PHIL TAYLOR has finally been recognised by the Guinness World Records
PHIL TAYLOR has finally been recognised by the Guinness World Records – eight years after he retired from throwing professional darts.
The Power, 65, is the sport’s greatest player, having won an unprecedented sixteen World Darts Championships, two on the now-defunct BDO circuit and 14 on the PDC ranks.
Decades before two-time world conqueror Luke Littler rose to prominence and worldwide fame, Taylor was the dominant force on the dartboard.
It was in January 2018 following his defeat by Rob Cross in the Ally Pally world final – the final match of his competitive career – that he decided to hang up his arrows.
On Tuesday morning, during a live chat with BBC Radio Stoke, the grandfather of 11 was surprised by an adjudicator from the organisation which acknowledges and celebrates record-breaking human endeavour.
Four certificates were presented to Taylor by adjudicator Will Munford in recognition of four significant moments from his playing days.
The first was for “most World Matchplay darts titles won” – his number of 16 is far and away the best and it is no wonder the trophy, presented every summer in Blackpool, has been named after him.
Randomly he was handed a certificate for “most Premier League Darts titles won by an individual” – even though his tally of six, which he achieved in 2012, has since been bettered by Dutchman Michael van Gerwen, who claimed his seventh in 2023.
The third was for “most World Grand Prix titles won by an individual darts player” – his mark of 11 stands alone in this double-start tournament.
And finally, the “most wins of darts World Championships” – the last time he picked up the Sid Waddell Trophy was in 2013 when he beat Van Gerwen 7-4 in the final in North London.
Will Munford, the Guinness World Records adjudicator who met Taylor, said: “It is my absolute pleasure to come up from London.
“Because we have never had the opportunity to give you your certificates and give you your recognition from us for all you achieved through your career.