Dave Chisnall shocks darts king Phil Taylor at PDC World Championship

The 15-time world champion, Phil Taylor has been sent crashing out of the PDC World Championship in the second round, losing 4-1 to Dave Chisnall at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday.

Chisnall becomes only the seventh man to knock Taylor out of the World Championship and ensured the ‘Power’ failed to reach the last 16 of the competition for the first time in his stellar career.

Chisnall was the faster player out of the blocks at Alexandra Palace but Taylor looked to be in the ascendancy when he evened the score at 1-1 - but Chisnall stunned everyone as he upped his game and ultimately ran away with a memorable victory.

“I don’t know how I did that,” Dave Chisnall said afterwards, as he moved into the last-16. “I threw well in the game but started getting a little bit nervous towards the end. On double 12 I just pulled it, but he gave me another shot and I took it.”

Both men were off-target with important throws but Chisnall held his nerve to take the fifth set with a double six after Taylor, to the despair of his fans, had missed two attempts at double 20.

Taylor paid tribute to his conqueror in the wake of his earliest exit from the competition before vowing to hit back hard.

"My eye-sight is not half as good as it was before. The heat got to me tonight as well. That's never happened before. It's something I've got to work on. I am a worker, I'll go back home and try and put things right," he said.

"It's up to me now to work harder. I'm going to do another two or three years then I'll slide away quietly. I'm not retiring yet. I'm going to try harder in the next two or three years than I have ever done in my career."

Be sure to visit William Hill Sports to win darts betting odds in the latest round of PDC World Championship fixtures.

Zaheer Khan wants to be the decisive factor

Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan's fitness remains a concern ahead of the first Test against Australia next week even though he did not show any discomfort while bowling during a practice match in Canberra.

Zaheer Khan

Fifteen overs in the three-day match against Cricket Australia Chairman's XI might have been good for keeping his critics at bay but there isn't enough evidence that the left-arm pacer would be able to handle a workload of 40 overs in a Test.

Only 72 hours separate the first and second Tests of the series and the demands on the creaking joints of the 33-year-old are only going to multiply manifold.

Zaheer simply hasn’t exerted enough during the nets or in the middle to show that he could chase, dive around or throw from the deep with sufficient energy. His bowling, from afar, appeared to lack a strong finish and his famous rhythm, quite simply, was missing.

Zaheer has often said he relies on bowling a great number of overs to improve his fitness and maintain his rhythm but post-recovery from an ankle surgery, the left-arm paceman just hasn’t been able to bowl to his liking.

Zaheer, who picked up 10 wickets in three Tests at an average of 40 during previous trips, said he is desperate to make up for the past.

"This tour is very important for me," Zaheer, who bowled five overs on the final day of a practice match, said.

"I want to be the factor which makes the difference as there are so many expectations on me. The way I see it, it all worked out perfectly fine, because I had a four-month break so I could prepare well for this series," he added.

Zaheer, and the rest of the team, could have at the most three sessions before the Boxing Day Test is unveiled on 26th December.

For the Indian team to live up to its billing, Zaheer would have to turn up in top shape for the Test series.

There is some top class cricket betting action to enjoy over Christmas, with the First Test of Australia v India cricket match to look forward to on Boxing Day.

William Hill Sports Woman of the Year Award 2011

The shortlist for the inaugural William Hill Sports Woman of the Year Award has been announced and it is time to vote for your favorite. Sport William Hill are accepting votes online or you can pick up a coupon in any of the 2350 William Hill shops.

The Shortlist for the William Hill Sports Woman of the Year as voted for by William Hill customers:

·        Rebecca Adlington: Won a gold and silver medal at the 2011 World Aquatics Championship in Shanghai.

·        Charlotte Edwards: Captain of the all conquering England Women’s cricket team.

·        Jessica Ennis: UK No.1 Heptathlete, won silver at Athletics World Championships.

·        Tamsin Greenway: captain of the Surrey Storm, bronze medal winner at the Netball World Championships.

·        Helen Jenkins: British No.1 Triathlete who qualified for 2012 Olympics after winning the Hyde Park Event.

·        Sarah Stevenson: Won gold at the 2011 Tae Kwon Do World Championships.

·        Kelly Smith: England Striker who competed in the Women’s Football World Cup earlier this year.

·        Hayley Turner: Rode 83 winners in 2011 season, including two Group One wins.

·        Beth Tweddle: Grabbed gold at the European Gymnastics Championship in Berlin after winning the Uneven Bars discipline.

·        Chrissie Wellington: Added a fourth Ironman World Championship title in 2011. Remains undefeated over the Ironman distance.

"Over thirty different sports women were voted for and we believe this is a very comprehensive list for female sporting achievement in 2011.

The winner of the award receives a trophy, a VIP trip to the William Hill King George on Boxing Day, plus a £1,000 charity bet on the big race, as well as a personal free bet of £1000.

"It is now up to the public to decide who will win the first ever William Hill Sports Woman of the Year," said William Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.

You have to vote online until midday 20th December and vote in shop until 9.30pm on the 18th December. The winner will be announced on 21st December 2011.

Ward vs Froch in Super Six World Boxing Classic Final

The Showtime network’s Super Six World Boxing Classic will reach its conclusion on Saturday Night as Andre Ward and Carl Froch, who outlasted the group stage and elimination phases will fight for the championship of the super-middleweight tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The tournament has had its critics, with a number of fighters withdrawing through injury, but there can be no argument that it has seen most of the top fighters in the division left with little alternative than to face each other.

Andre Ward vs. Carl Froch

While both men have hugely increased their exposure in reaching this stage, the winner should be in a strong position in negotiating future fights against the likes of Bute, Kessler and possibly Hopkins. According to the markets, this man is very likely to Ward, who is top priced at 3/10 (William Hill). Carl Froch is a standout 13/5 (Bwin). Although one has to wonder whether Showtime wouldn’t far rather see the underdog take this fight.

Saturday’s final was delayed from its original date in October after Ward (24-0, 13 KOs) sustained a cut to his eye during training. Ward, a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team and the last American boxer to win an Olympic gold medal, said the division and his career have benefitted from the Super Six event.

A native of England, Froch (28-1, 20 KOs) also has valued his experience in the tournament. “I’ve really gotten some great matchups since the tournament started,” Froch said. “I don’t think those fights would have happened if it wasn’t for the tournament. It’s been great for Andre, and it’s been great for myself.”

Boxing betting enthusiasts are likely to predict that Andre Ward will win by unanimous decision over Carl Froch in a hard fought battle. Froch will demand a rematch while Ward looks to Canada and Lucian Bute.