No fairytale finish for 16-time Blackpool champion Taylor

ffPhil Taylor couldn’t end his darts career with another William Hill World Championship title as Rob Cross claimed the crown with a stunning 7-2 victoryin the final at Alexandra Palace.

The 57-year-old aimed to complete his incomparable career in fairytale fashion with a 17th world title but Cross, without a tour card this time last year, averaged a remarkable 107.67, hit 11 maximums and had a checkout percentage of 60 to end his first year as a professional on the Professional Darts Corporation circuit in emphatic style.

The world number six raced into a 3-0 set lead and, after Taylor was denied a first World Championship nine-darter by the width of the double-12 wire, continued his demolition job to scoop a cheque of £400,000.

Taylor averaged 102.26 but had no answer to Cross’ heavy scoring and prolific finishing.

The defeat brought the curtain down on a glittering career which saw Taylor put darts on the sporting map with his domination, winning over £7million in prize money and more than 200 career titles.

The retiring Taylor won the World Matchplay at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, which he always said was his favourite venue, for the 16th time last year.