Darts: Diamond has Taylor aiming for perfection

Phil Taylor will be chasing his 11th world title and a very special trophy when the PDC World Championship gets under way at the Circus Tavern, Purfleet, today.

"The Power" has swept all before him during 2002, adding the World Matchplay, Las Vegas Desert Classic and World Grand Prix to the world title he won 12 months ago with victory over Peter Manley. The Stoke thrower also produced a nine-dart finish in Blackpool during the summer to put the seal on a fantastic year. However, Taylor has made no secret of the fact that he wants to win world title No 11 and produce another nine-darter to make it a successful start to 2003.

"I would love to do another nine-darter at the World Championship," he admitted. "And there is always a special thing about the World Championship. It does not matter if you play it in a tent, there is always something special about being world champion."

An added incentive is the Nine Dart Diamond – worth a six-figure sum and mounted in the bullseye of a dartboard – on offer to the first player who can throw a perfect leg.