Adrian Lewis says Phil Taylor is 'untouchable'

Adrian Lewis has risen to sixth position in the PDC world rankings

World champion Phil Taylor has been labelled "untouchable" by fellow Stoke-on-Trent player Adrian Lewis after his victory at the UK Open on Sunday.

Taylor, 49, beat Lewis at the quarter-final stage on the way to winning the 67th major title of his career.

"He's untouchable at the minute," Lewis, 25, told BBC Radio Stoke.

"He hit two nine-darters in the Premier League final, he's gained more confidence, and there's nobody going to beat him unless his arm falls off."

Despite having a three-dart average of over 100, Lewis could not derail Taylor's charge towards a fourth UK Open title, with Taylor claiming a 10-2 victory in their last-eight tie.

"You've got to go up there and play your own game, and I thought I did that in patches," said Lewis.

"Once he gets that lead, a train wouldn't stop him. He tears you apart and it's demoralising."

Lewis reached the quarter-finals in Bolton for the first time in his career, and he believes that his involvement in the Premier League earlier this year, despite finishing seventh in the group stage, has helped him develop his game.

"That's done us all a big favour, playing under that kind of pressure," added Lewis. "It's probably the best thing ever to happen to darts.

"You're looking at having 10,000 people every week going to each venue and that's brilliant."