enough to scoop the top prize, but this given day was a run-in with a man he knew too well, a man who would take everything the Potteries powerhouse threw at him and give it back with vengeance. Taylor turned the tables to come from behind and record an 18-13 victory in a final that will surely never be eclipsed, but the resolve Lewis had shown in dusting himself down from effectively being involved in two other finals in the previous rounds, and the sheer entertainment he had provided across the nine days, saw him win over a new allegiance of supporters. To many, the constituents of a naturally gifted talent are somewhat blurred. George Best,
Björn Borg and Ronnie O’Sullivan are a trio of stars widely regarded as the most naturally gifted in their area of expertise, but how does Lewis fall into that category? Like all three of those sporting superstars, Lewis possesses a rapid, yet relaxed technique built on years of dedication, and can often make the game look like a walk in the park - take his relentless scoring power for example. No player hit more 180s in the 2013 World Matchplay, and Lewis even broken the record for the most maximums in consecutive legs, as he fired in eight on the spin and 19 in total. “I might look like the calmest man in the building sometimes, inside
“Adrian’s a totally different player - a different kettle of fish. The difference is he’s grown up”
Phil Taylor