The weight is over for Phil Taylor
Phil Taylor today revealed he's dropped the best part of three stones in his quest to claim a 16th world championship before it calls it a day.
Phil Taylor today revealed he's dropped the best part of three stones in his quest to claim a 16th world championship before it calls it a day.
'The Power' – the most successful darts player ever – wants to be the best on the planet at least one more time before he turns in his arrows.
And the 51-year-old, speaking from an exhibition at Wolverhampton's Rileys Sports Bar on Broad Street last night, is working harder than ever.
Taylor was in devastating form last Thursday night in taking James Wade – the second most successful PDC player in history – to the cleaners.
Wade was 6-0 down in an 8-1 defeat at the Birmingham's National Indoor Arena and Taylor – averaging 116 that night – feels better than ever.
He said: "I am 52 this year, so I can't be running about like I used to do. When I play like I can, I win, but it's all about being fit and healthy.
"I am training right and being healthy, I got myself a nutritionist at the end of January and I have knocked off roughly three stones since then.
"Because I am doing weights, as well, I am putting on muscle and I really do feel great.
"I did it all with darts in mind, I want to see if I can improve myself over the three or four years I have got left.
"But, most of all, I want to be fit and healthy when I retire and I have done it wrong for years. Everything is perfect this time.
"I have been written off more times than Sylvester Stallone and, by the time of my birthday in August, I should be down to 12 and a half stone."
Taylor played eight legs against Rileys' best and came across Anthony West and Wednesfield's Ash Khayat last night - PDC Youth Tour competitors - beating both with high checkouts.
It's coming up for 25 years since Taylor first started shining on the county scene to become the sport's legend and he admits it's a bigger ask now.
He said: "Good on them, it's tough. That's the challenge for these young lads. No one gets an easy game anymore.
"All I can say is, when I was their age, I used to just set myself a target and go all out for it.
"Keep setting targets and keep setting new ones, keep pushing for higher things all of the time."
