the PDC world rankings between November 1994 and April 1995 and was seeded number-one for the WDC World Championships of 1995 and 1997. In 1997, Priestley won the British Classic in Blackpool, notable for being the first BDO event which PDC players were allowed to enter – as a result of the Tomlin Order – since the 1993 split. Priestley also took the pairs title with Taylor. At around this time, Priestley also took part in a 'Battle of the Champions' contest to mark the resolution of the dispute between the governing bodies. In a match-up of 1994 World Champions, Priestley comfortably defeated Part 3-0 in sets. Setbacks and bouncebacks The World Matchplay was often considered as Priestley's 'bogey' event, as he has never won it despite reaching the final in the tournament's first three years. In the 1994 final, Priestley held a 7–3 in legs lead over Butler and was on course to victory, when the American alerted Priestley's attention to a distraction in the arena; Butler's intervention could have had an effect on Priestley, as Butler won eight of the next nine legs to lead 11–8, and Butler eventually won 16–12. The following year, Priestley suffered the first of five PDC major final defeats to Taylor, losing 11–16 in legs. The World Matchplay appeared to be Priestley's for the taking in 1996 when hot-favourite Taylor was knocked out by Peter Evison, but Evison played the best darts of his life to edge Priestley 16–14 in a dramatic final. Priestley also reached the semi-finals of the event in 1999, but lost 10–17 to eventual winner Rod Harrington, with Priestley missing a dart at double 18 during the match which would have given him a Nine-dart finish and a £25,000 prize. In later years, Priestley contested some thrilling Blackpool encounters with Taylor. His 13–15 loss to Taylor in the second round of the 2005 event was followed by a 13–16 loss to Taylor in the quarter finals the following year, and his 2008 campaign came to an end courtesy of an 8–17 semi-final exit. Though Priestley has won a number of non-televised ranking events over the years, he has underachieved and on some occasions under-performed on the big stage; his failed turn his performances into further World title victories. Indeed, Priestley was close to quitting darts in 2003, unhappy with his form over the previous couple of years and had