Phil Taylor has told the Double Tops podcast sponsored by BetMGM that he knew during the 2013 World Matchplay that he was ready to retire. With the recent debate about crowd behaviour at darts events, both in the UK and in Germany, the game’s most dominant player recalled witnessing a change.
Like Your Golden Age Darts? Check Out Our Dedicated Area
Speaking on Double Tops sponsored by BetMGM, a new weekly podcast centred on the BetMGM Premier League Darts season, Taylor said: “I was never really sure when, or if, I would want to retire but I was told that I would wake up one morning and just know that I’d had enough.
“I was playing Terry Jenkins at the World Matchplay – I always thought the crowd at that tournament were the best around. They were real darts fans and I looked around during my match with Terry and the atmosphere wasn’t what it used to be.
“That was the first time I was thinking ‘this isn’t right and my career is coming to an end’.
“I wasn’t used to the sort of new-age crowd of everyone at the bar in fancy dress and I think that’s the same with the worlds now. I’d struggle being a commentator or that type of role because I’ve always been used to being able to say whatever I want… but you can’t do that these days.
DARTS PLAYER MERCHANDISE AND COLLECTABLES AT OUR DARTSWORLD STORE!
“I knew roughly when I was going to retire but that year really dragged out – a bit like when you’re waiting to go on holiday.”
—–ENDS—–
Images: Lawrence Lustig / PDC
