Darts legend Phil Taylor came from two sets down to clinch his 16th world title in an electrifying final with young Dutchman Michael van Gerwen.
Much of the talk in the lead-up to Tuesday's PDC World Darts Championship decider surrounded Taylor's bust-up with Raymond van Barneveld after their semi-final, and subsequent rumours the most coveted darts player of all time may be on the brink of retirement.
But the 52-year-old capitalised after the precociously talented van Gerwen had skipped out to a two-set lead to take the Sid Waddell Trophy and a 200,000 pounds cheque with five straight sets to close out a 7-4 win.
Van Gerwen, 23, was on fire in the opening two sets and hit eight 180s in the opening six sets to Taylor's two.
Many pundits' tip to upset the champion, van Gerwen looked ice cool on his way to a 4-2 lead but could not stop the rampaging Taylor as the Englishman turned the game on its head.
The veteran levelled it as he took the fourth set but faltered at key moments in the fifth to hand back the ascendancy to the Dutchman.
An early 180 sent a warning to Taylor, and van Gerwen was on target with a double 18 to close out the set and lead 4-2.
Van Gerwen just missed a double 19 for what would have been a sensational 158 checkout in the seventh set and that was where the momentum begun to swing.
Instead, Taylor hit a regulation 51 to cut the deficit to 4-3 and when van Gerwen missed the checkout on 107 in the next set, it was all square at 4-4.
In the ninth set, Taylor faltered with a straight forward 40 checkout the first time, but van Gerwen missed a guilt-edged opportunity and Taylor made no mistake the second time to take a 5-4 set lead.
That appeared to shatter van Gerwen's confidence but proved to be the tonic for Taylor, who improved as the pressure mounted.
Despite a ninth maximum, van Gerwen could not prevent Taylor checking out with a double 16 and was punished for missing a 69 checkout.
A massive 174 left Taylor needing 91 to seal the match, which he did with a double 16 in the 11th set.
