PHIL Taylor has already confirmed his legacy as the greatest darts player in history by winning his 14th world title, but his obsessively professional approach to the sport ensures that he is already plotting title No15.
The 48-year-old's crushing 7-1 victory over Raymond van Barneveld in Sunday's PDC Ladbrokes.com World Championship final at a packed Alexandra Palace was especially sweet, as he was reclaiming a crown he painfully lost to the Dutchman in 2007, with
John Part winning the tournament in 2008.
Stoke's world No1 won the first six legs and never looked like slipping up on his way to a three-dart average of 109.76 – breaking his own record for a major final.
Taylor admitted his 14th world title had been one of the most satisfying, having been in the unusual position of having to wait three years to reclaim the prize. "To win it back again is unbelievable for me, you do doubt yourself and think am I going to win this again," he said. "To get it back I'm absolutely made up."
Taylor revealed he had to stay focused and reveal a ruthless streak to ensure that there was no repeat of his 2007 slip-up against Van Barneveld – one of the greatest matches the sport had produced, which his great rival won 7-6 at the tournament's previous home at the Circus Tavern.
Taylor said that defeat was uppermost in his thoughts when he took to the oche on Sunday and added: "Once I started and I was playing well I thought, 'Don't stop now, don't give him a chance'. As soon as you relax with Raymond he seems to kick in, he gains on your weakness so I thought keep hitting him and keep hitting him because he's like Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe. That's what you have to do to him. It's very cruel but that's what you have to do.
"They are such good players nowadays that what you have to do when you are on stage is put them under pressure and keep them under pressure. The averages have got to be 100-plus or you are going home."
While Taylor displayed some of the best darts of his life at this year's championships, a world title looked a long way off at the beginning of last year, when he showed signs of vulnerability, which were clearly evident when he was thrashed 8-3 by Peter Manley in the Premier League.
Like any true champion Taylor knuckled down and changed his mindset, and used the Manley defeat to his advantage.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me I think," he said. "Once he (Manley] beats you, he rubs it in your face as well. I've got signed photographs for him because he sells them, but he doesn't half rub it in but I thank him for it in a strange way.
"Now I have to concentrate on defending my world title because there is nothing more important than that."
The beaten, but unbroken Van Barneveld was generous in his praise for Taylor and admitted he had no answers to the maestro's brilliance.
The Dutchman said: "I played a computer. All my congratulations to Phil. He's absolutely brilliant.
"I'll be back, don't worry, but beating this man – I don't know what to do? Practicing ten hours a day is probably not enough."
FACT BOX• Having left school at 16, Phil Taylor worked making ceramic toilet roll handles.
• He was spotted playing darts in Stoke-on-Trent pubs by Eric Bristow, a legend of the sport, who sponsored him £10,000 to help kick-start his pro career.
• In 1990, Taylor won his first world title, defeating Bristow 6-1 in the final.
• Taylor is the most successful darts player in history having won 14 World Championships, nine World Matchplays, eight World Grand Prix, four Las Vegas Desert Classics, two UK Opens, four Premier Leagues, one World Series Of Darts title and two Grand Slam of Darts titles.
• In 2002, he became the first player to achieve a nine-dart finish live on British TV. He has made more UK-televised nine-dart finishes than anyone else.
• Taylor is the first darts player to win more than £1 million in prize money.
• In Sunday's final, Taylor set the highest three-dart average for a final, scoring 109.76.
TOM BOWSER