Taylor had led 3-1 in the early stages but fell 6-4 and 9-7 down thanks to some superb finishing from his opponent.

The World number one won the next two legs to force a decider but Nicholson managed to win a dramatic decider and to reach his first ever televised final and guarantee himself a cheque for at least £24,000.
Taylor held throw at the start of the match with a 61 finish but Nicholson won the second with a 104 checkout.

Taylor won the third leg with a clinical two-dart 79 finish and a 14 darter put the 15-time World Champion 3-1 ahead.

But Nicholson hit-back superbly with checkouts of 121 and 130 to win the next two legs before Taylor regained the lead by hitting double 16 to win the seventh leg.

Nicholson won the eighth with a 76 finish, by hitting double 16 with his last dart and then a fantastic 170 checkout put him ahead for the first time in the match.

Nicholson hit a 13-dart-finish in the 10th leg to pull two legs but Taylor won the next leg with a successful attempt at double four to reduce the deficit to one leg.

Taylor squared the game by winning the 12th leg in 13 darts but two missed darts at double 16 to lead in the next leg which allowed Nicholson to step in and hit the same double to pinch it.

Nicholson pulled two legs once again by hitting double four to win the 14th before Taylor hit his fourth 180 of the game in a 13-dart-finish to keep matters tight.

Nicholson won the next leg in 14 darts to go 9-7 ahead and one leg away from the match but Taylor hit double four in the next leg to keep the defence of his title alive.

The 18th leg saw Nicholson have advantage of throw and he got the finish but missed two darts at double top as the pressure appeared to get the World number 33.

Taylor had 64 to win the leg and he managed to convert it by hitting double top with his last dart to set up a dramatic deciding leg.

Taylor had the advantage of the throw in deciding leg but Nicholson forged ahead and with Taylor waiting to pounce on a two-dart finish he landed double five with a crucial last dart to record a famous victory.