Darts: Power cut as Part snatches world crown from Taylor

John Part overcame a fantastic comeback by Phil Taylor to win the World Championship 7-6 in a pulsating final in Purfleet last night.

"The Power" was trailing the Canadian by four sets to one, but showed why he is regarded as the greatest player in the sport's history. Taylor won a remarkable 12 of the next 14 legs to move ahead for the first time in the match.

Part was thrashed 7-0 by the 42-year-old Taylor in the 2001 final, but it looked like there would be a comprehensive reversal of fortunes as the Canadian raced into a 3-0 lead.

Part won the first leg of the evening with a superb 121 check-out before doubling his advantage with a shot at double four. Taylor was unable to respond and Part nailed double 20 to take the crucial opening set.

With Taylor, the 10-times world champion, struggling to hit the doubles, Part was able to make him pay, winning the second and third sets.

After a 122 finish in the second leg of the next set, Taylor's confidence looked to be returning and he dominated the set to pull back to 3-1.

Part is a gutsy character and he hit back to leave Taylor shaking his head before double 16 clinched the set and a 4-1 advantage.

Taylor was beginning to feel the pressure, but the champion fought back with an impressive 11-darter and 82 check-out to seal the set and reduce the deficit to 4-2.

Part was peppering the treble 20 bed earlier in the game, but his arrows were now hitting the single far too often for his liking. Taylor, meanwhile, was now scoring heavily and a superb 109 check-out reduced the arrears to just one set. Taylor was now looking unstoppable and he hit double 16 to win his ninth successive leg and level the final at 4-4. The next four sets were shared to take the match into a decider.

Part opened up a two-leg lead in before Taylor pulled one back with a shot at double 12. But the former Embassy world champion could not be denied and nailed double top for a famous win and end Taylor's eight-year unbeaten run at the Circus Tavern.

Afterwards, Part said: "It was all about fighting and making every shot to stay alive. If this championship teaches you anything, it is perseverance. I just kept going and going, and doing my best and now I have got this.

"But even in winning this, it is hard to feel like a champion next to Phil. He has done everything and it will take a long, long time to do what this man has done ­ and he is not done yet, he will come back."

Despite battling back, Taylor could not find the killer darts when it mattered in the final and deciding set. He said: "To be honest, I have been beaten by a better player. John threw fantastic. I had my chances, but missed doubles. He put me under pressure right from the first leg. He was the better player and has been the best all week."