Scott Waites (Pic: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

Waites to face the Power of Taylor

Published: Sunday, 22 November 2009, 5:42PM

Scott Waites will attempt to deny Phil Taylor a third successive PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts title when the pair meet in the final at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Sunday night.

Yorkshireman Waites continued the greatest week of his darting career with a superb 16-11 semi-final win over Terry Jenkins, earning him a minimum £50,000 pay-day.

He could yet take the £100,000 first prize on Sunday night when he meets Taylor for the first time in his career.

"It's amazing, I can't believe I've made it this far," said Waites, a joiner by trade and a former World Masters runner-up.

"It's always been my ambition to play against Phil and I get to do it for the first time in the final. Given the way this week has gone, anything could happen!"

Waites, ranked number two in the BDO, led 2008 runner-up Jenkins 4-1 and 10-6 before the Ledbury star hit back to level at 11-all.

However, Waites reeled off five successive legs, including finishes of 117 and 10, to progress to the final.

Taylor had earlier seen off Raymond van Barneveld 16-6 with another high-quality display, averaging almost 107 in reaching a third successive Grand Slam of Darts final.

Van Barneveld matched Taylor in the early exchanges and trailed 4-3 when the reigning champion took 11 of the next 13 legs to move 15-5 up before sealing victory.

"I'm over the moon to be in the final," said Taylor. "It's a great tournament and I'm blessed to still be in it.

"Raymond wasn't at his best. He had spells buit seemed very lethargic and let me in."

PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts

Semi-Finals

Phil Taylor 16-6 Raymond van Barneveld

Scott Waites 16-11 Terry Jenkins

Evening Session (7.30pm-10pm)

Final - approx 7.45pm start

Phil Taylor v Scott Waites