Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson set to contest Ally Pally decider

Phil Taylor PDC World Darts Championship final

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Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson will clash in the PDC World Darts Championship final at Alexandra Palace in London after they disposed of Dutch duo Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen respectively in their semi-final clashes.

Both Taylor and Anderson came through their last tussles with a three-dart average in excess of 102 and a gruelling battle should be in store in their best of 13 sets decider.

The Flying Scotsman took his place in a second world final with a 6-3 victory over van Gerwen. Anderson excelled on his doubles, hitting 50-per-cent of his finishes to gain revenge on MVG for his quarter final defeat a year ago.

Four years on from losing to Adrian Lewis in his first world final, Anderson is relishing the chance to play the 16-times champion on the biggest stage of all.

“To me if you’re going to win a title you have to beat Phil Taylor. If I play Phil in the final and he smashes me then I’ve been beaten by the best player in the world but if it’s a reverse then I’ve beaten the best player ever and that’s a bigger notch on my belt,” he said.

Taylor predictably overpowered van Barneveld to win 6-2 in the second semi final. The Power surged into a two-set lead only for Barney to level the match up. However, the Englishman soon regained the upper hand and closed the match out in straightforward fashion against his old adversary.

Taylor praised Anderson’s form in the tournament to date and predicted a hard fought finale.

“(It’s) going to be a scrap – Gary Anderson’s in for a battle. If he’s going to beat me he’s going to have to battle he’s got a fight on his hands and so have I with him,” he said.

Taylor is 1.70 to make it world title number 17 with Anderson 2.16 to secure his maiden crown.

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