Why isn’t darts legend Phil Taylor playing at the World Darts Championships 2024?

PHIL TAYLOR is one of dart’s greatest ever players but looks to take on a new role heading into 2025.

Taylor, 64, has won more darts titles than any other player through his professional career.

With 16 World Matchplay titles, 11 World Grand Prix titles and 14 World Championships to his name between 1995 and 2012, and an overall tournament win count of 214, The Power has been dominant.

Phil Taylor’s injury troubles

Taylor was due to compete at the World Seniors Masters, scheduled to start on November 8, but medical complications forced him to withdraw.

Taylor has been struggling with a hip injury and was forced to have hip replacement surgery.

His surgery went well and was making a positive impact, but further damage began causing Taylor immense pain.

Taylor said: “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.

“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.”

Has Phil Taylor retired from darts?

The Power initially retired in 2018 after falling from the top bracket of competition, struggling to compete with likes of Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries – and now, Luke Littler.

Returning for the senior series in 2022, Taylor had hoped to bring an end to his career by winning the World Seniors Masters.

With injuries keeping him out and his body failing to keep up with his mind, Phil Taylor has officially confirmed his retirement from darts.

That means he will NOT be competing at the World Darts Championships, which will start on December 15.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Taylor said: “I’m retired now, properly retired. I’m just going to do some personal appearances like yourself [Ally McCoist].

“How do I know? My eyes started going a few years ago then my hip went and then the travelling. You’re away from home four-five days a week and it’s good for money but it’s not good for your family.

“My mind is still in my teens but my body is 90.

“How did I keep going? If I won a players championship that paid for the food bills. Every tournament was about paying the bills.

“Has there been a better marketed sport in last decade? They (the fans) don’t just have a little bit of fun, they have a lot of fun. It’s fantastic.”

What is Phil Taylor’s new role?

Despite retiring, The Power isn’t completely done with darts and is eager to return to screens in a commentary role.

Taylor also addressed rumours that he was due to appear on I’m A Celeb.

He said: “I’d be interested but not this year, it’s too late.

“Someone mentioned I was the favourite in the bookies but I said ‘I have no idea how’.”

Phil Taylor’s darts record

Rated among the ten greatest sportsmen of the last 35 years by the BBC, Taylor can look back on a glittering career.

Winning eight consecutive championships from 1994-2007 and reaching 21 finals, The Power is regarded by many to be the best darts player the sport has ever seen.

Taylor held the world number one ranking for thirteen years in total, eight of which came consecutively between 2006-2013.

He holds the record for the most televised nine-dart finishes (11) and was the first person to hit two nine-darters in one match.