Darts (From Evesham Journal)

Darts

5:30pm Wednesday 1st July 2009

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EVESHAM ace Ronnie Baxter blasted into the darts stratosphere by thrashing legend Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor 6-2 to win the Las Vegas Players Championship.

‘The Rocket’ picked up his first tournament win of 2009 with the £6,000 title at the Mandalay Bay Resort, condemning Taylor to only his second Players Championship loss of the year.

Having been pushed all the way to a deciding leg by Japan’s Morihiro Hashimoto in the first round, he then defeated Davis Snider, Wayne Mardle, Kevin Painter and John Part to reach the semi-finals.

He then overcame Lowestoft-based qualifier Peter Wright 6-3 before taking victory against Taylor. Baxter opened the final with a 121 finish and also led 2-0 before Taylor took out 104 to get off the mark. Double eight and double 16 put Baxter 4-1 up before a 13-darter saw him move a leg away from victory.

Taylor fired in a 128 checkout for a 12-darter to stay in the game, but a 180 from Baxter sent him clear in the next - and he had enough breathing space to miss seven match darts before landing double one for the title.

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