Phil Taylor targets 16th World Matchplay darts title but feels no pressure in his retirement year

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The Power has lifted the prestigious trophy 15 times in the tournament's 23 years while he's also hit two nine-dart finishes on the iconic Winter Gardens stage.

Taylor is hoping to mark his farewell appearance in Blackpool with a fitting finale and is 20/1 with Sky Bet to do so, but he'll more than likely have to get past Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals should they both get that far.

Click here for the full World Matchplay draw, TV schedule and results

The 56-year-old, who faces Gerwyn Price in the first round on Sunday, told the PDC website: "I've got good memories from there and it's my favourite tournament. I do love the Matchplay so I'm looking forward to finishing there.

"It's the place itself. The crowds have always been good at Blackpool but I love that venue. It's something I fell in love with. I'm going to enjoy it.

"There's no pressure on me now. I've got nothing to prove and if I don't win then it's not the end of the world for me now."

Van Gerwen is aiming to become only the second player, after Taylor, to win three successive World Matchplay titles.

The 8/11 tournament favourite said: "It's a fantastic tournament - after the World Championship it's the biggest ranking tournament there is and I've been playing well over there.

"Last year I won against Phil Taylor and I hope I can retain the title this year. It's a format and a tournament that I like, a long format and that suits me, so I'm really looking forward to going back.

"I'll approach it like any other TV tournament. It's a tournament you want to win, one of the biggest ones and the pressure comes anyway. You need a bit of pressure to play well and I hope I can keep doing what I've been doing over the last few months."

The event kicked off on Saturday night with 2007 winner James Wade bowing out to unseeded Darren Webster as he failed to continue his love affair with the Winter Gardens.

Wade looked set to cruise into the last 16 when he opened up a 6-2 lead, but Webster hit back to win five of the next six legs as he levelled, before an 11-darter put the Norfolk ace ahead.

Wade then won successive legs to move 9-8 up, but missed three match darts in the next as Webster took out 102 to save the game and force a tie-break before moving himself 10-9 ahead.

Three misses at double 19 from Webster in leg 20 allowed Wade to land double ten to keep the tie alive, but after the qualifier won two of the next three, his fifth 180 came at the right time before he posted tops to finally claim victory.

The World Matchplay is the only PDC televised ranking event which world number two Gary Anderson has not yet reached the final of, but he was far from his best in a 10-7 win over Christian Kist.

After seeing Kist take out 100 with two double tops to win the opening leg, Anderson reeled off the next five and aso led 6-2 before Kist took the next three - hitting four maximums in the process - to cut the gap to one.

Anderson steadied any nerves with an 11-darter, and eventually held off Kist's challenge to seal victory with an 88 finish.

"It was a good game and you're always going to get that against Christian," said Anderson.

"He's a steady player and once he starts finding his range and his speed he sticks in but I pinched it. It's been hard, we've been on the road a bit and I was lucky at the end."

Steve West made a stunning World Matchplay debut with a brilliant 10-5 win over Michael Smith - and revealed he was almost forced to withdraw from the tournament after a car crash this week.

West's form on the PDC circuit this year has earned him a World Matchplay debut, but a car crash near his Essex home on Monday had left the 42-year-old with an eye injury and broken glasses.

However, he was able to get replacement glasses and fortunately saw the cut on his eyelid recover in time for him to compete - and he took full advantage with a superb win over the former World Youth Champion.

"I'm over the moon to get the win, especially because I was worried I might not even get here earlier in the week," said West.

"My car was hit when someone crossed onto my side of the road and part of the wing mirror caught my eye. I'm lucky the damage wasn't worse and in a way my glasses helped because they saved my eye."

West trailed 3-1 after Smith nailed three doubles from as many attempts in the early stages, before a brilliant 121 finish turned the contest.

West then landed an 11-darter to level and reeled off two further 11-dart finishes and a 104 checkout as he moved into an 8-3 advantage with seven successive legs.

Smith hit back to win two of the next three with legs of 12 and 14 darts, but three misses were punished as West hit double ten to complete a fine debut win.

"I'm very, very happy with that and it's a brilliant win," said West, whose averaged only just dipped under 100 at the end of a fine performance.

"After four legs I must admit that I was a bit worried, but the 121 gave me a lot of confidence.

"It's a pretty big win but I've struggled a bit for the last three months, I know I'm good enough and I've never doubted my ability but I wasn't getting the results.

"Tonight the darts went for me, and this is going to fill me with confidence."

The first round continues with a double session on Sunday, with the afternoon's action including Jelle Klaasen up against Justin Pipe, Robert Thornton meeting Spanish debutant Cristo Reyes, Benito van de Pas taking on Daryl Gurney and Mensur Suljovic facing John Henderson.

Dave Chisnall opens the evening session against Mervyn King before Taylor plays Price, with Raymond van Barneveld then playing Joe Cullen and Kim Huybrechts facing Alan Norris.

The first round concludes on Monday, with Van Gerwen's tie with Bunting accompanied by the all-Australian clash between Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson, former finalist Adrian Lewis against Steve Beaton and Ian White playing newcomer Rob Cross.

Click here for the full World Matchplay draw, TV schedule and results