Get Involvedpublished at 20:22 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
#bbcdarts
Darren Sheppard: I called the semi-final absolutely spot on, so lets go for a 7-4 victory for Cross. Needs to slightly improve the doubles but he's totally unflappable.
Summary
Debutant Cross stuns Taylor at Alexandra Palace
Cross makes 153 checkout to take three-set lead
Taylor's 21st and final World Championship final before retirement
The 57-year-old fails to add to his 16 World Championship titles
Taylor beat Jamie Lewis 6-1 in semi-finals
Cross beat Michael Van Gerwen 6-5 after final set shootout
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 20:22 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
Postpublished at 20:22 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
Oh, Phil has halted his walk-on to take a selfie.
Never does what he's told.
The 16-time champion of the world is making his way to the stage at a leisurely pace, but I suppose he's earned it.
He's got the power after all.
Postpublished at 20:20 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
This is the last time we will ever hear this walk-on music.
Get ready...
It's Phil THE POWER Taylor.
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involvedpublished at 20:19 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
#bbcdarts
Darren Potts: Feels very surreal knowing this will be the last time The Power will be stepping up at the Ally Pally. Looking for a fairy tale ending for Big Phil tonight.
Postpublished at 20:18 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
Here comes the man from Hastings, in his first World Championship final.
It's VOLTAGE.
And he's Feeling Hot Hot Hot.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 20:17 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
It's time!
Here come the players....
Can you believe it?published at 20:17 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
Image source, PANow for Taylor's opponent. And this is a story like no other.
This time last year Rob Cross was sat on his sofa.
The 28-year-old former electrician was an amateur darts player and a relative unknown.
But the man from Kent has taken the world by storm in his debut professional year and is now gearing up to take on the player who made him fall in love with darts.
After gaining a PDC tour card in 2017, Cross won four titles and came into the tournament as the 20th-seed.
He's now world number six and one win away from recording one of the most astonishing victories in sport.
Taylor out of pocketpublished at 20:17 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Taylor won his first BDO World Championship title in 1990
But Taylor's darting career is not all about the trophies.
The Power, as he is known on stage, has become synonymous with darts for another reason.
In 1993, Taylor and 14 of the world's top players, split from the old British Darts Organisation.
Taylor was the only player to put personal funds into the creation of a new governing body, now known as the PDC.
And the man from Stoke, who contributed to the division of the sport 25 years ago, has continued to divide opinion ever since.
The greatest of all time? I guess you'll be the judge of that.
Phil's majorspublished at 20:16 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Taylor won his last World Championship in 2013
World Championship (16):1990 (BDO), 1992 (BDO), 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013
World Matchplay (16):1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017
World Grand Prix (11):1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013
Grand Slam of Darts (6):2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014
UK Open (5):2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013
European Championship (4):2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Players' Championship Finals (3):2009, 2011, 2012
Postpublished at 20:13 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
Image source, Getty ImagesPower. Glory. He's won it all.
And tonight, darts must bid farewell to their revolutionary man.
Phil Taylor, the 16-time world champion, will retire from the sport.
But not before he's had a crack at a 17th crown.
Postpublished at 20:11 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
If you're looking for an X-factor style story, with an emotional VT, dramatic music and tributes from friends, relatives and the family dog... then this is the final for you.
In fact, I'd challenge anyone not to be captured by the stories of these two players.
Let's start with the man they call The Power...
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 20:09 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
#bbcdarts or text 81111
We had people tuning in at airports, on planes and a lot from their sofas for the World Championship semi-finals on Saturday night.
But where are you following tonight's World Championship final from?
Do you want Taylor to bow out in style? Or are you backing the new kid on the block?
Get in touch via #bbcdarts or text 81111.
Semi-final epicpublished at 20:05 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
Image source, EPASaturday delivered one of the greatest games ever witnessed at the Alexandra Palace.
We had missed darts, more missed darts and a double eight to win.
Rob Cross saw off defending champion Michael van Gerwen in a sudden-death leg to set up a final against Phil Taylor, who beat Jamie Lewis 6-1.
So how do we top that? And who will get their fairytale ending?
Welcome to the World Championship final!
Happy New Year!published at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 1 January 2018
Image source, PAHappy New Year to you all. And what a way to bring in 2018.
This is the GOAT against the debutant.
This is the 16-time World Champion against a former electrician.
This is the end of an era.