• PDC World Darts Championship

Beating Taylor 'would mean everything' to Anderson

Gary Anderson lost his only previous PDC World Championship final appearance, against Adrian Lewis in 2011 © Getty Images

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Gary Anderson overwhelmed defending champion Michael van Gerwen to take his place in Sundya's PDC World Championship final at Alexandra Palace, but admits it would "mean everything" to beat Phil Taylor to win the title for the first time.

Anderson sensationally defeated world No.1 Van Gerwen on Saturday to reach his second world final, while Taylor once again got the better of old rival Raymond van Barneveld.

"To beat Phil Taylor in the world championship final, that would mean everything," Anderson told ESPN. "I'm relaxed and I'll just play as I do. If I lose, well I've made it to where I want to be again."

Phil Taylor is seeking a 17th world title © PA Photos

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However, Anderson faces a tough task in beating Taylor. "The Power" was in fine form to see off Van Barneveld and make it 20 wins from 20 PDC World Championship semi-final appearances; the Stoke ace is now seeking world title No.17 in what will be his 20th final and is intent on getting his hands on both the Sid Waddell Trophy and £250,000 top prize.

"I'm not bothered about what Gary Anderson does and he's not bothered about what I do, but the final will be a scrap," Taylor said after his victory against Van Barneveld.

"Trust me, if Gary's going to beat me he's going to have to battle. He's got a fight on his hands and so have I with him.

"We'll probably be on the practice board together. It'll be like 'Don't you miss' and 'I won't - don't you miss', a bit of a wind-up. But it's going to be a cracking final. He's been playing really well this tournament and he'll be desperate to get that first title."

It was Anderson who prospered last time the pair met on television: he beat Taylor on his way to the Players Championship Finals title last month, which followed seven PDC ProTour victories in a highly successful 2014 for the Scot.

However, Anderson admitted he became disillusioned with the game following a difficult period on the circuit and that it wasn't until after last year's "Ally Pally" exit to Van Gerwen that he rediscovered his love for darts.

"I lost to Michael and I said 'Look, darts is a game I've been playing for the last few years so I should know what I'm doing. Let's just get on and do it'," Anderson added.

"Now I've just got to play. I'm enjoying darts again. Sometimes you wake up and don't want to go to work, you don't want to travel or speak to people. Sometimes it's a struggle and I was like that with darts.

"I'm enjoying it now. Even when I get beat, I'm still enjoying it and looking forward to the next one. That's the biggest difference.

"You try doing something that you don't like - do it for the next 12 months and see how much you enjoy it. If you still hate it, that's what darts was like for me. Now I feel like it's the old days again."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd