World Matchplay

A year after his victory in 1998, Harrington again is the number one seed and for the second year in a row he reaches the final. This time he is up against the number two in the world, Peter Manley. "One Dart" Manley has beaten Phil Taylor in the semi-final and is full of confidence he can win his first major title. Both players treat the audience to a spectacular final in Blackpool once again. Manley is 13-16 down when he throws 180, followed by 177. A nine-darter has not been thrown on TV for nine years and there is a prize of £ 25,000 if it happens here. Manley begins his next throw with triple 18, thinks for a while and hits tops with his eight darts. This means bullseye is left for a nine-darter. Manley narrowly misses it and also the suitcase with cash. If he had hit it, it would undoubtedly have become the most shown nine darter ever. Manley does fight himself all the way back into the match and just like the year before, the score reaches 17 all in legs. Harrington again shows he can withstand the pressure best. He wins the final 19-17 for the second year in a row, this time with a 136 finish. Harrington becomes the first player to successfully defend the World Matchplay title.

In the first round of the 1999 Phil Taylor gets the draw he was hoping for. Ronnie Baxter had defeated him a year ago on this stage. This time Taylor is not upset again by Baxter, he wins 10-5. A new face shows himself at the World Matchplay in 1999; Colin Lloyd. He beats Scott Cummings in the first round, but is especially impressive in the second round when he gives the seventh seed Alan Warriner an old-fashioned spanking. In that game, he hits some great finishes including a 170 and a 150 finish. The dart with which he wins the match, he throws from a half meter to the right of the oche in the double 10. Peter Manley eventually too strong in the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals The Power plays against Chris Mason. After his victory over Steve Brown in the second round Mason had some provocative statements about Taylor. In particular, his statement that Taylor would be vulnerable under pressure and that if he could keep Taylor pressurized he’d be beating the world champion rubs Taylor the wrong way. The response from Taylor is in Taylor style. Mason keeps pressure on Taylor to 6-6 and then Taylor is gone. The Power wins 16-11 and shuts Mason’s mouth.

Manley is not the only one who misses a nine darter at the World Matchplay. Dennis Priestley also throws eight perfect darts; he misses double 18 in his semi-final with Harrington. In that game Harrington leads the match from the beginning to the end. The other semi-final is a lot more exciting. Peter Manley leads the way as he wins eight out of the first ten legs. He seems to be heading off to an easy win but Taylor comes back all the way to 14-14. Yet Manley will win the match, he finishes 128 on the bullseye for a historic 17-14 victory. Taylor would not loose another match in the next five years in Blackpool.