Taylor on rivalry with Van Gerwen if return happened: “Would I be in the top eight? I would be number one, I would get him I would”

Phil Taylor has often teased a potential return to darts since he ended up retiring from the sport at the 2018 PDC World Championship.

Speaking to the Darts Show Podcast, Taylor revealed the reasoning why he decided to not play in the Rileys UK Open Qualifiers earlier this year after teasing a potential return.

"I thought about doing the UK Open, I spoke to Barry about it," said Taylor.

"I phoned him and said I might go to the Rileys qualifiers and see what the crack is, just for a bit of fun.

"He thought it was fantastic, but when we checked through dates if I had qualified I was supposed to play in a soft-tip tournament in Japan that would have clashed with the UK Open.

"Maybe next year but I am not so sure, I am 61 next and I am getting too old for it. I am now thinking that I am ready to finish in the next year or so, I have enjoyed the rest we are having at the moment.

"I may do the odd after-dinner occasion but I don't practice too much or throw as much as I used to - I can still compete against world-ranked players but I don't put as much effort in as I used to."

When asked on where he’d be in the rankings if he returned, he spoke up the rivalry with Michael Van Gerwen in particular and admitted he’d win a battle of the duo in their prime.

"Would I be in the top eight? I would be number one, I would get him [Van Gerwen] I would," Taylor added.

"If I had been his age he would have got it - he is not as mentally strong as I was and I would wind him up about that all the time.

"He would have loved it and I would love to be playing Michael in my prime and his - we would have had a great rivalry.

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