Dubai: Sixteen-time world darts champion Phil Taylor will look back on his 30-year career with pride at having provided for his family when he retires in January.
“I don’t want to prove anything, I never have,” said the Englishman on the sidelines of his last appearance in Dubai at the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters this week where he was knocked out in the first round by eventual winner Gary Anderson.
“My whole career hasn’t been about winning titles, it’s been about looking after my family and earning a living.
“As a father you go out to make sure your children are fed and looked after. It hasn’t always worked for me to be honest, I’ve earned all this money but it hasn’t given the children the best life, even though you’re secure with money, money isn’t everything,” said the receiver of over £7 million (Dh33 million) in career prize-money.
“I was earning pennies at the beginning of my career, £15 at little tournaments but then it went crazy and Sky turned it into a big sport by being flamboyant and innovative. They wanted it to be like wrestling and that’s what they did and it’s just grown and grown,” added Taylor, who became the first darts player to win over a million a season.
Asked why he was retiring, he replied: “I’ve been under pressure and travelling week-in-week-out with darts for the past 30 years, and I can’t do it anymore. It’s time to sit back, relax and chill out now.
“There’s also no pressure on me now, because it’s not going to make a difference if I have 16 world titles or 17.”
