Chris Thompson crosses darts with world champion Phil Taylor

10:58am Tuesday 2nd March 2010

By Dave Flett

ACOMB arrows ace Chris Thompson missed out on his first PDC tour final after being whitewashed by the legendary Phil Taylor.

Thompson enjoyed an excellent run to the semi-finals of the Derby Players’ Championship before succumbing 6-0 to 15-time world champion Taylor at the Moorways Centre.

An imperious Taylor was in intimidating form, rattling off 11, 12 and 13-dart legs on the way to a final meeting with Terry Jenkins, which he won 6-1.

The world number one only dropped six legs in seven matches as he marched to victory, leaving Thompson to comment afterwards: “My scoring was up there with him but he didn’t miss his doubles.

“As everybody says, you do get chances against him but they all seem to be huge.

“It’s also a bit different when he’s stood behind you rather than other players.

“It’s the fourth time I’ve played him and he’s won all four but never nilled me before.”

Prior to meeting Taylor, St Paul’s player Thompson had disposed of Andy Relf (6-2), fellow Minsterman Martyn Turner (6-0), Stephen Hardy (6-5), Richie Burnett (6-5) and Jamie Caven (6-4).

The win over 1995 world champion Burnett, who beat Thompson 6-2 during their last contest three weeks ago, also represented a big moment for the Ebor Claims Services-sponsored player.

Thompson added: “Ritchie is one of my heroes but I managed to finish him off by breaking him in the last leg. It was also hard playing Martin because he’s my best mate and that’s always difficult.

“He’d had a good win against Colin Lloyd before playing me but I won through after the first two legs were a bit nervy.”

Turner beat world number ten Lloyd 6-1 in the first round with Mitre player John Quantock going out 6-4 at the same stage to 2006 World Masters champions Michael van Gerwen.

Former UK Open quarter-finalist Thompson travels to Germany this weekend for the next Players Championship events in Gladbeck.

He is sitting 17th in the Players’ Championship order of merit after four events and targeting a first-ever outing at the World Matchplay Championships in July.

The top 16 players in the world qualify for the prestigious Blackpool event, along with the top 16 players in the Players’ Championship order of merit, who are not in the world’s top 16.

Of the players currently ahead of world number 58 Thompson in the order of merit, nine are among the world’s top 16.

He added: “My chances are looking good because I’m playing at a high standard. To play at the Winter Gardens would be a dream come true.”

Thompson also reached the last 16 of the Derby UK Open qualifier, defeating Danny Pinhorne (6-2), world number 13 Alan Tabern (6-3) and Jyhan Artut (6-3) before bowing out to Colin Monk 6-3.

There were first round exits for Turner and Quantock against Matt Padgett (6-0) and Wes Newton (6-2) respectively.