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PHIL TAYLOR’S career is coming to a sad end after the veteran was forced to pull out of his last-ever tournament.
The Power is a legend of the game having won more titles than any other player during his professional career.
RexHe won the World Championship on 14 occasions between 1995 and 2012, and has 16 World Matchplay and 11 World Grand Prix titles to his name.
Taylor, 64, retired from professional darts in 2018 as he felt he was no longer able to compete with the likes of Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross.
He returned to competitive darts four years later however, playing in the World Seniors Darts Championship.
Taylor appeared in that tournament for the final time this year with his career now drawing to a close.
The legend hoped to sign off with the World Seniors Masters, which is the last tournament of the year, but has been forced to withdraw due to a hip problem.
He underwent hip surgery in the summer and had to miss the World Seniors Matchplay, but he has been unable to overcome the problem.
Taylor said: “I’m struggling a bit with my hip. Scar tissue.
“Everything was going fine, but then I just did a little too much and apparently I’ve torn my scar tissue. So yeah, it’s a bit painful.
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Phil Taylor's glittering career
Phil Taylor quit his day job in the ceramic industry to become a full-time darts player in 1987 and went on to establish himself as a legend of the sport.
He dominated darts for over two decades, winning 214 professional tournaments – including 85 major titles and a record 16 World Championships.
The Power won his first World Championship in 1990, three years after becoming a professional player, and clinched his second two years later.
He then won eight consecutive world titles from 1995 to 2002.
Among his incredible list of accolades are 16 World Matchplay titles, 11 World Grand Prix titles, five UK Open titles, four European Championship titles and six Grand Slam titles.
Taylor also won six Premier League titles, four Championship League titles, five Desert Classic titles. two US Open titles, a UK Masters title and a World Masters title.
His incredible achievements saw him nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2006 and 2010, finishing as runner-up in the latter year.
Taylor won his last World Championship in 2013.
“It’s been the worst pain I’ve ever had these last twelve months. Honestly, I’ll be glad when this year is gone.
“Practicing, I’ve been okay, but when you’ve been playing for a few hours there’s this really bad pain in the hip. It’s like having toothache and it drives me crazy, it really does.”
Taylor previously revealed he would step away from the oche for good at the end of 2024.
He said: “It’s been an unbelievable journey over the past 35 years and I’ve loved every minute of it.
“I’ll always love performing to the best of my ability, but time waits for no man and I know now is the right time to step away from the Tour.
“I’m going to be working just as hard as I always have to make sure I give the fans what they want and go out on top.”
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