Taylor beaten in Final

Lenny Boyle

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In one of the biggest darts upsets in years Robert Thornton became the UK Open Champion

The UK Open darts concluded with one of the biggest upsets in the sport for years. 250/1 outsider Robert Thornton came through the toughest draw of anyone over the weekend at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton. Culminating in a remarkable final win over Phil the Power Taylor.

Many thought Thornton’s best days were behind him. He has recently overcame pneumonia and is still fighting to be 100% fit. He had to overcome many of the current stars of darts to reach the final on Sunday night and was the underdog in every game.

Dennis Priestley, Mark Webster, Gary Anderson, Wes Newton, David Chisnall. Not a roll cal of some of the biggest names in darts; but a list if the people Thornton has to dispatch to reach the final to face the toughest name of them all; Phil Taylor.

Gary Anderson had a hit a nine-darter the day before facing Thornton. He was in fantastic form going into the match. It made no difference. In that battle of Scotsmen Robert Thornton came out on top.

Number 5 in the World Wes Newton was another test, in which Thornton was yet again the heavy underdog. Thornton won 10-8 and his run was beginning to look like more than just a flash in the pan. 

David Chisnall came into the semi-final with Thornton in fantastic form. He had just won two back to back pro-tour events in Crawley. It was widely assumed he would swat Thornton aside. Chisnall is very highly regarded in the sport and though, yet again, Thornton was heavy underdog he destroyed Chisnall 10-4. It was 2-2 until the Scot surged out of the blocks winning seven of the next eight to book a place in the final.

Thornton came up against his sternest test yet in the form of Phil the Power Taylor, in the final of the 2012 UK Open on Sunday night. Taylor was averaging over 100 for the competition and had just came off the back of a Premier League win. It was his stated aim to, “Get his titles back.” The Premier League was the first of the year. Next up in the year Phil gets his titles back; The UK Open.

Robert Thornton had different ideas. At 2-0 up Taylor looked as if he’d race away to inevitable victory. It didn’t happen like that. Thornton won nine of the next ten legs with six 180s and gave the Power a piece of his own medicine. He completely dominated him.

In one of the biggest darts upsets in years Robert Thornton became the UK Open Champion.