"I can go more into doing media stuff" - Phil Taylor intending to keep busy after retirement

Phil Taylor recently announced that he will put a final end to his career at the end of next year. However, 'The Power' wants to continue to play a role in the darts world even after that.

Tomorrow at London's Alexandra Palace, the World Darts Championship gets underway. Phil Taylor was there at the very first World Championship exactly thirty years ago. "It's mental," Taylor tells Online Darts about it being 30 years since the inaugural event. "It's tremendously come on so much now."

Taylor is especially looking forward to the World Championship this year. "I've got back into the darts. I've watched all of Minehead, really enjoyed that. The final was brilliant and I'm looking forward to this one now," he confesses.

Given he's been watching the darts recently, does Taylor have Luke Humphries as the favourite? "He's one of the favourites yeah definitely," answers the 16-time world champion. "You're going to have to look at Gerwyn Price, he'll turn up, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, even Barney I think will turn up. I've been watching his matches on the weekend games and he's been a bit unlucky recently so I think a longer format where he can relax a little bit will do him the world of good."

Taylor also became impressed with Luke Littler. "Probably the best 16-year-old I've ever seen. But it's about time now. He's on a high, he's won the Youths now he's got to push on. He's going to want to go out and enjoy his life and he's going to earn a few bob as well, so that's when it can take it's toll."

The 63-year-old Englishman recently announced he is calling it a day at the end of next year. "There's other things I'll be doing. I won't be sitting by the TV every day. I can go more into doing media stuff and personal appearances," he says. "Practicing every day, it's hard work for me now I can't do it."

"The Circus Tavern is special," Taylor concludes, referencing his upcoming final World Championship appearance on the WSDT. "That's where I had a lot of my biggest successes anyway, it would be great to become world champion one more time there with the seniors."