It was easy to believe in the aftermath of his capitulation to Michael Smith in the second round at Alexandra Palace that Taylor was on the wane with his best days behind him.
It’s an act of folly to write off a great champion and Taylor silenced his critics, thrilled his fans and crushed his opponents with displays of brilliance in Blackpool last week as he won his 15th World Matchplay title.
Taylor threw a nine-darter against Michael Smith, his 10th televised nine dart finish, on his way to the final where he simply proved much too powerful for Michael Van Gerwen.
Taylor ranked his victory over the current World number one as his best ever and ominously for the rest he’s looking forward to regaining not only his form but the World title he surrendered too meekly at the ‘Ally Pally’ last December.