''Body feels 90'' - Phil Taylor confirms darts retirement

Phil Taylor's career is definitely over. It was announced earlier this week that "The Power" cannot compete in the World Seniors Darts Masters, which was supposed to be his farewell tournament.

Four years earlier, Taylor had retired from the PDC circuit, where the 2018 World Darts Championship was his last tournament. Taylor's record includes 16 world titles, 16 World Matchplay titles, 11 World Grand Prix titles, six Grand Slam titles and six Premier League titles, making the Stoke-on-Trent-based dart player considered the best dart player of all time.

In 2022, Taylor came out of retirement to play on the senior circuit. That year, Taylor made it to the finals at the World Seniors Masters and World Seniors Matchplay, but Taylor fell short of the title at both tournaments. Good performances were lacking after that. The 64-year-old Englishman also had to cancel last month's World Seniors Matchplay. Taylor underwent hip surgery last summer and is still recovering.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Taylor confirmed his retirement. “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.

Over the past few years, Taylor's hip became increasingly troubled, for which he went under the knife this summer.

“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."