Phil Taylor denies he is ‘washed up’ as the 56-year-old grandfather launches bid for a record 17th world darts title
Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle is among those saying the Brit is fading after winning only two big events in past three years
PHIL TAYLOR rubbished talk of being “washed-up” as he insisted he still had the Power to land a record 17th world darts crown.
Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle is among many who feel the 56-year-old grandfather is on the wane.
Taylor has added only three significant titles to his glittering CV over the past two seasons.
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And there is a feeling within the sport that the 2017 William Hill PDC World Darts Championship represents his final appearance at that level.
But Taylor said: “There seems to be a lot of folks out there who think I’m over the hill.
“Some think I’m past it and I’m never going to win a 17th world title, and one of these days they will be right — but not yet!
“I’m not thinking along the lines of retirement.
“I’m not going to the world championship to walk on stage, wave to the crowd, make up the numbers and disappear again.
“If you look at my record over the past 12 months, I won the Champions League of Darts, I reached the Premier League play-off final, the World Matchplay final.
“I also won tournaments in Australia and the World Cup for England with Adrian Lewis.
“Hell, if that’s washed-up, I’ll have some more of it. Not bad for a 56-year-old grandad, eh?”
Taylor faces either PDPA qualifier John Bowles or Oceanic Masters winner David Platt in the first round on Sunday. To prepare for a record 28th appearance at either the BDO or PDC world championship, Taylor has hardly been seen.
He has been locked away in his lodge at Ribby Hall in Lancashire “without any distractions or no sideshows”.
Taylor has refused to concede this will be his last world championship showing. But he is desperate not to let his celebrated career on a sour note, noting that boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson both suffered crushing defeats in their final few fights.
Taylor added: “Even if I down tools and hardly play next year, I’ll still have enough ranking points to qualify for one more world championship.
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“At one point I was thinking of playing until I’m 60, but that’s another four years away and I’m not sure I’ll keep going that long.
“I don’t want to outstay my welcome and fade into the sunset.
“Muhammad Ali was the greatest and deserves to be remembered for floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee.
“But in his penultimate fight, he was beaten up by Larry Holmes.
“Tyson was the most ferocious boxer on the planet, but by the end he was losing more than he won — I don’t want that to happen to me. I’m not motivated by money, I don’t need to keep playing to pay the bills.
“I want to go out at the top. I want to be remembered as a winner. I want to be remembered for winning 16 world titles. You don’t have to like me, but I hope you’ll respect what I achieved.”