About Desert Classic 2002
Phil Taylor
The PDC is eager to expand and conquer new markets. Therefore in 2002 16 of the best PDC players gather in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas to play the first Desert Classic. The event is considered hard to play, because the matches are played early in the morning. All to do with the fact that European broadcasters want to show the darts live on TV and at the most suitable hours for them. In the first year they play in sets, each set is over the best of 7 legs. This makes it the first and only tournament that works with this system, but after a year it will also be abolished again.
Phil Taylor wins the first edition of the Las Vegas Desert Classic by beating Ronnie Baxter 3-0 in sets in the final. Taylor has a relatively easy draw towards the final, especially because his biggest opponents on paper are eliminated before they meet Taylor. Peter Manley and Colin Lloyd both loose in the first round, so The Power plays against Denis Ovens in the quarterfinals and Lee Palfreyman in the semi-finals.
Roland Scholten also reaches the semi-finals after victories over Dennis Priestley and Wayne Mardle. In the semi-finals however, Baxter is too strong for the man from The Hague.
Callers Of Desert Classic 2002
Desert Classic 2002
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
