Darts legend Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, widely considered the greatest player of all time, has revealed a surprising and emotional reason behind his decision to retire: a profound shift in the crowd atmosphere at darts events. He pinpoints the 2013 World Matchplay as the moment he realised his illustrious career was nearing its end, observing a change from dedicated fans to a more boisterous, ‘new-age’ party crowd that no longer resonated with him. This fundamental change in the sport’s environment, rather than a decline in form, was the catalyst for his departure.
The Moment of Realisation: Blackpool, 2013
Speaking on the Double Tops podcast, Phil Taylor shared a pivotal memory that foreshadowed his retirement. While he had always known retirement would come, he never expected to “just know” when the time was right. That moment arrived unexpectedly during a match at the 2013 World Matchplay against Terry Jenkins.
“I always thought the crowd at that tournament were the best around. They were real darts fans,” Taylor recalled. However, during his match with Jenkins, he looked around and felt a distinct change. “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’.”
A Shifting Spectator Landscape
Taylor elaborated on the nature of this change, describing a new kind of audience that felt alien to him. He was accustomed to a crowd deeply invested in the game, but by 2013, a different dynamic was emerging.
The ‘New-Age’ Crowd vs. Traditional Fans
- Fancy Dress and Bar Culture: Taylor noted a rise in spectators dressed in costumes, spending more time at the bar than intently watching the darts. This contrasted sharply with the traditional, focused darts fans he knew.
- A Different Vibe: The overall atmosphere shifted from one of intense sporting appreciation to a more general party environment, which he felt detracted from the seriousness and tradition of the sport.
“I wasn’t used to the sort of new-age crowd of everyone at the bar in fancy dress,” he stated, adding that he believes this trend continues, even at major events like the World Championship today.
Beyond the Oche: A Mismatch with the Modern Game
This evolving crowd behaviour wasn’t just about personal preference; it highlighted a fundamental mismatch between Taylor’s professional ethos and the direction the sport was taking. For ‘The Power’, darts was a serious competition, and the shift in audience engagement made him feel increasingly out of place.
He even suggested that this change would make it difficult for him to take on roles like a commentator in the modern era. “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.” This reflects a broader sentiment that the sport’s changing image might require a different kind of public persona, one he wasn’t comfortable adopting.
While he had a rough timeline for retirement, that year, 2013, felt particularly drawn out as he navigated this growing sense of detachment, much like “waiting to go on holiday.” His revelation offers a unique insight into the pressures and personal factors that influence even the most dominant athletes, proving that sometimes, it’s not the opponent, but the environment, that signals the end of an era.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
