PHIL TAYLOR powered past Terry Jenkins 6-1 to claim Saturday's Players Championship in Derby in his first PDC ProTour appearance of 2010.

The world number one confirmed his return to top form following a virus at the Moorways Centre in Derby, backing up a third successive Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts victory on Thursday with a devastating Players Championship win.

Taylor dropped just six legs in seven matches on his way to the £6,000 title, which included whitewashes of Andy Hamilton and Chris Thompson, with Co Stompe being the only player to win two legs against him, in their quarter-final.

After storming to victory against York's Thompson in the semi-finals, Taylor blew away Premier League rival Jenkins 6-1 in the final.

He opened the final with a 14-dart finish, and set up a double eight checkout with a 168 score in breaking Jenkins' throw in the second leg.

A missed double 11, for a 124 finish, allowed Jenkins to hit back in the third, but Taylor slammed home checkouts of 108 and 124 in taking the next two legs, before hitting a 180 in a 13-darter to lead 5-1.

Four missed match darts in the next leg allowed Jenkins a chance to stay in the game, but he wasted two darts at double top as Taylor returned to hit double two for victory.

Jenkins' run to the final was his best display in a Players Championship since last April, and included a superb comeback from 5-2 down to defeat Steve Brown in the quarter-finals.

He also overcame Premier League star Ronnie Baxter and resurgent Chris Mason on the day in claiming the £3,000 runner-up prize.

Mason defeated Michael van Gerwen, Simon Whitlock, Gary Anderson, Mark Webster and Jelle Klaasen in an impressive run of form in his second weekend after returning from an eight-month break.

Thompson reached his first PDC ProTour semi-final for almost two years, defeating Jamie Caven 6-4 in the last eight as well as whitewashing his York rival Martyn Turner, who had knocked out Colin Lloyd in round one.

Mervyn King and Kevin Painter joined Lloyd and Klaasen in being seeded players to exit in round one, while Welshman Richie Burnett enjoyed a return to form with a run to the last 16, defeating Alan Tabern and Dennis Priestley on the day.