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Phil Taylor out of PDC World Darts Championship

Michael Smith beats Phil Taylor 4-3 in the second round of the PDC World Darts Championship.

Phil Taylor, the 16-time world champion, has been beaten by Michael Smith 4-3 in the second round of the PDC World Darts Championship.

The night started well for Taylor as he hit the first maximum on his way to winning the first set.

At that stage, it seemed to be business as usual, but Smith fought his way back and hit double four for his first leg of the match.

Smith then missed double 15, but poor finishing from both saw Smith prevail, before he wrapped up the set with a dart into the bullseye for a 121 finish.

Smith had a chance to take the next, but with two darts at tops, he missed both and Taylor held his nerve with double 12 to grab a 2-1 set lead.

Taylor failed to take out 78 and his opponent hit double five to force a set four decider. He then had tops to take it but missed, before getting another chance which he eventually took to level the match at 2-2.

Neither player could be separated in the fifth and at 2-2, 2-2, Smith missed tops on four occasions, which allowed Taylor to steal the lead with a double eight.

However, Smith took it up a gear and weighed in with a maximum on his way to a 3-0 set victory, including two breaks.

It was 2-1 in the deciding set to Smith, but Taylor fought back before finding himself 4-3 down and Smith wrapped up victory with the bullseye.

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Written by
Gary Peters
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Phil Taylor of Britain reacts as he takes part in the PDC World Championship darts final against Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands on January 1, 2013
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