When Taylor returns to Blackpool in 2003, he is there for the first time not being a world champion since 1994, after John Part has deprived him of that title. Yet he is unstoppable this year and its dominance is perhaps greater than ever. The rest of the field is simply playing for second place and it is Wayne Mardle who is the lucky one.
It is the second year in a row that Taylor, especially in the first two rounds, puts his mark on the tournament. From the quarterfinals his averages are significantly lower, but it's still more than enough for victory. For Dutchman Roland Scholten the World Matchplay 2003 is a short-lived affair, he loses in a moderate game to Peter Evison. Wayne Mardle plays a fantastic tournament including wins over John Part, Alan Warriner and Colin Lloyd, but still comes up short in the final against the maestro. Taylor wins 18-12.