Phil Taylor
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Phil Taylor (born August 13, 1960) is a multi world champion darts player, considered by many to be the greatest ever. His nickname is The Power.
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Life and Career
Born in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent to Douglas and Elizabeth Taylor, he left school at the age of 16 and quickly entered work at JF Sale and Co. in Burslem. Between jobs there were moments of unemployment, but Phil indulged in his favourite hobby - darts. It was his playing in the pubs of Stoke-on-Trent that brought him to the attention of Eric Bristow, one of the most popular and well known figures in the game in the 1980s. Bristow decided to sponsor Phil to the tune of £10,000 on the condition that it had to be repaid. With this money Phil could practice and enter low-level tournaments. His rise to the top from this moment was nothing short of meteoric.
After winning the 1990 Canadian Open, irony won through when Phil beat his mentor Bristow in the Embassy World Final 6-1. Taylor's odds were 125-1 at the beginning of the tournament. In the same year Phil became world number 1.
Since then Phil has won numerous world titles, including the 1992 classic encounter against an excellent Mike Gregory (he left the BDO to become one of the founders of the PDC afterwards) and the 2001 trouncing of John Part (in the PDC final) when he averaged 107 in scoring and 72.5% checkout rate - one of the best performances ever seen. In 1999, a TV special darts contest was held between him and the number 1 player from the Embassy (BDO) rankings - Raymond van Barneveld. Phil won comfortably.
In 2002, at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, Lancashire, Phil achieved a perfect nine dart finish live on television during his quarter final match against Chris Mason in the Stan James World Matchplay Championship. He hit 7 consecutive treble 20s, followed by treble 19 and double 12. In 2004, he repeated the feat in Bolton again live on television during a match in the UK Open Championship, making him the only player in the game's history ever to have achieved the feat more than once on television. On 12 June, 2005 he achieved the feat for a third time on television, during a semi final clash in the 2005 UK Open Championship. He hit seven treble twenties followed by 57 and double 12. He went on to win the competition beating Mark Walsh in the final.
There have been a couple of setbacks though, his 1994 defeat to Dennis Priestley and the 2003 defeat against arch-rival John Part prove that he is human and that there are always threats to his dominance. The ever modest Phil is always the first to admit this.
Outside Darts
Phil is a family man and has four children - Lisa, Chris, Kelly and Natalie - to wife Yvonne. His popularity among darts fans have led to increasing business oppurtunities - such as writing his autobiography (with OTT SKY TV darts commentator Sid Waddell), and appearances on TV such as The Frank Skinner Show where he dressed up in drag and sung alongside former Hear'Say singer Myleene Klass. He was convicted of sexually assaulting two female fans and as a result had his MBE recinded.
He is also a huge fan of Port Vale F.C.
World Championship Results
- BDO World Championship
- 1990: Phil Taylor beat Eric Bristow 6-1
- 1992: Phil Taylor beat Mike Gregory 6-5
- PDC World Championship
- 1994: Dennis Priestley beat Phil Taylor 6-1
- 1995: Phil Taylor beat Rod Harrington 6-2
- 1996: Phil Taylor beat Dennis Priestley 6-4
- 1997: Phil Taylor beat Dennis Priestley 6-3
- 1998: Phil Taylor beat Dennis Priestley 6-0
- 1999: Phil Taylor beat Peter Manley 6-2
- 2000: Phil Taylor beat Dennis Priestley 7-3
- 2001: Phil Taylor beat John Part 7-0
- 2002: Phil Taylor beat Peter Manley 7-0
- 2003: John Part beat Phil Taylor 7-6
- 2004: Phil Taylor beat Kevin Painter 7-6 (6-5 on legs after sudden death)
- 2005: Phil Taylor beat Mark Dudbridge 7-4
External link
- PhilThePower.com The Official Web Site of Phil 'The Power' Taylor.nl:Phil Taylor