Can Phil Taylor beat Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals of World Matchplay on Friday night? Wayne Mardle assesses his chances.
In a repeat of two previous World Matchplay finals reigning champion Van Gerwen will take on 15-time Winter Gardens winner Taylor in a blockbuster clash at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Sky Sports darts expert Wayne Mardle was asked by host Dave Clark whether he thinks the 56-year-old can turn back the clock and beat the mighty Dutchman.
"He can," said Mardle. "But it will be a real chore. What I mean by that is that he will have to fight, fight, and fight because Michael is going to constantly apply the pressure and he's going to take out shots when Phil might have already set it up or had one dart at a double.
"He is going to have to deal with being disappointed and then coming back from that.
"Michael van Gerwen is as relentless as Phil Taylor used to be and I use the term used to be.
"Phil Taylor is retiring because he's not as good as he was and that is fact, but he is still one of THE best players the world has ever seen and is still one of the very elite, but he's going to have to do it right - it's all about timing."
Watch all the action from the World Matchplay Darts at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from 7pm on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action on Friday night, or watch for £6.99 without a contract on NOW TV. The arrows run right through until the final on Sunday, July 30.
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