World Matchplay
Winter Gardens stage.
“I think this is the best ever win here, and I’m so happy,” said Taylor.
“I am absolutely over the moon and you could see from Michael’s
expression at the end just how much it meant to both of us.
“It was a tough game and I had to get on top of Michael early on. I knew
I’d play well tonight and I wanted to knock his confidence and keep
him thinking.
“He’s a confident player, and he’s tremendous. He’s world number one
for a reason and he’s been inspiring me to get back to my best, and I
want to get my number one ranking back.
“He was in tears on stage but he shouldn’t be because he’s played
some superb darts this week, but it shows the passion he’s got.”
“I’ve never been in this final and I wanted this trophy so badly,” said
van Gerwen. “I was here to win the tournament, but Phil was fantastic
and he showed his class tonight.
“He was the better player in this tournament. I didn’t perform as well
as I could and I wasn’t good enough. I tried so hard and I don’t know
what happened tonight.
“He was the
better player in
this tournament.
I didn’t perform
as well as I could
and I wasn’t
good enough.
I tried so hard
and I don’t know
what happened
tonight”
Michael van Gerwen
“I’ll move on from here because you learn from games like this. I’ve
hurt Phil in the past and seen him disappointed, and we’ll have a lot
more battles - I’ll be back in the next tournament!”
“I think this is the
best ever win here,
and I’m so happy”
Phil Taylor