Were Phil Taylor to win the ongoing World Championships at Alexandra Palace, he would become a 17-time champion.
Of his previous 16 triumphs, two of which came during the early 1990s in the BDO, the 54-year-old has produced many memorable performances that have gone down in darting folklore.
However, perhaps the Stokie's best display in a final came 14 years ago today when he faced John Part a Canadian, who after Dennis Priestley would soon become Taylor's major rival.
Taylor headed into the encounter in fine fettle, having dropped just one set on his way to defeating Nigel Justice, Les Flitton, Keith Deller and Dave Askew.
In contrast, there was suggestions that Part may have been mentally fatigued following tough matches against Dennis Smith, which ended in a 3-2 victory, and a 6-5 win over Rod Harrington in the semi-finals.
Yet, if the truth be told, even a fresh Part would have struggled to cope with Taylor, such was the form that he showed on the Circus Tavern oche.
Taylor wasted little time in taking the first set and from that moment onwards, it became abundantly clear that it was going to be a dominant display from the reigning champion.
In fact, Part would win just three legs as he was swept aside, despite having a relatively respectable average of 92.44.
Meanwhile, Taylor, who took out a 167 as part of his 72% checkout rate, averaged a staggering 107.58 - figures that resulted in commentator Sid Waddell saying: "[It was a] vicious example of near perfection."
Asked afterwards if he had ever performed better in a final, Taylor surprisingly replied: "Yes I have, I think so. A few years ago I played against Dennis Priestley and I played really in the final. I think it was about as good as that."
It was Taylor's ninth world title and seventh in succession.
Liam Apicella
