You've got The Power

Phil Taylor answers YOUR questions on everything from darts legends to Robbie Williams.

Taylor answers questions posed by skysports.com readers

skysports.com caught up with Phil Taylor ahead of the World Championship - and we let YOU ask the questions. We asked our army of readers what they wanted to know about the 15-time world champion and hundreds of you sent us your posers for The Power. From his greatest moments to his favourite music, you came up with plenty of weird and wonderful questions, so read on to find out why he once ran home for four miles after a tournament and why Robbie Williams might write a song about him. He'll be answering some more of your questions next week - and don't forget to tune in to watch him in action at the World Darts Championship, live from December 16 to January 3 on Sky Sports.

Phil, who would you prefer to play in the final: Whitlock, Barney or Wade? Philip Emo
If I could pick one it would be Barneveld because I just love playing him. I don't know what it is, but it's like the Manchester United v Liverpool match to be honest with you. There's always something special about playing Barney. It gets everyone's attention. Phil. If you could share a pint with any sportsman of all time - alive or dead - who would it be and why? Alex Brodin
Daley Thompson. I've loved him since the first time I saw him. He has dedication and everything you need to succeed. I haven't met him yet, but he did send me a birthday card for my 50th birthday, which is framed and on my wall. I'm over the moon with that because I love him to bits. Phil, if you could choose eight players past or present (you can choose yourself as one of the participants) for the Premier League of darts, who would you choose and why? Steve Thomas
Myself, Raymond van Barneveld, Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Jocky Wilson (to keep us all laughing), Dennis Priestley, big Cliff Lazarenko and Bob Anderson. That would be mine because they were mainly the people I started off with and them people have the most memories for me. Who would win it? I think I'd walk it. Hi Phil. Thanks for many great matches on Sky Sports. What do you regard as your best performance on or off television? The two nine darters in the Premier League final is mine. Brian Birchall
Definitely the final of the Premier League - but it should have been three nine-darters! I don't think I'll ever top that night - the only thing that could top that would be if I win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. You never know... Phil, you're number one in the world, but when you retire, and that's going to be a sad day in the sport of darts, who do you think will take over at the top of the rankings? Thanks, Graham Cooke
I'm not sure really. There's a few young players coming through now who are capable, but just haven't got the brain cells at the minute. If I was going to pick a player now to take over as number one I'd probably go for Simon Whitlock. But I don't think anyone will dominate like I have. Phil - Is your level better on the floor than it is on TV? As we hear so many players playing better on the floor than TV I wondered if this was the case with yourself? Jay Watson
Yes it is, because it's quieter. When we play in the Pro Tour there's no crowds in, so you can concentrate better. The others play better as well, there's players who can't play too good on TV but on the floor when it's nice and quiet they can bang them in, let me tell you. Phil. Other than your own, which of the other top players do you think has the best walk-on-music? Ronan Leech
I used to love Jamie Harvey's: "You take the high road and I'll take the low road" (The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond) because it gets all the crowd up dancing. I like Peter Manley's 'Amarillo', I think he's brill. I quite like Tony O'Shea's 'Hey Baby' as well. I've asked Rob (Robbie Williams) to write me another song. He might work on that for me - and if he does it then I'll use it like a shot. If he writes a piece of music just for me then I'll definitely use it. Phil, do you think the demise of the traditional British pub could have a long-term effect on darts? Young players might not get the opportunity to play in competitive leagues if our pubs keep closing? Darren Dixon
I don't know really. It doesn't seem to be having any effect on us at the minute. The players seem to be coming through. Pubs in general are not as busy and a lot of that's down to supermarkets selling stuff so cheap, but it isn't effecting darts too much. You need grass-roots darts, but I'm not seeing any impact on competition. Can you remember your first 180 and how did you feel when you finally got it? Arron Clements
I can! It was in my bedroom when I was about 12 years old. I kept hitting treble 60, treble 60 and then missing all the time and I remember when I hit it I started running round and round my room. I ran downstairs to tell mum and dad: 'I've hit it'. I then got a camera and took a picture of it. I remember the first tournament I won as well; it was called the Singles Merit in a league. I ran home about four miles to tell my mother and show her this little trophy. I won about eight quid, which was a lot of money then. I was about 18 and I was only on 12 quid a week! Check back next week for more from Phil Taylor as he discusses the split with the BDO and reveals some things you never knew - and might not want to know - about his fellow players.