DARTS legend Phil Taylor is aiming to hit the bullseye and win a million in a year.

Taylor, 47, hit his fourth perfect nine-dart finish at the Blue Square UK Open in Bolton on Saturday to take his earnings in just three months to over £200,000 – despite crashing out 10-9 to Raymond van Barneveld in a quarter-final classic.

It’s the third successive time Taylor has lost to Barney in the UK Open quarters but now the Stoke thrower wants to get his hands on the £5million prize money up for grabs next year.

Taylor admitted: “The question I get asked the most is how I remain motivated after winning so much. It’s a daft question. I simply live for the buzz of victory and live for winning money.

“The Professional Darts Corporation have taken the sport to unbelievable levels of class and now the prize money is up at £5million next year and then £10million by 2011. That’s why I’m still playing, that’s why I’m still hungry.

“I want to be the first player to earn a million in just a year. That would be another great record to break.”

The Power, who won the £100,000 Premier League a fortnight ago, smashed a few more records as he rocked the Reebok with the nine-darter and £25,000 payout – for just 90 seconds work.

Taylor threw a 180, 177 and then 144 with a double 12 checkout to earn his fourth perfect leg at Bolton after doing the same in 2003, 2005 and last year and also cracked in a 114.53 average against Wes Newton in the fifth round – the highest ever average in the history of televised darts.

Taylor admitted: “I knew I was getting close to that sort of form in practice. I’m catching up with Ronnie O’ Sullivan with his televised 147 breaks – I think I’m just one behind him with televised nine-darters now.

“It’s a lovely feeling when they go in and it sends out such a great message to the other players.”