Phil 'The Power' Taylor

It's astonishing how many top players have underperformed this year, handing Taylor his seventeenth world title in all likelihood. Good luck to him, an incredible achievement.

57 is old even for a darts player. To stay in the top 16/32 he needs to be playing a lot more than he can handle , he won't qualify for the big tournaments and will face an undignified fall into obscurity.

The averages scored don't signify underperformance. There are about 10 times more excellent professional darts players than there were 15 or 20 years ago. That Taylor has stayed at the top for so long is beyond incredible. No-one is rolling over to help Taylor win, if he does... Rob Cross is a freak of nature.

probably britain's greatest ever sportsman - his stats are off the charts almost unbelievable

Amazing stats, no doubt but there's something I don't like about him. I hope Cross wins. I also hope Jamie Lewis makes it big time as a player.
Last night's game was a cracker and I thought MVG took defeat well despite the constant booing and whistling from the idiots in the crowd, he even applauded them at the end...
As for the crowd, all tourney they sing and cheer for who is winning at the time and as the lead swings, so does their apparent 'allegiance'..Hilarious to watch.

Several of the top players have been well below par this year in my view, Study. Anderson was dreadful at times against Taylor in the quarter-final (blaming a bad back) and Van Gerwen (after struggling over the distance in his previous two matches) missed umpteen doubles to win his semi-final.

As you say, averages don't always tell the full story, but sub 100s have rarely been enough to trouble Van Gerwen in recent years.

part of the Power's greatness lies in the fact he's been doing it for 30 years - astounding. Tom Watson a putt away from winning the Open aged 59 is about the only comparison

A true pro. He's won everything with grace and dignity!

I'm surprised he favourite to beat Cross in the final.

The crowd that attend darts are perhaps the very dregs of humanity.
The only things that advanced from the middle age debauchery in the taverns is that the costumes changed and perhaps the monotonous 'songs'.

Its similar to that din created by the 'barmy army' at the cricket, who commentators fall over themselves to heap praise on them singing drivel through adversity when in truth its just alcohol.

Darts players show how sportsmen should behave!(And I don't mean how to put on weight)!

Taylor is undoubtedly the best player to hold a dart.

However, he is a horrible man IMHO who has a less than desirable conviction, is an almighty braggart and namedropper and has form for suspected cheating in a darts match (see youtube v 'overthetop.')

Well done Phil Taylor on an extraordinary career.

Best darts player ever, hope the others can get near to him. He got into fitness but seemed to had lost it lately.

with his breasts continuing to grow
he may qualify for the womens events in due course

Never liked him myself but he will be missed, no doubt about that.

Not trying to take anything away from Taylor as what he has achieved is truly outstanding but I view darts as a pastime rather than a sport.

Sorry to aftertime but I won forty quid on Cross. Get in!

It's not a physical game, agreed, but incredible concentration levels required.
To be at the top for 20 years is really remarkable.
Can't see anyone ever repeating what Taylor achieved.

I met Jocky Wilson a couple of times.
Was pleasant enough but no way could I ever think of describing him as a sportsman.

Nothing better than jocky beating the ignorant big mouthed bristow in the worlds,jocky was a great character..

Nothing better than jocky beating the ignorant big mouthed bristow in the worlds,jocky was a great character..

Jocky became a virtual recluse before he died, there is a play about him, when on tour in the US he missed the group's bus and he had to hitch hike to the next venue.

Makes sense to retire now. He soon won't be able to lift those grossly oversized trophies on his own.

Jocky Wilson a great chracter loved it when beat big head bristow , sadly missed

Great dart player ..but something about him that I don't like

Aside from his conviction for indecent assault you mean

In the background on Top of the Pops, while Dexys Midnight Runners mimed to Jackie Wilson says-a photo of Jocky Wilson. A true story!

I remember that slicer

Here it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ao9p3ou7-U

Akabula - Not trying to take anything away from Taylor as what he has achieved is truly outstanding but I view darts as a pastime rather than a sport.

I have some sympathy with your view, but the difficulty with your argument is that darts is virtually pure "Robin Hood style" skill.

It differs little from javelin or discuss. Of course you can argue that those two require some element of strength,but then a load of other (even Olympic) events require skill and virtually no strength. Curling is from your part of the world isn't it

Hard to argue with you (well on this it is ) but I based it on the lifestyle of most players.
like I said I could never bring myself to call Jocky Wilson a sportsman.
FWIW I have a similar opinion of snooker.

you lost me the minute you described darts as a sport

for sure he's the greatest darts player ever and to be at the top of any game for so long is remarkable.
but its an indoor pub game, lets not get carried away. Sure it takes skill and concentration but its nowhere near the level of difficulty of say archery or shooting.
A crack sniper is 100 times more skilled than a top darts player.

Well, that's that defined then.
The thousands of people who practise darts for 5 or 6 hours a day will be heartened to know that archers and shooters are so superior to them.

I'm sure as Rob Cross trousered his cheque for £400,000 on New Years' Day he was bothered about exactly how platini defined darts.

Super Smashing Great is darts

it is a fact tho, however humbling it might be for the thousands of dart throwers practicing all those hours

Also hard to think of any other sportsmen who practice with a pint in their hand.

Slicer    03 Jan 18 07:27 
In the background on Top of the Pops, while Dexys Midnight Runners mimed to Jackie Wilson says-a photo of Jocky Wilson. A true story!



Yes, this is correct.