Darts: Jelle targets Taylor win

Premier League debutant Jelle Klaasen is eyeing a big upset win against Phil Taylor on the second night of action in Edinburgh on Thursday.

Dutchman Klaasen played his first Premier League game in Liverpool last week as the 2009 season got underway at the Echo Arena.

Former Lakeside world champion Klaasen played out an entertaining 7-7 draw with Terry Jenkins - a result which proved he could match the big boys in the league.

However, ^The Matador^ faces a huge task at the Royal Highland Centre on Thursday, with 14-time world champion Taylor in flying form.

^The Power^ is riding high on a 24-game winning streak, including a 6-1 victory over Klaasen in Gibraltar last month, and he shows no signs of letting up.

Nothing to lose

Klaasen though is relaxed about facing Taylor and believes he can go out and produce an upset against the world champion.

"I^ve nothing to lose," said Klaasen. "If I win I^ll be a hero, and if I lose then everybody expects that.

"I^m looking forward to playing him - the first time we played was in Holland and I beat him, but after that he^s beaten me twice.

"But this is a different day and anything^s possible."

The 25-year-old was happy with his debut draw against Jenkins, which proved he was worthy of a wildcard for the event.

"The main thing was not to lose against Terry, and I didn^t," added Klaasen. "I missed a few doubles but I^m very happy with a 97 average.

"At times I felt really good but not all the time and I^ll have to improve it to keep winning."

Debutants

Fellow debutant Mervyn King also shone with an 8-1 thrashing of Wayne Mardle, and both new boys impressed defending champion Taylor.

"I like Jelle, he deserves to be in the Premier League and is showing that," said Taylor.

"I thought he played very well last week. Mervyn King did as well, and as the two newcomers they were superb.

"Jelle^s an exciting player and when he gets going he^s very hard to stop, but I^m looking forward to the game."

Also on Thursday, Mardle looks for redemption against Jenkins, while King takes on James Wade and multiple world champions John Part and Raymond van Barneveld go head-to-head.

Story By: Sky Sports

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12288_4913815,00.html