PHIL TAYLOR claimed his sixth SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts title as his imperious week at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall peaked with a 16-13 win over gutsy Dave Chisnall in Sunday night's final.

Taylor has been at his clinical best throughout seven games in the £400,000 event, winning through the group stage unbeaten before seeing off Peter Wright, Michael Smith and Mervyn King on his way to the final.

There, he produced another superb performance as he denied resilient Chisnall a maiden major title, despite the St Helens man hitting back from 5-0 down to level a remarkable contest.

Chisnall had come from behind to defeat Keegan Brown and Kim Huybrechts in reaching the final, but after levelling at ten-all saw Taylor pull clear to take the £100,000 winner's cheque.

"I'm chuffed to bits," admitted Taylor. "It was very, very tough and Dave didn't give up - he showed that he's an incredible player.

"If he'd started off the game like he finished it then it would have been a different kettle of fish. I don't know what he did but he turned the tables, and the next thing I knew it was ten-each.

"In my mind I knew I was far ahead but Dave kept coming back at me. When it got to ten-each his confidence was sky high, but I didn't think he could keep doing it.

"He put me under so much pressure but I had to slow down, take a deep breath and I managed to get there in the end."

Taylor dedicated the triumph to his ill mother, who he was set to visit in hospital in Stoke later on Sunday night.

He said: "I'm going to take the trophy up to the hospital with me and leave it at my mum's bedside - she'll be asleep when I get there but it will be a nice surprise for her when she wakes up tomorrow.

"It's been very tough recently with her being in hospital, but this week's been a little bit of escapism. My mind goes blank for that two or three hours while I'm playing, and I've loved it."

Taylor won the final's opening five legs without Chisnall having a dart at a double, landing three 180s and a trio of double 16 finishes in the process.

Chisnall finished 80 and 110 to hit back, and after a 105 finish gave Taylor a sixth leg, the st Helens man took out double 19 to pull back to 6-3.

Taylor replied on double 19 and then posted double ten to give himself breathing space and, after Chisnall took out 70, his trusted double 16 moved the reigning champion into a 9-4 lead.

Chisnall, though, produced his best darts of the game as he hit back with five successive legs, firstly landing double 18, a 141 finish and a 14-darter before punishing missed doubles from Taylor in back-to-back legs to level at nine-all.

Taylor responded to a 180 from Chisnall with a 174 before landing tops to regain the lead, with Chisnall adding another maximum as he levelled at ten-all only to see the Stoke great find an extra gear.

Taylor moved back ahead with a clinical 96 finish, broke throw with a 13-darter and finished tops, 70 and 65 to move to the brink of victory at 15-10.

Chisnall's fighting spirit continued as he won three straight legs to pull back to 15-13 - with Taylor missing two match darts in one leg - but when he was unable to finish 128 in the next, Taylor pounced to seal glory on double ten.

Chisnall conceded: "I'm happy with my performance over the last week but the final got away from me at the beginning. You can't give Phil Taylor a 5-0 lead, and even though I've been further behind this week Phil was too good in the end.

"When I got to ten-all I thought I could take the win, but I missed a double to pull back to 12-11 and when it got to 15-10 it was a struggle. It was never over until he hit the final double and I kept fighting hard, but the better man won."