TERRY Jenkins claimed one of the biggest victories of his career as he knocked out 16-time world champion Phil Taylor in the first round of The Unibet Masters.
But the Ledbury thrower crashed out of the tournament in the next round to Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld as his wait for a major title continued.
On Saturday, Jenkins picked up only his fourth career win over Taylor – 10-7 – as Taylor suffered an off-night on his doubles.
Taylor missed seven darts to finish as Jenkins won the opening five legs without reply before the Stoke great’s switch from aiming at the double 16 area of the board to tops helped him hit back to 7-3.
He then finished 68, an 11-darter and double eight as he reduced the gap to 7-6, only for Jenkins to deny him the chance to level by taking the next two before going on to seal victory.
“I’m happy to beat Phil, but I’m also disappointed with the way I played,” Jenkins said.
“I’ve been smashing everything in practice so it was frustrating for me that I didn’t play as well as I wanted to – but I did enough.
“Phil is still the man to beat and when Phil came back I just knew that I had to hold my throw and I managed to do that.”
However, Jenkins’ joy was shortlived as he lost 10-3 to van Barneveld on Sunday before the five-time world champion lost to fellow Dutchman Michael van Gerwen in the final.