• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Phil Taylor revealed 'heartbreaking' reason why he's no longer playing darts amid official retirement

Home> Darts

Published 15:35 22 May 2025 GMT+1

Phil Taylor revealed 'heartbreaking' reason why he's no longer playing darts amid official retirement

Taylor has called time on playing darts at the age of 64.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

Phil Taylor has revealed the 'heartbreaking' reason why he can no longer play darts amid his official retirement from the sport.

Taylor is the most successful player in the history of the sport, winning a record-breaking 16 world championship titles between 1990 and 2016.

'The Power' won a staggering 214 professional tournaments over his career across spells in the BDO and PDC.

Advert

And it was perhaps fitting that his final match as a pro was the 2018 World Darts Championship final, when Taylor was 57.

After stepping away from the PDC following that 7-2 defeat to Rob Cross, Taylor continued to play in exhibitions and World Seniors events, but stepped back from the sport last summer in order to undergo hip replacement surgery.

Taylor told SPORTbible in February that he was no longer playing darts, and he even no longer had a set of darts in his home.

Advert

And earlier this week, 'The Power' officially announced that he had retired from competitive darts.

In a statement, he wrote: "As one chapter closes, another one opens. This transition opens up new opportunities for me to explore and engage with the sport in different ways.

"I look forward to meeting fans old and new around the country and I will continue to update the website with future announcements. Please stay tuned for upcoming events, appearances and projects that I am excited to undertake."

Advert

His announcement was not a significant shock to darts fans, given Taylor's age and comments he had made to Online Darts about his health during his last 12 months of playing,

He explained: "The worst pain I ever had was in the last 12 months. it has been a nightmare, honestly.

"Playing wise, I was okay. But when you've been practicing for a few hours and then you play the game, you get a really bad ache in your hip.

"It's like having toothache, it drives you crackers. I couldn't carry on anymore, it was too hard for me.

Advert

"It breaks your heart, don't get me wrong. But it was time."

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Darts, World Darts Championship

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 days ago
14 days ago
16 days ago
17 days ago
  • 9 days ago

    Rob Cross finally speaks out on five-year ban as director over £450,000 tax debt ahead of US Darts Masters defence

    Cross has spoken at length about his ban and the two-year-long process that led to it.

    Darts
  • 14 days ago

    Luke Littler hits back at darts player who taunted him after World Cup of Darts defeat

    It comes after he responded to Dennis Priestley's claims.

    Darts
  • 16 days ago

    Luke Humphries hits back at darts legend who said he and Luke Littler 'don't deserve MBEs' over World Cup exit

    Humphries has followed Littler in responding to the former world champion.

    Darts
  • 17 days ago

    Luke Littler fires brutal dig at darts legend who claimed he 'doesn't deserve MBE' after World Cup failure

    Two-time world champion Dennis Priestley claimed Littler and Luke Humphries 'hadn't done enough' to earn MBEs.

    Darts
  • Phil Taylor reveals 'heartbreaking' reason why he's no longer playing darts
  • Phil Taylor names the three legendary players that would have been perfect for Premier League Darts
  • First darts player to beat Luke Littler in the PDC is now no longer tour card holder amid major lifestyle change
  • Phil Taylor was in no doubt when predicting winner of World Darts Championship final between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen