2004 PDC World Darts Championship - Day 9 - Sunday 4 January

Sunday 4 January

The final saw Phil Taylor up against Kevin Painter over the best of 13 sets. If the 2003 final had been a classic, this one lived up to its reputation. Painter took the opening two sets in deciding legs to go 2-0 up. At 2-2 in the third Painter had a chance to go 3-0 up but Taylor closed the gap. However Painter took the next two sets 3-1 and 3-2 meaning that like John Part a year ago he led Taylor 4-1 after five sets, at 2-2 in the sixth set Painter had his chances to lead 5-1. However Taylor recovered the sixth set and at the half way point the scoreline was 4-2 to Painter.

The 6th set possibly changed things in the context of the match. Painter, who could arguably have been 6-0 up by this point against the 10-time former world champion, now began to struggle and Taylor took the seventh set three-nil to close the gap to just the one set. Painter held onto the lead by pinching the 8th set in a deciding leg to go 5-3 up. However Taylor put on a spurt that saw him take 9 of the next 12 legs and to go in front by 6 sets to 5.

Painter responded brilliantly taking the twelfth set 3-1 to level the match up at 6-6. The match entered the tie-break in the 13th set and became the first PDC World Final to go to a sudden death leg as Painter and Taylor got level at 5-5 after almost four hours since the match began. Painter, who had thrown first in the set and twice was faced with a three-dart out-shot to win the title while leading 2-1 and 3-2, pulled his dart at the bullseye and Taylor hit the outer-bull to throw first in the deciding leg. Taylor opened up the leg with just 45, however Painter couldn't capitalise and was left on 316 after nine darts. He again rallied setting up another three-dart finish as Taylor eyed Double top. Taylor missed at Double top, then he missed at Double Ten and with unbearable tension, hit the Double five to secure his 11th world title. He then announced his retirement, but changed his mind four days later.