TAYLOR REVEALS NEW JOB AND WHY HE WALKED AWAY FROM THE OCHE
28/06/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
PHIL TAYLOR admits heartbreak over letting down fans finally pushed him to hang up his darts for good.
16-time world champion Taylor is undoubtedly the greatest player ever to pick up a dart.
Stoke-on-Trent thrower Taylor won a record 87 major PDC titles in his glittering career.
The 64-year-old stepped away from the PDC in 2018 but continued to play on in exhibitions and the World Seniors circuit.
But ‘The Power’ left the oche behind for good in May this year and revealed he didn’t want to disappoint fans who had paid to see him with lacklustre throwing.
He said: “I was really, really looking forward to it. Loved the idea of the Seniors Darts. Enjoyed playing in it. But I couldn’t perform like Phil Taylor could perform.
“So it broke my heart a little bit.
“My body had changed. I mean, I’m 65 this year. So I was in my 60s. It got harder and harder for me, and I couldn’t perform. And people were paying money to come and see me.
“It broke my heart not to perform like I can. And I thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore. This is not right. If I do something, I have to do it properly.’ I’m a bit of a perfectionist.”
He added: “People were paying good money to come and see me. Getting taxis, paying prices for whatever they charge for beers and food and this, that and the other. And I can’t give them a show. So, no. I’d had my time. It was time to walk away then.
“I haven’t even got a set of darts now or a dartboard.
“I’ve got a dartboard in the back room. But it’s still in the box. I was so dedicated and everything. But I can’t do it now.
“So, I do other things. I see my grandkids a lot more. And the best thing in the world is staying and sleeping in your own bed. Which I’d not done for 30 years and I love it.”
Taylor’s arrows have since been swapped for a microphone.
Former world No. 1 Taylor will present at the World Seniors Darts Champion of Champions on Sunday, June 29, though he admits he isn’t as polished a host as he was an arrowsmith.
He explained: “I’m like a fish out of water at the minute, so I’m still learning.
“I’ve got to take my hat off to these commentators.
“If it were a football match, I wouldn’t have a clue who’s passing the ball or playing for which team! I wouldn’t even know who’s on whose side. It’s remarkable what they do.
“Every time I present, I’m learning. I will get used to it, but it’s like an apprenticeship, I think. So you’ve got to do your apprenticeship and learn your job. I’ll keep pushing forward and learn. But I am enjoying it.
“There’s no pressure, obviously. I haven’t got to get up and start practising and make sure I’m getting ready for nighttime and all that kind of thing, so I can just relax and enjoy it.”
Images by Taylor Lanning.
