Gary Anderson has won the PDC World Darts Championship for the first time by beating Phil Taylor 7-6 in a dramatic final at Alexandra Palace.
Anderson started the match in confident fashion against the 16-time champion as he took the opening set 3-2 with a finish of 121.
It looked like the Scot would extend his advantage when he went 2-0 ahead in the next set, but Taylor hit back with three straight legs to level the scores.
However, the 2011 runner-up refused to let the setback prevent him from racing into a 3-1 lead as Taylor continued to struggle with his finishing in the first half of the final.
Despite finding it difficult to hit the doubles - with double eight proving to be a big problem - Taylor displayed his experience to bring it back to 3-3.
A run of nine out of 10 legs saw Taylor gain the momentum, and he was firm favourite to claim the title after moving 4-3 ahead.
The turning point would come in the eighth set when Taylor missed three darts at double 12, allowing Anderson to restore parity once again.
Anderson then claimed the next two sets to move to the brink of glory in North London, but Taylor dominated to win the next set 3-0, and the pressure on both players increased when the scores were level at 2-2 in the 12th set.
Anderson, leading 6-5, missed the chance to secure the win on a difficult 170 checkout, and Taylor took full advantage with a double eight to force a deciding set.
After seeing Anderson take the first leg, Taylor missed three darts at double 16 to allow his rival to take a 2-0 lead with a double 18 finish.
Taylor failed to produce one more response, and it was left to Anderson wrap up the win with double 12.
Callum Mulvihill
