15-time World Matchplay champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor is through to the second round after beating Welshman Gerwyn Price 10-5 in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens theatre.

His victory now means that the Englishman will play Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld in the next round in a mouthwatering clash.

The event marks his final appearance at the Winter Gardens before his well-earned retirement from a distinguished darts career following the World Championships in 2018.

Speaking to the PDC website, the darts legend spoke of his fondness for the Winter Gardens arena and for Blackpool.

"I've got good memories from there and it's my favourite tournament. I do love the Matchplay so I'm looking forward to finishing there.

"It's the place itself. The crowds have always been good at Blackpool but I love that venue. It's something I fell in love with. I'm going to enjoy it.

"There's no pressure on me now. I've got nothing to prove and if I don't win then it's not the end of the world for me now."

Widely regarded as the greatest darts player of all time, ‘The Power’ has 260 professional tournament wins under his belt, including 84 major titles and 16 World Championship victories winning them consecutively from 1995–2002.

The Englishman has also won the PDC Player of the Year award six times (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012) and has been among the nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year twice, finishing in second place in 2010.

On Sunday night, the legendary player beat tricky Welsh opponent Gerwyn Price 10-5 to set up a second round tie against Dutchman van Barneveld.

However, the match will probably be best remembered for an astonishing moment former Welsh rugby player Price scored a brilliant no-look 180 to send the Winter Gardens crowd into raptures.

32-year-old Price enjoyed a lengthy rugby career, ‘The Iceman’ played for Welsh clubs Cross Keys and Neath as a hooker. The Welshman also enjoyed a spell with Glasgow Warriors, but he recently broke into the world’s top 25 darts players.

However, ‘The Iceman’s’ entrance into the top 25 was not without controversy. 

Two-time world champion Adrian Lewis took issue with a comment Price posted on Twitter following the pair's match in July 2016.

The Welshman wrote: “Think I was lucky to win 5legs and he was lucky to win 11😂😂😂 anyone else would of beat us both 11-0 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.”

Englishman Lewis said that he felt the Welsh player was being disrespectful with his comments and declared that Price had no respect for any of the other players.

“The reflection was, I was rubbish, and that just shows why he’s nobody, simple as that. He turned up and bottled it.

“He’s a big mouth who’s never won anything and never will win anything as he’s got no respect for anyone.” 

Regardless of Price's Twitter feuds with members of the matchplay tour, it was a hell of a 180!