Friday 27 January 2017 21:24, UK
After more than two decades at the top, Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor is adjusting to life as a plucky underdog. It’s a role he is learning to enjoy, as Sky Sports discovered…
It can't be easy sitting in the background while a young upstart basks in glory that was once yours. Arriving in a thunderstorm of green, the brutal and brilliant Michael van Gerwen has crushed everything in his path - including, it often seemed, the future prospects of darts' greatest and most famous player.
Taylor has had 10 years to watch the rise of Van Gerwen, the most dangerous threat to his throne, initially from afar but now from across the oche. The Dutchman has a healthy disrespect for his esteemed rival's reputation and a mercilessness about overhauling him.
[Van Gerwen] has been dominating the sport for a little bit, and people are writing that he's the best player that's ever been. That sends out a little challenge to people.
"He's been dominating the sport for a little bit, and people are writing that he's the best player that's ever been," Taylor said through gritted teeth, in a Sky Sports exclusive. "That sends out a little challenge to people."
Aged 56, Taylor has accrued 16 world titles and millions of pounds in a sport that he first entered when packed-out arenas were a pipedream. He can be brittle company, acutely aware his words carry gravitas, but Sky Sports have caught him in a reflective, optimistic mood ahead of the World Darts Championship.
There is good reason for Taylor's chest to be puffed out. He has beaten Van Gerwen three times in a row, the latest evidence that there's fight in the old dog yet.
"Career-wise there's been a lot of response to it - a hell of a lot, more than normal," he said. "Most people wanted me to beat Michael, which is weird, but I know how he feels because I used to be in that spot myself."
No longer the undisputed world No 1, the fourth-ranked Taylor can count on more support than ever as he bids for a 17th world title. When he ruled the roost, even in the early days of Van Gerwen, that wasn't always the case.
Most people wanted me to beat Michael, which is weird, but I know how he feels because I used to be in that spot myself.
The hunter or the hunted - what does Taylor prefer to be? "I'm alright with both - I'm used to both, I'm more experienced. If I'm up there, then I'm up there - but along with that comes a lot of rubbish, it's not all nicey-nicey. But when you're down, everybody wants you back up."
Perhaps the secret to a longevity that is unrivalled in world sport is Taylor's constant search for tiny advantages. He has become accustomed to speaking as the underdog but sometimes you sense it is a charade.
He beat Van Gerwen twice in two days at the Champions League of Darts, and has won four of their previous five encounters. He didn't know that statistic when it was presented to him. Do you believe him?
[Van Gerwen] is very spontaneous so he doesn't think about the game, he just gets on with it. If you make him think, you've got an advantage on him.
"Genuine darts fans who follow the stats will be aware of it - and I'm sure Michael is aware too, which is nice, know what I mean?
"He'll think about it, Michael will. He's very spontaneous so he doesn't think about the game, he just gets on with it. If you make him think, you've got an advantage on him. He's got his youth, swagger, arrogance and he's a damn good player. You have to give him doubt in the back of his mind, and that's working at the minute."
Since conducting this interview, Taylor lost in the first round of the World Grand Prix then the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam. Any suggestion that the World Championship has arrived at a tumultuous time in Taylor's life was quickly refuted.
"I've altered things again in my personal life and it's working for me," he said. "I'm practicing differently. My mind has cleared up, I feel fitter and healthier than I have since I was 20."
I've altered things again in my personal life and it's working for me. I'm practicing differently. My mind has cleared up, I feel fitter and healthier than I have since I was 20.
Does he have a special secret to beat Van Gerwen? "No, I go out to play my best. The only notes I make are to improve myself. I keep altering things.
"If you don't go in mentally right, you're going to struggle. George Foreman should have smashed Muhammad Ali but he didn't. It's all about mind-set."
Van Gerwen should have smashed Taylor but he didn't. The parallels to The Rumble in the Jungle are there. The veteran champion, the greatest of all time, still has some Power.
Watch the World Darts Championship, live on Sky Sports, from December 19-January 2. Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
