Phil Taylor won his first Players Championship of 2011 with a 6-3 defeat of Michael van Gerwen in today's PDC ProTour event at Dublin's New Citywest Convention Centre.

Defending champion Phil Taylor recovered from an early break in throw and staved off a brave fightback from Mark Hylton to claim a 10-8 victory in the first round of the PDC World Matchplay in Blackpool last night.