DARTS legend Phil Taylor gained revenge on Acomb arrows ace Chris Thompson by denying the St Paul’s player a place in next month’s World Matchplay Championship.

Thompson finished just two qualifying places away from making the 32-strong field for the prestigious Winter Gardens field in Blackpool after being set the unenviable task of trying to beat 15-time world champion Taylor for the second time in as many days.

Having beaten Taylor 6-5 in their first meeting earlier this week, Thompson was whitewashed 6-0 after the pair were drawn together in the third round of the final Las Vegas Players Championship event, meaning the Hitman was pipped to the last World Matchplay qualifying spot by Tony Eccles.

Thompson had earlier accounted for Paul Lim (6-3) and Nico Deplynos (6-0), having performed brilliantly in the desert.

His victory over Taylor came after he disposed of former World Championship finalist Kirk Shepherd, Premier League star Terry Jenkins and top-ten players Mark Walsh and Andy Hamilton in a remarkable run to the semi-finals that was eventually ended by Australian Simon Whitlock.

The Minster Law legal executive also beat ex-world champion Jelle Klaasen on his way to the last 16 of the World Series of Darts Festival’s World Cricket Championship while in Vegas.

Rawcliffe’s Martyn Turner, meanwhile, beat Jim Newman 6-1 in the final Players Championship tournament before bowing out in the second round 6-2 to Jamie Caven.