Phil Taylor aims for career change after darting retirement: "But I wouldn't want to be away from home week in, week out"
WSDT
Next weekend the World Seniors Darts Masters will take place in Sunderland. Phil Taylor will be at the tournament as a commentator and Glen Durrant will be playing himself.
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Taylor was originally supposed to play as well, but had to pull out because of an injury. But still he is looking forward to darts returning to the North East. "It's great that darts is coming back to the North East. I love the North East. I’ve got some good friends up there and have family that live in Newcastle.
"The fans always turn out in their droves in the North East and they enjoy themselves and make it a good atmosphere. I just hope the players perform well enough for the people who are paying to watch!"
Great initiative
Durrant is looking forward to returning to action. "I'm delighted to see a big tournament for the Seniors is coming to the North East and hopefully the crowds turn up and really enjoy it. I think we've got the best fans in the world.
"I've been shouting from the rooftops to get competitions in the North East, so for people reading this, get yourselves to the venue, come and cheer us on because the sport is not as good without a good crowd behind you. Come on Sunderland, come out in force!"
"All the other players are really jealous of the North East. The North East has been a hotbed of darts for a long time. I know there is Geordies, Mackems and Smoggies, but I tell you what, as a North East player, you felt like we were all one family. The likes of Chris Dobey, Ryan Joyce and Callan Rydz are doing brilliantly for the area right now."
Taylor also praises the Tour for seniors. "Some of the older players are coming to retirement age now and I think you'll see an influx of a few more household names which will help the Seniors."
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Glen Durrant in action
Mode Super Series
Durrant, a three-time world champion with the BDO and also a former Premier League Darts winner, mostly comments these days. He started at the Modus Super Series back then. "I feel like I learnt all my mistakes there. If I had gone straight to Sky, I wouldn't have lasted five minutes, so the Modus Super Series, I owe them an awful lot.
"Someone said to me, 'just pretend you're down the pub and you're trying to analyse the game you're watching' and I think that was the best advice I ever got. I haven't got the big words, I haven't got the greatest voice in a sense, I just try to be me, and I absolutely love it!"
Taylor as commentator
Taylor confirmed that he will be commentating the tournament and that he would like to start commentating once he retires. "I'm looking forward to it, depending on what games they give me! If they want younger people (in the future) that's fine. I'm not too worried about it. But I wouldn't want to be away from home week in week out like I used to be."
"With my experience I can sometimes tell what pressure they're under and what they're thinking at that particular time. Sometimes you can just tell they're not going to hit the double."
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- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
