DARTS NEWS

Phil Taylor: Sixteen-time world champion outlines retirement plan

23/10/2014

Direct from BBC Sport
By Stephan Shemilt

Sixteen-time world darts champion Phil Taylor says he plans to retire from playing competitively in "two or three years", but will stay in the game.

The 54-year-old told BBC Sport: "Nobody wants me to retire, people get teary when I mention it. It's got to happen.

"Maybe they'll keep me in the [invitation only] Premier League, maybe I'll be a pundit, but I'll always be there around the game."
Taylor won his first world crown in 1990 and his most recent in 2013.

After being beaten in the second round of this year's tournament by Michael Smith, Taylor suggested he would have to manage his schedule if he was to continue competing at the top level.
However, as the biggest name in the sport, he says there is pressure for him to go on appearing in as many tournaments as possible.

"It's very difficult," he said. "There's pressure on be to be at every tournament and to do all the promotion.

"Taylor also said he had planned to retire at the age of 55 but, after the Professional Darts Corporation agreed a new television deal, he was persuaded to stay on by chairman Barry Hearn.
"He said 'do me five years', and I said I would if my health was good," said Taylor. "He said he'll retire the same day as me."