Phil Taylor

English professional darts player widely regarded as the greatest of all time, dominating the sport from the 1990s through 2010s with 16 PDC World titles.

Born in Stoke-on-Trent, England on 13 August 1960, Philip Douglas Taylor grew up in a working-class family and spent his early adult years employed in a ceramic factory. His introduction to competitive darts came through local pub leagues, where his natural talent caught the attention of established professional Eric Bristow. Recognizing Taylor's potential, Bristow provided crucial financial backing that enabled him to turn professional and pursue the sport full-time. Taylor's breakthrough came in 1990 when he claimed his first World Championship title, defeating Bristow himself in the final. This victory marked the beginning of an unprecedented period of dominance that would span over two decades. Between 1995 and 2002, he achieved eight consecutive PDC World Championship titles, establishing a stranglehold on the sport's premier competition. His supremacy extended across all major tournaments, accumulating 214 professional titles throughout his career and maintaining match averages that consistently exceeded 100 per three darts during his peak years. Among his defining achievements, Taylor became the first player to complete a perfect nine-dart finish on television, and later the first to achieve two nine-dart legs in a single televised match. His 16 World Championship titles between 1990 and 2013 represent the most successful individual career in precision sports. The consistency of his excellence was perhaps most remarkable, with tournament averages regularly reaching 110 and above—standards that opponents struggled to match even briefly. Taylor's career concluded at the 2018 PDC World Championship, where he reached the final before losing to Rob Cross in what proved to be his final professional match. His impact on darts extends far beyond statistics; he fundamentally transformed the sport's standards and professionalism. The scoring levels and consistency he established became the benchmark for subsequent generations, elevating darts from a pub game to a precision sport requiring exceptional skill and mental fortitude.

Methodical, consistent, and mentally strong with exceptional finishing ability and tactical awareness

Transformed darts from a pub game to a professional sport, setting standards that defined modern competitive darts

• PDC World Champion 16x
• World Matchplay Champion 16x
• Premier League Darts 6x
• Grand Slam of Darts 2x
• First televised nine-dart finish
• First to hit two nine-darters in a single televised match