Phil Taylor: A Record That Won't Be Broken
Eight perfect darts were in the board, and the 2010 Premier League final crowd could feel the ninth coming — Phil Taylor threw it like a practice dart. Two nine-dart legs in a single match, a feat that stunned even the rivals he'd spent two decades beating.
Who Is Phil Taylor?
Phil "The Power" Taylor is a retired English professional from Stoke-on-Trent, and the most decorated player darts has ever produced. His 16 World Championship titles are a total no one else has come close to matching.
Before the trophies, he worked in the Staffordshire pottery industry. Darts legend Eric Bristow spotted his talent and sponsored him early — a favor Taylor repaid by beating his mentor in the 1990 World Championship final.
Sixteen World Titles, Two Eras
Taylor's 16 world titles came in two eras: two with the BDO, then 14 with the PDC after the sport split in the 1990s. At his peak he won eight PDC world championships in a row, a streak of dominance almost unheard of in any sport.
The worlds were only the headline act. He stacked up World Matchplay titles, Grand Prix wins, and Premier League crowns, and he hit multiple televised nine-dart finishes along the way.
What Made Him So Hard to Beat
Nothing about Taylor's throw was flashy — it was ruthlessly repeatable. His rhythm barely changed between an empty practice room and a world final.
His real weapon was pressure. He punished every double his opponent missed, and his finishing broke players who'd matched him dart for dart all night.
Then there was the work. While rivals treated darts as a pub game with prize money, Taylor trained like a professional athlete, and eventually the whole sport had to follow.
- Built to official tournament specifications for serious practice and match play
- Dual-density core improves dart retention and keeps the board playing consistently
- Ultra-thin wiring increases the scoring area and cuts down on bounce-outs
The Matches That Defined Him
A handful of nights carry the whole story:
- 1990 BDO World Championship final — beat Eric Bristow, his mentor, to win his first world title
- 2007 PDC World Championship final — lost to Raymond van Barneveld in a sudden-death leg, often called the greatest darts match ever played
- 2010 Premier League final — hit two nine-dart legs in one match against James Wade
- 2018 PDC World Championship final — his farewell, a loss to debutant Rob Cross before retiring
Even his defeats became milestones. Beating Phil Taylor in a big final was the achievement that made careers.
The Legacy He Left
Taylor dragged darts out of the pub and into packed arenas. The televised spectacle and walk-on culture of the modern game grew up around his rivalries.
He also reset the sport's standards. Averages that won titles in the 1980s barely qualify players now, and Taylor's practice ethic is the biggest reason why.
Every current professional works inside the framework he built. The training culture, the prize money, and the expectations all trace back to the bar he raised.
How many world titles did Phil Taylor win?
Sixteen — two BDO and 14 PDC. No other player in history has reached double figures.
When did Phil Taylor retire?
He left the professional circuit after the 2018 PDC World Championship final. He later played senior events, but the full-time career ended on that stage.
Steal one habit from The Power: treat every practice dart like it's for a world title.