Taylor shows his class to edge out Mann in the Open

PDC Tour Card holder Dom Taylor added his name to an illustrious list of names to walk away as champion of the Plymouth Open after a dramatic 4-3 success over two-time winner from Plymouth, John Mann.

- JAMES COOK

PLYMOUTH OPEN

The event has been reborn this year at the magnificent Legends Lounge darting facility in Brunel View, St Budeaux after Covid curtailed the previous edition held at Porters between 2014 and 2019.

Taylor’s blistering run through the 100-plus player field to the last eight money stages saw him dispatch Harry McFerran before blowing away a selection of Plymouth darting royalty.

Dale Halford lost out to ‘The Tower’ in the Last 64 stage before Taylor’s wins against Andy Bates and 2018 Plymouth Champion of Champions Neil White in the last 16 gave him at least £125 for his day’s work.

Laying in wait for the Bristolian thrower was fellow PDC professional and world number 38 Martin Lukeman who won board number three fairly comfortably.

Antony Reed, Jason Goldsmith, Tom Wilson and Lewis Dare, who himself competes on the second tier of the PDC circuit, the Challenge Tour, were all victims of the imperious Lukeman.

Taylor, however, belied his lower PDC ranking to better Lukeman and setup a semi-final showdown with Plymouth’s only previous PDC Tour Card holder, Simon Stevenson.

Stevenson, who won this event in 2014, netted wins against former Devon team-mates Shaun Dring and Billy Evans before ending the hopes of Lee Hunter who had a run to the last 32.

Lee Rodmell narrowly missed out on a last eight place after ‘The Mirror Man’ ended his excellent charge before Stevenson met former ADC South West title belt holder, Ricky Palmer, in the quarters.

The six time former Champion of Champions Stevenson had his road to glory and the big prize blocked by Taylor who booked his place in the final and left Stevenson with a consolation prize of £250.

The other half of the draw was dominated by players local to the Plymouth area as Nathan Langdon, Lee Hellings and Kieran Burns all joined Mann in gaining prize money from the gruelling event.