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| Image: SkySports.com |
The hugely prosperous immortal considered retirement following his on-stage quarrel with Raymond van Barneveld in 2013—branding his actions as "disgraceful" and "shameful"—but then Phil had some very serious personal difficulties which made him deeply contemplate about his Darts future.
Taylor and his spouse, Yvonne Taylor, separated in 2011 and divorced in 2014. The Power has made sacrifices in his life for the sport of Darts—forfeiting irreplaceable time with his beloved grandkids, for instance.
But the most profound of Phil's sacrifices is his 23-year marriage to wife Yvonne. Taylor has already opened up about his divorce, effectively declaring that Darts fundamentally caused the prophesied separation.
"Every week I think I've had enough. You sacrifice your whole life for being dedicated," Taylor said back in October.
"It's awful and I'm still sad. For me, marriage is for life and it doesn't seem right. Looking back, I wish I'd spent more time at home—I was away more or less every week."
While his mother, Liz Taylor, tragically died last January of an infectious lung disease. Taylor haplessly cut short an exhibition tour of Australia and New Zealand after 74-year-old Liz's grievous condition deteriorated. So The Power's personal difficulties have been rampant in the last year.
Taylor also lost a profusion of weight throughout 2013 and 2014. He was thrashed 7-0 by the ebullient Michael van Gerwen in his first 2014 Premier League game and was heavily criticised for his dramatic weight loss, the damaging effects of which were noted by the great Sid Waddell a decade previously.
54-year-old Taylor's unprecedented 38-game World Matchplay streak was imploded by James Wade on Saturday as The Machine dismantled Taylor 17-14. "Upset" does not provide a fair narration on Wade's part—his record against The Power was abject prior to this complex victory in the semi-final at Winter Gardens—but Wade pulled more of a shock than an upset.
Taylor's reign of terror was finally ended by the last winner of the tournament since Taylor began his incredible streak—and after that detrimental defeat, I question—does this signal the end of Phil Taylor?
In short—no.
2014 was arguably Taylor's most catastrophic year in the PDC. (Professional Darts Corporation, president Barry Hearn is also his manager) and The Power's eyesight was lavishly questioned following a crushing 9-7 third round defeat to 171st Order Of Merit seed Aden Kirk in the UK Open last year.
What is perhaps more disconcerting is that Taylor does not emit the formidable mental strength of old. Whereas for decades Taylor would prevail in the biggest moments—now he's constantly losing them.
Take the 2015 World Championship final, for instance. The 54-year-old had lost the first leg of the final set, but Taylor had three irreplaceable opportunities to tie the set at one-all. Anderson retrieved his Darts from the board and Taylor shuffled towards the oche. He transferred one dart from left hand to his right—raised his right arm to the perpendicular—and released.
Double 16 was Taylor's most beloved double. So many people assumed that he would nail it first-dart—or even last-dart in hand—Taylor had been branded the master of the latter ever since he turned professional.
Many thought that Taylor would not relinquish this opportunity. The Power's career has spanned over a quarter of a century—and people subtly learned along the journey that Taylor was not one for squandering chances.
The first dart landed just on the outer-surface of his beloved double 16. Taylor could not escort his second dart. Agony. The Power's face was embroiled and his nerves began jingling. One dart left in hand. Taylor still had an opportunity. His previous efforts had landed on the exterior of the double—so he typically laid a perfect marker for the third and final dart. The Power released his final, errant dart in hand—and missed.
So Taylor has clearly lost a small proportion of ruthlessness over the past couple of years.
But I can assure you that one defeat or small loss of ruthlessness does not signal the end of Phil Taylor. The defeat to James Wade on Saturday night marked the culmination of The Power's incredible undefeated streak at Winter Gardens—spanning over 38 games, incidentally—but the streak had to come to an end at some point.
Taylor has already affirmed his status as the greatest to ever live. Taylor has dominated the Professional Darts Corporation, also known as the PDC, after winning four majors in the British Darts Corporation. Since joining the PDC, he's become a pure-and-utter legend with victories at every event you can think of.
His rise to fame is unparalleled and, until someone disproves the theory, he's the greatest Darts player to ever live. Phil Taylor is not finished—and is far from it.
Winning has become Taylor's superpower since turning professional back in 1987. With the end of his fantastic and illustrious career drawing ever nearer, cherished World title number 17 will surely be on the horizon (nobody has ever won it more than five times excluding Taylor)—and you can't help but think, The Power will signal off once he seizes yet another yearned World title in 2016 or 2017.
Nobody will ever surpass Taylor's ridiculous achievements, regardless of the preponderant or superior quality they boast.
More: van Gerwen triumphs in Blackpool
Taylor and his spouse, Yvonne Taylor, separated in 2011 and divorced in 2014. The Power has made sacrifices in his life for the sport of Darts—forfeiting irreplaceable time with his beloved grandkids, for instance.
But the most profound of Phil's sacrifices is his 23-year marriage to wife Yvonne. Taylor has already opened up about his divorce, effectively declaring that Darts fundamentally caused the prophesied separation.
 |
| Image: TheMirror.co.uk |
"It's awful and I'm still sad. For me, marriage is for life and it doesn't seem right. Looking back, I wish I'd spent more time at home—I was away more or less every week."
While his mother, Liz Taylor, tragically died last January of an infectious lung disease. Taylor haplessly cut short an exhibition tour of Australia and New Zealand after 74-year-old Liz's grievous condition deteriorated. So The Power's personal difficulties have been rampant in the last year.
Taylor also lost a profusion of weight throughout 2013 and 2014. He was thrashed 7-0 by the ebullient Michael van Gerwen in his first 2014 Premier League game and was heavily criticised for his dramatic weight loss, the damaging effects of which were noted by the great Sid Waddell a decade previously.
 |
| Image: SkySports.com |
Taylor's reign of terror was finally ended by the last winner of the tournament since Taylor began his incredible streak—and after that detrimental defeat, I question—does this signal the end of Phil Taylor?
In short—no.
2014 was arguably Taylor's most catastrophic year in the PDC. (Professional Darts Corporation, president Barry Hearn is also his manager) and The Power's eyesight was lavishly questioned following a crushing 9-7 third round defeat to 171st Order Of Merit seed Aden Kirk in the UK Open last year.
Taylor is still the biggest obstacle in the way of Van Gerwen's charge for another World title. No doubt.
— Sean (@BigGameTactics) July 27, 2015
Taylor was defeated 7-5 by Gary Anderson in week six of the 2014 Premier League—and followed that with defeat to Kirk a day later. The fear that this was terminal decline rather than poor form was exacerbated by the staggering incident in which he twice bust 130. When a 54-year-old does that, many will draw a simple conclusion: his eyes have gone. What is perhaps more disconcerting is that Taylor does not emit the formidable mental strength of old. Whereas for decades Taylor would prevail in the biggest moments—now he's constantly losing them.
Take the 2015 World Championship final, for instance. The 54-year-old had lost the first leg of the final set, but Taylor had three irreplaceable opportunities to tie the set at one-all. Anderson retrieved his Darts from the board and Taylor shuffled towards the oche. He transferred one dart from left hand to his right—raised his right arm to the perpendicular—and released.
Double 16 was Taylor's most beloved double. So many people assumed that he would nail it first-dart—or even last-dart in hand—Taylor had been branded the master of the latter ever since he turned professional.
Many thought that Taylor would not relinquish this opportunity. The Power's career has spanned over a quarter of a century—and people subtly learned along the journey that Taylor was not one for squandering chances.
The first dart landed just on the outer-surface of his beloved double 16. Taylor could not escort his second dart. Agony. The Power's face was embroiled and his nerves began jingling. One dart left in hand. Taylor still had an opportunity. His previous efforts had landed on the exterior of the double—so he typically laid a perfect marker for the third and final dart. The Power released his final, errant dart in hand—and missed.
 |
| Image: SkySports.com |
But I can assure you that one defeat or small loss of ruthlessness does not signal the end of Phil Taylor. The defeat to James Wade on Saturday night marked the culmination of The Power's incredible undefeated streak at Winter Gardens—spanning over 38 games, incidentally—but the streak had to come to an end at some point.
Taylor has already affirmed his status as the greatest to ever live. Taylor has dominated the Professional Darts Corporation, also known as the PDC, after winning four majors in the British Darts Corporation. Since joining the PDC, he's become a pure-and-utter legend with victories at every event you can think of.
His rise to fame is unparalleled and, until someone disproves the theory, he's the greatest Darts player to ever live. Phil Taylor is not finished—and is far from it.
Winning has become Taylor's superpower since turning professional back in 1987. With the end of his fantastic and illustrious career drawing ever nearer, cherished World title number 17 will surely be on the horizon (nobody has ever won it more than five times excluding Taylor)—and you can't help but think, The Power will signal off once he seizes yet another yearned World title in 2016 or 2017.
Nobody will ever surpass Taylor's ridiculous achievements, regardless of the preponderant or superior quality they boast.
 |
| Image: DartsJournalist.com |
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