Champ Ted wants clash with Taylor; Darts.

TED HANKEY is relishing the prospect of a showdown with his fellow Potteries player Phil Taylor, after becoming the new Embassy world champion at Frimley Green last night.

Hankey, 31, produced a wonderful performance to beat number two seed Ronnie Baxter 6-0 in the final and earn himself his first world crown.

And after last year's battle between Ray Barneveld and Taylor, the respective BDO and PDC world champions, Hankey believes if there was to be another battle he could emerge victorious.

"When I go on stage I always fancy beating anybody so I would say that I could beat Taylor but he will say that he could beat me," said Hankey.

'The Count' was as surprised as anyone at the Lakeside at the nature of his victory as Baxter failed to recapture the form that had led him to his second successive appearance in the final.

"I was waiting for Ronnie to come back at me but he never did. I just believed that if I got in front of him I would stay there but I didn't expect it to be like that."

The win represents the completion of a lifelong dream for Hankey, who had said before the final that his life would be complete if he could capture the Embassy trophy.

"I'm happy now," he said. "Obviously I've got to come back and defend it so it's not going to be easy but I've already completed my dream of winning it once."

For Baxter, there was a great deal of disappointment as he finished runner up for the second year in a row.

"I know what it feels like because I did it last year so I have just got to carry on and see what I can do next year," said the 38-year-old Lancastrian.