- Former world darts champion says living with arthritis is a ‘nightmare’
- Taylor currently plays on the World Senior Darts Tour but will retire this year
- He revealed that he had changed his diet in order to combat the disease.
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Former world darts champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor has opened up about his battle with arthritis and revealed the impact it has had on his daily life.
The 63-year-old announced last year that he would retire at the end of 2024 following the conclusion of the Senior World Darts Tour. This will be the second time he has retired in his career, having left the sport in 2018 – only to return to competitive darts a year later.
The 16-time world champion is currently ranked seventh on the World Senior Darts Tour and will face Martin Adams in the first round of the JenningsBet Champion of Champions in Blackpool next weekend.
He enters the event after being beaten by German player Manfred Bilderl, ranked 39th on the circuit, during the Senior World Championship in February.
“That match killed my leg, my back, killed everything,” he said. Darts online after apparently leaving the scene in anger.
Phil “The Power” Taylor has opened up about his “nightmare” battle with arthritis as he looks to end his glittering career on a high note.
Taylor has announced he will retire from professional darts at the end of the 2024 World Senior Darts Tour
“It’s horrible when you’re up there and people are cheering for you. The crowd came back and was really loud, the atmosphere was fantastic during my match.
“It was great to be a part of it. But losing was terrible. I hated going out like that.
The darts legend added that he hopes to improve his form in order to end his glittering career on a high note.
“I won’t go out like that. I’m desperate now to start playing properly,” Taylor added.
He is the most decorated player to ever play the sport, having won a record 85 major titles, including six Premier League Darts titles as well as 16 Matchplay World Championships.
But as he struggles to bow out, the 63-year-old has revealed the toll arthritis took on his body.
“I do everything I can. Because I have arthritis in my hip, I can’t turn right, so I don’t throw straight. I don’t know why, my darts exceed by five.
“I had to sit down and think about it. So hopefully next month I can lose a little more weight and get rid of this pain. It’s a nightmare. It’s seven days a week and 24 hours a day. Even if you turn over in bed at night, you’re in pain.
In an interview with Mail Sport in 2017, the darts legend humbly rated his trophy-laden career at just seven out of 10.
There are eight events remaining on the World Senior Darts Tour schedule, with the tour finishing its season at the Crucible Club in Newbury in November.
Taylor will continue to work as a global ambassador for the senior tour after his retirement, but said in 2023 that he made the decision to retire from the tour a few years ago.
“I enjoyed the senior circuit but I’m just disappointed I didn’t win anything,” Taylor said.
The 16-time world champion will be the most successful player in the history of the sport.
Taylor revealed in 2023 that he made the decision to walk away from darts several years ago
“I decided to move away a few years ago to be honest. I was losing matches and watching these people buy tickets to come see you.
“It’s heartbreaking for me not to play. I can not do it. If I play this year, then great, but if I can’t, then goodbye.
“It will be like a farewell tour and I would love to win the last one. If I don’t win any, the last one will be enough for me.
“I had some great memories and sometimes when you look back you don’t even realize you were there.
“You look at some of the younger players these days and ask yourself ‘how could you beat these players?’ But I would have found a way to beat them.