Phil Taylor has all the time been a divisive character. By no means one to shrink back from acknowledging his personal brilliance, the Stoke-on-Trent-born darts participant typically got here throughout as smug and patronising in direction of different gamers throughout his three-decade profession. Some individuals admired his confidence and self-belief and advised it was what made him a champion, whereas others discovered his lack of humility off-putting.
Whole Domination
No matter your opinion of Taylor the person, there is no such thing as a doubting his darting capability. He gained a complete of 16 world championships between 1990 and 2013 and dominated his sport in a method that few have ever performed in any area. He additionally helped to raise darts to prime-time TV standing, turning the game right into a multi-million-pound business. There isn’t a doubt that darts wouldn’t be the place it’s at present with out Phil “The Energy” Taylor.
The “Energy” lastly packed away his darts in 2018, though he did trace a comeback earlier this yr, and a brand new technology of gamers are actually dominating the sport and reaping the rewards of the monster pay packets now handed out on the main tournaments. However can anybody ever dominate the sport like Taylor did? Or was the Energy only a one-off?
Thanks pic.twitter.com/79CYdjzc6H
— Phil Taylor (@PhilTaylor) January 1, 2018
Darts Machine
Reaching consistency in any sport is troublesome however darts requires such precision and accuracy that sustaining such a excessive degree over a long time appears virtually super-human. Taylor was machine-like in his supply of the darts and had the power to keep up focus in any enviornment and in any circumstances. His pushed perspective, dedication and single-mindedness within the pursuit of darting perfection has drawn comparisons to the likes of Tiger Woods. Nevertheless, the truth that darts is a recreation that was developed within the public homes of the UK meant that the game has typically struggled to be taken critically. To at the present time, there are nonetheless lots who sneer on the considered darts as an actual sport.
The Younger Pretender
Within the 25 years for the reason that PDC World Darts Championship was shaped, there have solely been seven world champions. Taylor gained the occasion 14 occasions (his different two world championships had been gained within the BDO) and present champion Michael van Gerwen is subsequent consistent with three titles. The Dutchman is at present 30 years outdated, the identical age as Taylor was when he gained his first BDO world title and is favorite within the darts betting so as to add a fourth title this winter. Taylor gained first PDC World Championship on the age of 34 and gained his final one aged 53.
Glad Birthday @MvG180!
Right here’s how Michael van Gerwen compares with 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor and the late, nice Eric Bristow after they turned 30… pic.twitter.com/YAPqCrb5St
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 25, 2019
So, by way of age, van Gerwen already has a head begin on Taylor. In 2014, he turned the youngest ever winner of the PDC World Championship, aged 24, and held the report for the very best darts common rating in a televised occasion (123.40 achieved within the 2016 Premier League) till 2019 when he was pipped by Peter Wright. Van Gerwen has already damaged Taylor’s report for probably the most PDC Professional Tour occasion victories with a complete haul of 75.
If there may be one participant who can surpass Taylor by way of world titles, it’s Michael van Gerwen however he nonetheless wants one other 13 wins simply to match the legend. It might be argued that competitors is now stiffer than ever and that van Gerwen might nonetheless be rated as the best of all time even when he doesn’t break Taylor’s haul. But when he can get into double figures and obtain twenty years of consistency on the elite degree then it will likely be an attention-grabbing debate to have.
