

:32:07. > :32:15.how it flew. Men named the mighty, the Power, whittled down to two. In

:32:16. > :32:20.Google tilt, baptism, first, a brand-new narrative. Demand is, as

:32:21. > :32:29.special ambience. The world awaits. Step forward, champions. And if that

:32:30. > :32:37.has not got you ready, I do not know what else we can do? Very well said.

:32:38. > :32:42.A fantastic voice. It is fantastic listening to what he can do for the

:32:43. > :32:49.sport. He is the voice of darts and he has got me ready. 2006, the first

:32:50. > :32:54.time they played, van Gerwen was 17. Taylor was the winner. That was in

:32:55. > :33:00.the Netherlands. Now it is a full house in Cardiff. The expectation is

:33:01. > :33:05.massive. Yes, and yesterday's game has done nothing to dampen that

:33:06. > :33:09.expectation. We expect big scores and big finishes. I think the final

:33:10. > :33:17.will deliver. I am sure you are ready at home. We cannot wait. Let's

:33:18. > :33:22.join John McDonald. Eight of the very best in the world came, ladies

:33:23. > :33:33.and gentlemen, and only two remain. Welcome to the final of the

:33:34. > :33:38.Champions League Of Darts. We are live on the BBC. It is time to meet

:33:39. > :33:48.the final is. Please welcome, from Stoke-on-Trent, England, he is the

:33:49. > :34:02.record-breaking, history making, 16 times the champion of the world.

:34:03. > :34:45.Now, ladies and gentlemen, from the Netherlands, it is time to meet the

:34:46. > :34:58.world number one, and the former champion of the world, might the

:34:59. > :35:09.Michael van Gerwen. -- Mighty Michael.

:35:10. > :35:47.MUSIC: "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes.

:35:48. > :35:55.Michael van Gerwen, 23 victories, Phil Taylor, 29 victories. There

:35:56. > :36:05.have been two draws. Enjoy it. Get those feet up in the company of

:36:06. > :36:10.Vassos Alexander and Alan Warriner. Yes, we hope, we expect we are in

:36:11. > :36:14.for a tungsten treat. For the second time in 24 hours in Cardiff, it is

:36:15. > :36:19.the best in the world against the best of all time. Last night it was

:36:20. > :36:25.a great game, this is for the title. Van Gerwen has hardly put a dart

:36:26. > :36:30.from all year. 19 titles in 2016 so far. He has won his last 16

:36:31. > :36:35.tournaments and take two nine daughters already this week, both in

:36:36. > :36:40.Barnsley, annoyingly. He has won 58 of his last 61 matches. Two of those

:36:41. > :36:46.three defeats were at the hands of Phil Taylor, in Sydney last month in

:36:47. > :36:52.another best of 21 leg final, Taylor was the winner, 11-9. Last night,

:36:53. > :37:02.mighty Mac did not manage to hold his throw. I have just been chatting

:37:03. > :37:08.to Phil. He is proud of his new exercise regime. His mind as clean

:37:09. > :37:13.as a bell. He was on holiday while MVG was cleaning up. This is it, the

:37:14. > :37:18.best-known and the best ever, a live-in legs, 100 grand, and the

:37:19. > :37:24.first-ever Champions League Of Darts on the line. How could you not look

:37:25. > :37:29.forward to this? The two big powerhouses of world darts. World

:37:30. > :37:38.number one Michael van Gerwen, he seems to win everything in his path.

:37:39. > :37:43.In his path today, the legend of darts, Phil "the Power" Taylor. He

:37:44. > :37:50.took the plaudits last night. The atmosphere was fantastic. This is

:37:51. > :38:06.electric. As you said, this is not a great game, this is for the title.

:38:07. > :38:13.17 world titles between them. The 16 time world champion, Phil Taylor. He

:38:14. > :38:19.threw some absolutely sensational darts, both this afternoon and

:38:20. > :38:24.against MVG last night. Has he got it in him at 56 to produce that, too

:38:25. > :38:30.produces best five times in two days? If he can do the same as he

:38:31. > :38:37.did last night, Michael will find it very tough. If you spin the coin, if

:38:38. > :38:45.Michael can produce his best, Phil will also find it tough. If we can

:38:46. > :38:49.get that happy medium, we could be in for a cracker. Sometimes you

:38:50. > :38:55.build these games up, two fantastic players and stars of the game, and

:38:56. > :39:00.it does not work out. Last night was brilliant. The atmosphere is

:39:01. > :39:06.certainly good. The crowd are loving it. A slow start from both players,

:39:07. > :39:12.you have to say. 12 darts thrown from each of them. Nobody is on a

:39:13. > :39:18.finish yet. Yes, certainly a slow start. Maybe some nerves. There

:39:19. > :39:22.always is in any game in the first couple of legs. Important to get the

:39:23. > :39:28.first leg on the board. Whichever player wins the first leg, he will

:39:29. > :39:35.not mind if it is a 25 darter. Taylor hits the first maximum of the

:39:36. > :39:42.final. That has woken everybody up. Double 16 to hold his throw. Did he

:39:43. > :39:47.need that? Remember, he failed to hold his throw all through last

:39:48. > :39:56.night's match, MVG. This is a chance for Phil Taylor to break him again.

:39:57. > :40:02.He only needs the one dart. It was certainly a mixed bag on the

:40:03. > :40:06.scoring. That maximum from Phil Taylor gave him the opportunity. Van

:40:07. > :40:09.Gerwen had a chance and did not take it. Taylor had the chance and he did

:40:10. > :40:25.not miss. He has got a new step machine at

:40:26. > :40:36.home, Phil Taylor. He says it is really doing him good.

:40:37. > :40:47.The noise in that auditorium is amazing. They are really enjoying

:40:48. > :40:52.this weekend and is final. It has -- it has been a pleasure to be here at

:40:53. > :40:58.the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. Yes, it really has been a cracking

:40:59. > :41:04.atmosphere all weekend. We are building to what we hope will be a

:41:05. > :41:16.thrilling, enthralling climax. It is all set up. Van Gerwen really has to

:41:17. > :41:29.get his scoring boots on. He has not yet got going. Only one score of 400

:41:30. > :41:35.plus from MVG so far. -- of 100 plus. He does not want the same as

:41:36. > :41:44.last night to happen, when he could not win his throw. He ended up being

:41:45. > :41:50.so far behind, he could not get back. This is for a two leg lead.

:41:51. > :42:06.Yes. He has woken up. He certainly has.

:42:07. > :42:11.He needed that one. You could see the grimace from van Gerwen. It has

:42:12. > :42:17.been a slow start from the young Dutchman. He needed that. He really

:42:18. > :42:23.needed that. You can see what it meant to him. We mentioned that MVG

:42:24. > :42:28.has won his last six tournaments. If he wins here, it will be seven in a

:42:29. > :42:40.row. Phil Taylor once did it in a row. It just shows you the quality

:42:41. > :42:48.that is out there. Darts like these from Taylor. Another maximum.

:42:49. > :43:03.He leaves himself 95. Taylor leaving himself something handy. Van Gerwen,

:43:04. > :43:08.you would think, would go for the bull as a first dart, because if he

:43:09. > :43:16.goes for the treble and misses, he will not get another throw. That is

:43:17. > :43:21.my point. If Taylor takes this out, the pain will increase. Two darts at

:43:22. > :43:41.double 1243 leg lead. -- at double 12 for a three leg

:43:42. > :43:44.lead. That is a big let. Michael van Gerwen's face when Phil Taylor

:43:45. > :43:54.missed, it tells you what it means. It really does. He was fired up.

:43:55. > :44:01.Phil Taylor had a dart at double 12, a dart at double six. That is what

:44:02. > :44:03.it meant when he missed them. Certainly both players are fired up.

:44:04. > :44:22.That is a prime example. Can he send another one over the

:44:23. > :44:30.top? Powerful scoring again, 140, 142 start this leg. The scoring has

:44:31. > :44:35.been fantastic, it really has, over the whole weekend. Even if it has

:44:36. > :44:41.not been a maximum, he has been pretty good at the scoring on a

:44:42. > :44:49.consistent basis. Even there, single five, but he managed a reasonable

:44:50. > :44:54.score. Averaging 105, that is tonight. 104 throughout the

:44:55. > :45:02.tournament. This is for the 3-1 lead. He will be back if you misses.

:45:03. > :45:26.Stand up if you love the darts! And right now, Phil Taylor, you would

:45:27. > :45:34.think, is loving his darts. Five missed doubles in a row for Phil

:45:35. > :45:41.Taylor. How the tide's turning. 102. He went for six, double 18. I can't

:45:42. > :45:49.believe he missed that. A massive opportunity.

:45:50. > :45:59.That is a steadying dart. Already, even this early in the match, you

:46:00. > :46:07.feel he needed that. Keeps his nose in front. Certainly warming up

:46:08. > :46:15.nicely. Phil looks as composed as ever. Michael kind of battling with

:46:16. > :46:24.himself at the moment. He knows he's not in Top Gear. He's much more

:46:25. > :46:30.methodical, isn't he, then Gary Anderson, who we just saw. Phil

:46:31. > :46:38.Taylor takes his time. Will that affect van Gerwen's rhythm and

:46:39. > :46:42.concentration? I don't think so. Not particularly slow, Phil, but he's

:46:43. > :46:48.methodical in the way he sets up the throw. Michael very fast, as you can

:46:49. > :46:55.see. Like a lot of young Dutch players. Seems to be fighting his

:46:56. > :47:01.own battle. He's disappointed when he doesn't get a shot. He's got to

:47:02. > :47:10.calm himself down. There's a lot to play for here. Phil is calm and

:47:11. > :47:20.unflappable, but MVG seems to react to every dark this really.

:47:21. > :47:28.Just checking the score. He knows that van Gerwen isn't on a finish.

:47:29. > :47:33.That's why he didn't go further bull finish route. Double 16 when he

:47:34. > :47:36.comes back for another break of throw for Phil Taylor. To move two

:47:37. > :47:49.breaks head. That one was right in the green bit.

:47:50. > :48:15.He's in a bit of trouble. But we do know he's capable of silly

:48:16. > :48:21.darts, Michael van Gerwen, and seemingly he can just turn them on

:48:22. > :48:28.from. Like this. He needs to do it all the way through the leg, and

:48:29. > :48:33.challenge every leg, if he's going first or against the throw. The more

:48:34. > :48:38.opportunities you get, the better you feel, certainly when you hit

:48:39. > :48:43.them. You've got to get the opportunity in the first place. He's

:48:44. > :48:47.only had three darts and double so far, MVG. You imagine a fourth is

:48:48. > :49:21.coming in this lake. He will not be too worried about

:49:22. > :49:27.this leg. He will just keep pounding that treble. He doesn't get a shot,

:49:28. > :49:48.he goes on to the next leg. Double 16.

:49:49. > :49:56.Disappointed with the 96, you could see there. He knows he has to score

:49:57. > :50:00.heavier. Doesn't want to be giving Phil Taylor the chance again. He's

:50:01. > :50:11.trying to claw his way back in the game. It's been a feature of the

:50:12. > :50:18.weekend, the Icelandic anchor. A chance for Taylor here. Not the best

:50:19. > :50:23.of visit. You can see the shape of the head from Michael at the back.

:50:24. > :50:34.Phil, just doing his own thing, as he always done.

:50:35. > :50:40.Van Gerwen will be looking at finishing the 207 in two visits, if

:50:41. > :50:56.he can. He might have two. Well, it feels a bit like Christmas,

:50:57. > :50:59.with Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen here in the final. A full

:51:00. > :51:14.house, cracking atmosphere. Not to be. Stand up for the legend,

:51:15. > :51:25.our said. He would have loved it here. Double 16. Another opportunity

:51:26. > :51:27.goes for van Gerwen. He knows it's crucial, even at this early stage.

:51:28. > :51:46.Trouble 16, double 8. He's done it! He's cleaning up these

:51:47. > :51:49.legs, very clinically. Every time he gets the opportunity. That's what

:51:50. > :51:59.wins you matches. Almost halfway there for Taylor. A

:52:00. > :52:16.race to 11. We mentioned how much he's been

:52:17. > :52:25.winning, Michael van Gerwen, in the last month or two. Therefore, he's

:52:26. > :52:31.been playing an awful lot. Surely that's got to take it out of you at

:52:32. > :52:36.some stage? I'm sure it will. He has had a holiday this year, which is

:52:37. > :52:41.something you need to do, despite his youthful age compared with a lot

:52:42. > :52:49.of the players in the top 16. He's one of the youngest. He has to win

:52:50. > :52:58.this leg. Taylor can't leave a finish. He will make a big hole in

:52:59. > :53:05.it, certainly. Van Gerwen can't leave a finish. He could be in

:53:06. > :53:13.trouble here. Taylor two visits from 162. The way he's been finishing, he

:53:14. > :53:18.gets the chance, he'll take it. He missed five darts and a double in a

:53:19. > :53:23.row earlier in the match, but other than that, it's been really

:53:24. > :53:29.clinical. That is what has kept the averages down for both players, that

:53:30. > :53:33.first leg. There was a bit of nerves, obviously. Well, well, well.

:53:34. > :53:54.18. He's not giving van Gerwen that

:53:55. > :54:00.second chance. Even the 148, a big finish. He's not giving him the

:54:01. > :54:05.opportunity to have a go at it. If Michael had missed there, it would

:54:06. > :54:10.have got the adrenaline going. He's not giving him the chance. He's

:54:11. > :54:18.taking the opportunity away every possible time. How tough is it to

:54:19. > :54:22.play a semifinal, wait 20 minutes, then come back and play a final?

:54:23. > :54:26.It's never easy, because the adrenaline is very high from the

:54:27. > :54:31.game you've just played. Some players say it's better to play in

:54:32. > :54:37.the second semifinal, so you haven't got too long to wait. Some say is

:54:38. > :54:44.better in the first one. It's a personal choice. I would rather play

:54:45. > :54:47.in the first one, then come down and get yourself ready for the next

:54:48. > :54:50.game. These players play so many tournaments, play two or three times

:54:51. > :55:02.on the finals day. They should be used to it.

:55:03. > :55:09.Both these players are really strong front runners. Michael van Gerwen

:55:10. > :55:17.knows he can't let Phil Taylor go any further ahead, really. There's a

:55:18. > :55:24.break after ten legs. What ever happens, Taylor will be leading at

:55:25. > :55:28.the break. If van Gerwen could take this leg, he would love a break

:55:29. > :55:35.after it. Just needs to get back there. Despite the large deficit,

:55:36. > :55:53.which has been reduced to three. He took out one 10. Not under any

:55:54. > :56:09.pressure. Look at Phil Taylor. Straight back in the red! Claiming

:56:10. > :56:19.the maximum as only he can. The boy is certainly earning his tuppence.

:56:20. > :56:25.He might have to do it again. 180! They are on their feet, and they

:56:26. > :56:30.won't bother sitting down. Phil Taylor, within one dart of the

:56:31. > :56:38.perfect lake this afternoon. -- perfect leg.

:56:39. > :56:46.Would have left double 12. The crowd wanted it. I'm sure he wanted it.

:56:47. > :56:58.Didn't quite get the trouble numeric 19.

:56:59. > :57:11.How about that? The Power. He is all over Mighty Mike now. A 7-3 lead in

:57:12. > :57:33.a race to 11. # Hey, baby!

:57:34. > :57:42.# I want to know # If you will be my girl.

:57:43. > :57:47.All smiles from Phil Taylor before the match, and smiles in the

:57:48. > :57:51.interval. I hope the noise and the atmosphere is getting to you at

:57:52. > :57:56.home. The atmosphere is just incredible. We are witnessing

:57:57. > :58:09.something very special from the legend that is Phil The Power

:58:10. > :58:14.Taylor. He won 10-4 with a high average. But this is the one that

:58:15. > :58:21.counts. It is, if you get the right amount of legs. At the start of the

:58:22. > :58:26.game, Phil was outscoring Michael. The disparity between the scoring

:58:27. > :58:31.stats of the first nine darts was about 16 points. That is not the

:58:32. > :58:36.Michael van Gerwen we know, so Phil has taken advantage of that. He just

:58:37. > :58:41.held on throw, and at the end, almost gave us an nine-darter. So

:58:42. > :58:46.what has happened to Michael van Gerwen? He's not playing as well as

:58:47. > :58:55.he did this afternoon in that clash with Peter Wright. The first leg was

:58:56. > :59:00.very sloppy from him. He conceded an easy break to Phil, and then Phil

:59:01. > :59:07.has just kept in front. Phil has kept him at arm 's length. What do

:59:08. > :59:13.you think has happened to Michael? Did he overdo it in the final? I

:59:14. > :59:18.think he's just had an off leg to start the final. The first leg can

:59:19. > :59:26.dictate an awful lot. He's had a dodgy first leg. Phil has had an

:59:27. > :59:30.nice break, and hasn't submitted to Michael van Gerwen. We've seen a bit

:59:31. > :59:35.of aggression in some of the video we've seen, but it hasn't happened

:59:36. > :59:40.yet. Phil Taylor has been too good. A lot of guys had some beer their

:59:41. > :59:47.hands ready to throw in the air, but it didn't happen. So close. When

:59:48. > :59:53.Phil missed the trouble 19, he turned his attention to the trouble

:59:54. > :59:58.10. He stayed focused. Over the weekend we have looked at the facial

:59:59. > :00:04.expressions and body language. You can read so much into a darts

:00:05. > :00:09.player's mental state by their facial expressions. Michael isn't as

:00:10. > :00:14.composed and happy as he was this afternoon. Absolutely right. There's

:00:15. > :00:19.a lot of shaking of the head. But Phil Taylor isn't giving anything

:00:20. > :00:22.away with his body language and facial expressions. If we see

:00:23. > :00:28.something from him, it is when the other guy is looking at the board.

:00:29. > :00:34.Compere Michael this afternoon, the fist pumping, looking at the camera

:00:35. > :00:38.and thinking he will win this. He looks very, very tense. I don't

:00:39. > :00:47.think that first leg has helped him. He's very nervous, which is unlike

:00:48. > :00:50.him. Phil has taken advantage of it and has opened up a lead. He has to

:00:51. > :00:55.go now. Thank you very much indeed. Game on.

:00:56. > :01:01.What do you think, is there any way back for MVG? He has to come

:01:02. > :01:08.straight out of the blocks from the word go. He really has to play at

:01:09. > :01:12.his best. It is not just winning the legs, it is winning the legs against

:01:13. > :01:18.someone who is playing better than you. He needs to win this first leg,

:01:19. > :01:23.take one leg at the time. As we have seen so often in this game, it can

:01:24. > :01:28.change around very quickly. The way Phil Taylor is going, you just

:01:29. > :01:31.cannot see it. You get the feeling that if Michael van Gerwen is going

:01:32. > :01:37.to push Phil Taylor, if he is going to beat him, he is going to have to

:01:38. > :01:42.produce best darts. If he does, we are all in for a treat. That is what

:01:43. > :01:47.everybody wants. I am sure that Michael wants it as well. He is

:01:48. > :01:53.certainly looking better on the scoring. He let himself down. He

:01:54. > :02:03.needs to get a couple of legs on the board and fire himself up. Back

:02:04. > :02:09.comes Taylor. Unlucky. Apart from the fact he has not hit the maximum,

:02:10. > :02:17.he has not left a finish. Six darts, if he needs them. Taylor is back on

:02:18. > :02:24.184. He will be back. He has made it more hard work than it should have

:02:25. > :02:26.been. When you're behind, those doubles seem that little bit

:02:27. > :02:41.smaller. That is what happens when you're

:02:42. > :02:47.behind. If he was 7-3 in front, he might have got that. He is feeling

:02:48. > :02:52.the pressure. This is a virtual match point, championship point for

:02:53. > :03:00.Phil Taylor. This is for an 8-3 lead. Relentless on the doubles,

:03:01. > :03:05.Phil Taylor. Michael van Gerwen is certainly feeling the pressure.

:03:06. > :03:10.Pressure can destroy or create, it can drive you to victory or despair.

:03:11. > :03:17.We love it. Michael van Gerwen does not at the moment.

:03:18. > :03:26.He has only lost 17 legs in four and a half matches, Phil Taylor. Not bad

:03:27. > :03:41.going. He has beaten everyone up. With

:03:42. > :03:46.darts like this. He mentioned about having a bit more of a break because

:03:47. > :03:50.of his age, feeling tired on some of the pro tour events. People

:03:51. > :03:55.questioned it. If you can produce darts like these in some of the big

:03:56. > :04:00.television events, he is right. He says he wants to quietly fade away,

:04:01. > :04:06.the fade of the scene over the next 18 months or so. This is anything

:04:07. > :04:14.but fading away quietly. He will certainly never fade away. He is

:04:15. > :04:23.playing like Robin Hood at the moment.

:04:24. > :04:46.This is better from van Gerwen, but is it too late in the leg? Taylor is

:04:47. > :05:02.finishing like a master. Tops, to increase the pain. That is

:05:03. > :05:08.an unusual miss. Especially the way the game has gone. He needed that.

:05:09. > :05:14.He really, really needed to get that. You cannot imagine Phil

:05:15. > :05:22.Taylor, with three darts in his hand, aiming at the double ten, will

:05:23. > :05:31.fail to take it out. There it is. It is 9-3. He is two legs from the

:05:32. > :05:41.title. That is better from van Gerwen. Is it too late? Is it too

:05:42. > :05:46.late from van Gerwen byes -- is it too late for van Gerwen? The

:05:47. > :05:57.scoreline is well in the favour of the Power. Two legs away from

:05:58. > :06:03.victory and the title. He may need a couple of nine darters, Michael van

:06:04. > :06:14.Gerwen. He has had two this week, but he left them in Barnsley.

:06:15. > :06:23.Looking for a good setup. That is not bad. The difficulty he has got,

:06:24. > :06:27.it is breaking Taylor. The weight Taylor is playing, you would think

:06:28. > :06:35.he would have to do it in four visits. He is not doing it.

:06:36. > :06:45.For an 11 dart leg, that does not matter. You get the feeling they

:06:46. > :06:50.needed an 11 darter to get himself going. Yes, that is what he needs.

:06:51. > :06:55.He was quite a long way of the double. When you have missed with

:06:56. > :06:58.your first visit, it puts pressure on the next one. That will make him

:06:59. > :07:09.feel better. Will he believe he can still win

:07:10. > :07:13.this, Michael van Gerwen? Not that this point. He knows he has not

:07:14. > :07:19.played well, he has a long way behind. He knows there is a massive

:07:20. > :07:29.task ahead. As we have said all along, when Taylor has been in

:07:30. > :07:35.front, he needs to get to -- two or three legs to get into the groove.

:07:36. > :07:40.He is not going to get scrappy legs to get back into the match when he

:07:41. > :07:45.is 9-4 bank. How does he get back into the grave? First job first, get

:07:46. > :07:50.this leg done and move onto the next one. He has not got the rhythm that

:07:51. > :07:58.we are so used to seeing from van Gerwen. Scoring is his greatest a

:07:59. > :08:02.set. Big 180 squares. It has not happened. Some of the big finishes

:08:03. > :08:09.we have seen over the weekend, it has not happened. He stares down at

:08:10. > :08:21.his darts in the background, Michael van Gerwen. Phil Taylor peppers the

:08:22. > :08:32.treble 20 with another 140. He is just one leg and a bit away now.

:08:33. > :08:48.It should stay there. There is leg after leg where Michael is leaving

:08:49. > :08:52.himself too much to do. That is 180. Will he get the opportunity to take

:08:53. > :09:05.the leg. He seems to be doing it at the end of the leg and not the

:09:06. > :09:09.start. This is for 10-4 Taylor. Now, a big opportunity for van Gerwen. It

:09:10. > :09:23.is the stealing of the leg that will make him feel good. He gets it. Back

:09:24. > :09:27.to 9-5. That was not against the throw, importantly. If he can just

:09:28. > :09:34.make this one. Is that the turning point? Suddenly veered as a spring

:09:35. > :09:36.in the Dutchman's step. He was on was that the point of no return.

:09:37. > :09:49.Back comes Taylor. He has got to keep this power

:09:50. > :09:54.scoring to take this leg. Again, he has missed the treble. He started

:09:55. > :10:00.the leg with the maximum, but he has not followed it up. He has hit seven

:10:01. > :10:08.maximums, Michael van Gerwen, to Phil Taylor's four. The difference

:10:09. > :10:18.has been the 140s. Taylor has hit 14, van Gerwen, just seven. Another

:10:19. > :10:22.visit without a big treble. Even a ton on the last two visits would

:10:23. > :10:25.have put him in prime position. You feel this is the last opportunity

:10:26. > :10:35.for him to get his teeth into the match. He will come back for 81,

:10:36. > :10:37.will Phil Taylor. It was the middle bit of the leg that hard for van

:10:38. > :10:54.Gerwen. Yes. Yes, indeed. On the brink of

:10:55. > :11:06.the title now, Phil Taylor. One leg away. You can see what that means to

:11:07. > :11:09.Phil Taylor. He has basically extinguished the chance that Michael

:11:10. > :11:20.van Gerwen had created to try and claw his way back into the match. He

:11:21. > :11:24.was looking to go to 9-6, but that bull's-eye puts Phil "the Power"

:11:25. > :11:31.Taylor one leg away. Michael van Gerwen had a 180 and 171, in a leg

:11:32. > :11:40.in which he had the darts, and he did not have a dart at a double. He

:11:41. > :11:44.hits another maximum. I am sure these two players were dreaming of

:11:45. > :11:54.Champions League glory. Saturday afternoon. It looks like Phil Taylor

:11:55. > :11:55.is going to take the title, unless we have something extraordinary

:11:56. > :12:16.happening from van Gerwen. He is in the last chance saloon,

:12:17. > :12:28.Michael van Gerwen. He cannot afford to lose another leg. He is five down

:12:29. > :12:34.with six to play. He has not produced it throw upon throw. He has

:12:35. > :12:41.not hit the big scores. Not that every visit. We are so used to that.

:12:42. > :12:50.Maybe that defeat last night against Taylor really did hurt him. It is

:12:51. > :13:08.match point. Championship point to Phil Taylor. 114 for the title.

:13:09. > :13:17.Double 17 seals it for the Power. The inaugural Champions League Of

:13:18. > :13:23.Darts scores to Phil Taylor. He has been imperious all weekend. Five

:13:24. > :13:30.victories from five. Five easy victories from five. Is he enjoying

:13:31. > :13:36.himself? You bet. Congratulations, Phil Taylor. In his career, he has

:13:37. > :13:40.claimed more than one mountain and you always felt he was somewhere

:13:41. > :13:47.near the summit. To date is at the top. He has beaten Michael van

:13:48. > :13:54.Gerwen to be the Champions League darts champion. He is enjoying the

:13:55. > :13:58.moment. The crowd have loved it, we have loved it. I hope you have

:13:59. > :14:04.enjoyed it at home. Phil Taylor is the man.

:14:05. > :14:20.Ladies and gentlemen, you deserved a magnificent final, and you got one.

:14:21. > :14:23.Now it is time for our presentation. Please welcome the chief executive

:14:24. > :14:29.of the Professional Darts Corporation, Mr Matthew Porter, and

:14:30. > :14:37.the UK marketing manager for the sponsor, Mr Chris Watson. Ladies and

:14:38. > :14:42.gentlemen, I am sure you would like to show your appreciation for our

:14:43. > :14:46.runner-up, receiving a ?50,000 cheque and the trophy. That goes to

:14:47. > :15:12.a young man having an incredible year. Mighty Michael van Gerwen.

:15:13. > :15:26.And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment we've all been waiting for a!

:15:27. > :15:37.Our winner, receiving ?100,000, the magnificent trophy, and, the very

:15:38. > :15:38.first time ever in history, the University Champions League of Darts

:15:39. > :16:26.champion, Phil The Power Taylor! Take it in, Phil. Enjoy that moment.

:16:27. > :16:34.You told me, young Mr Taylor, that you were going to take it slowly and

:16:35. > :16:40.go out quietly. I did! It's what I wanted to do. It's fantastic. I

:16:41. > :16:46.really appreciate the Cardiff crowd. Some of these at the front here

:16:47. > :16:51.really got behind me. Come on, Phil. They are brilliant. Thank you,

:16:52. > :17:02.Cardiff. Take a look at that trophy. Yours will be the first ever name on

:17:03. > :17:08.it. I'm over the moon with this. I really am. Just to get to the final

:17:09. > :17:13.was tough. This is the top eight players in the world. This isn't a

:17:14. > :17:19.Muppet show, trust me. This is hard work. To play three games in a day

:17:20. > :17:23.for me was tough. I was worried about the final. I ran out of

:17:24. > :17:29.energy, and was dropping down a bit, but I just seem to click at the

:17:30. > :17:37.right time. You've got to go out and play. Talk to me about Michael

:17:38. > :17:42.again. He's been playing so much darts recently, to come into this in

:17:43. > :17:49.the form he was. Michael is brilliant. He's been playing so

:17:50. > :17:54.well. But I think he's been playing too much, and it showed in the

:17:55. > :18:00.final. Michael's better than that. He plays tournaments week in, week

:18:01. > :18:06.out. He's probably played 12 days out of 14. It's difficult. Michael,

:18:07. > :18:14.come in. Phil said it there that you've been playing a lot of darts.

:18:15. > :18:21.Was it too much for you tonight? I don't want to say too much. But I

:18:22. > :18:27.know I can do a lot better. He was the better player. He won all his

:18:28. > :18:33.games this weekend. I can only save fair play to Phil. It's been awhile

:18:34. > :18:42.since he won a big tournament. One of the things is, unfortunately, you

:18:43. > :18:48.cannot win all the time. I feel good. I feel fantastic, to be fair,

:18:49. > :18:52.but I've let myself down this weekend. I think they disagree with

:18:53. > :18:57.that. A quick word on all those who have been supporting you this

:18:58. > :19:02.weekend. They've been brilliant. They did well, and I hope I can show

:19:03. > :19:08.them more next time when I'm here for the Premier League. Hope to see

:19:09. > :19:11.you soon, everyone. I'm disappointed. Disappointed with

:19:12. > :19:22.myself, I'm back need to have a moment of rest. To lift this trophy

:19:23. > :19:30.is great. We will see you for a while yet. You will be in for a

:19:31. > :19:39.while yet? The last time I was what Cheng this was an 1992. Will you be

:19:40. > :19:45.back to defend it? Of course I will. Sorry, I didn't hear you. Of course

:19:46. > :19:53.I will be back. You heard it. He's coming back next year. Ladies and

:19:54. > :19:57.gentlemen, your 2016 champion. Wonderful work from Caroline Barker

:19:58. > :20:03.there with Phil Taylor. Absolutely brilliant. He was absolutely

:20:04. > :20:07.wonderful. I really enjoyed that interview. Mike Gregory, that is the

:20:08. > :20:14.funniest thing I've heard all weekend, and it came from Phil

:20:15. > :20:18.Taylor. What did you think about Phil Taylor there's saying that

:20:19. > :20:24.Michael is playing too much? He may have a point. If Michael is winning,

:20:25. > :20:28.he's confident and playing well. So he doesn't want to have brakes, as

:20:29. > :20:34.the young player. He may want to address that. It's a busy schedule

:20:35. > :20:39.at the end of the year. When you are winning, you just want to carry on

:20:40. > :20:45.playing. What you cannot see is people in their seats jumping up and

:20:46. > :20:50.down. They are really far away from where Phil is. There are very few

:20:51. > :20:57.sports men or women who could do that to a live crowd. Absolutely

:20:58. > :21:02.right. If you look at snooker, their crowns don't get this big. Darts

:21:03. > :21:08.crowds are getting bigger all the time. You are playing up to -- in

:21:09. > :21:12.front of up to 1100 people sometimes. And they were so

:21:13. > :21:17.respectful to all the players as they were playing. It was great to

:21:18. > :21:24.hear Phil saying that there was a group of players at the front who

:21:25. > :21:29.were saying, come on, Phil, you can do this. Yes, sometimes you need a

:21:30. > :21:39.little kick from the front row. Stand up for Sid Waddell. Yes, we

:21:40. > :21:43.saw that. Back to the point about Phil Taylor. There are very few

:21:44. > :21:48.sports stars who could do this to a crowd. In snooker, they have Ronnie

:21:49. > :21:53.O'Sullivan. Whenever he performs, he puts bums on seats, people buy the

:21:54. > :22:00.tickets. It's exactly the same for this bloke. Phil is in the same

:22:01. > :22:06.bracket. He's a legend. The best player to play the game. And the

:22:07. > :22:10.crowd still love him. They want him on top. He's done well this weekend

:22:11. > :22:15.to use that to his advantage. The crowd has been with him all the way.

:22:16. > :22:22.He's been the best player this weekend. 11-5 it finished. When you

:22:23. > :22:29.look at the matches they have had, it has been pretty tight. 11-9

:22:30. > :22:37.recently in the Sydney Masters final, for examples. Tight matches,

:22:38. > :22:41.but today it finished 11-5. We have to take things into consideration. I

:22:42. > :22:48.do think Michael van Gerwen was empty in the tank. First leg, very

:22:49. > :22:53.scrappy. The first leg after the break, van Gerwen starts to charge,

:22:54. > :22:59.Ann Taylor stops it immediately. The 15th leg was enormous. Double 18

:23:00. > :23:05.left by van Gerwen, and then Phil Taylor hits and 81 checkout, which

:23:06. > :23:11.stops van Gerwen completely. He was never going to win after that. You

:23:12. > :23:19.said that Michael has to keep Phil on nine, because when he hits ten,

:23:20. > :23:26.it's all over. Keeping Phil on nine, he's keeping pressure on him. But

:23:27. > :23:34.once he hit ten, Michael's got to be nigh on perfect Windows legs. Six

:23:35. > :23:40.darts in the middle that let that leg slip away, and then the match

:23:41. > :23:46.slipped away. That great moment when he did the trademark point, and just

:23:47. > :23:51.looked so call. He did, because he knew the importance of that moment.

:23:52. > :23:55.He knew he had him. We will see a lot of these guys for the rest of

:23:56. > :24:01.the season. I think it's important for van Gerwen to get some rest now,

:24:02. > :24:06.before the world Grand Prix in a week's time. Not long to rest, but

:24:07. > :24:10.Phil Taylor will be very dangerous in Dublin next week. Phil Taylor is

:24:11. > :24:16.the first champion in the Champions League of Darts. Has it captured the

:24:17. > :24:25.imagination of the public? It has. We have been very privileged to be

:24:26. > :24:28.part of the coverage here with you. Mark is very privileged to be here

:24:29. > :24:33.as well. Wales is the perfect place to have this tournament. Wales is a

:24:34. > :24:39.hotbed of darts. Can't wait to come back next year. Players could

:24:40. > :24:44.showcase their darts. It culminated in the dream final, and Phil was the

:24:45. > :24:50.standout player of the weekend. He never looked in danger, and is a

:24:51. > :24:54.worthy champion. It has been a great pleasure having you on the BBC and

:24:55. > :24:59.doing this show with you. Phil Taylor is the winner of the

:25:00. > :25:05.Champions League. A very familiar name on yet another darts trophy.

:25:06. > :25:10.Phil proving he's still got The Power.