World Matchplay

In 2011, Phil Taylor proves to be the strongest ones again. It was his fourth win in a row in Blackpool and his twelfth title in 18 editions in total. In retrospect his first match was the most difficult in 2011. Mark Hylton offered more than good opposition and keeps up with The Power for a long time. Still Taylor wins that game with 10-8 and from that moment on he is unbeatable. All of Taylor’s averages in the tournament are above 100 and in 3 of the 5 matches even above 105. There is no one that can measure up to The Power. In the final he beats James Wade yet again. Wade continues to always do well in the summer and he gets to his fourth final at The Empress Ballroom. However, he remains at one title because Taylor wins the final with 18-8.

Only two Dutch toe the oche in the 2011 edition. Vincent van der Voort loses in the second round to World Champion Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld a round later against James Wade. It is a year where the Dutch won’t want to be reminded on too long.

What we do see in this edition is the return of some familiar face. Canadian John Part shows himself after some time out of the limelight. Since 2008 it had become very quiet around the Canadian, but here he shows again what he is capable of in the first round. Although he loses in the first round to Mark Webster, he throws a nine darter in that game. Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld are the only two who had completed that feat before him.

Andy Hamilton also shows once again where he is best known for. Firstly he dispatches of the two Scots Gary Anderson and John Henderson in the tournament. He then plays a quarterfinal that everyone will be talking about in years to come. Simon Whitlock goes unchallenged towards victory in the quarterfinals when he goes ahead 15-8 in a match which goes to 16. But then it is the fighting spirit and determination of Hamilton who takes over. He just does not want to lose and he keeps believing in his chances. Although Whitlock does get five match darts the Australian misses them all and this fuels Hamilton’s come back. The Hammer gets back to 15 all and a little later the match is won 17-15. It is probably the best comeback ever on this stage and although Hamilton has to bow down to Taylor one round later, this is where he lays the foundation for his World Championship run to the final six months later.