I’m a 16-time darts world champ with 30 houses worth millions but I deliberately underpaid myself so I was always skint
IT WAS a unique evening in London’s Theatreland where oche wounds were reopened, some old scores were settled and plenty of egos were bruised.
On Monday – for one night only – all 11 winners of the PDC World Darts Championship were brought together in the same room.
The Leicester Square Theatre hosted a special occasion as champions past and present – some now with greyer hair and expanded waistlines – assembled for the event’s 30th anniversary.
Death, illness, geography and other work commitments might prevent them all coming together for a trip down memory lane for the 40th-year celebrations in 2033.
As the sixteen-time world champion, Phil Taylor was the headline act and like he once dominated the stage, he did so again this time, hogging the microphone and conversation.
Taylor – who retired from the PDC circuit following his 2018 final defeat to rookie Rob Cross – regaled the crowd with some varied and colourful stories of his career.
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There were times, he says, he purposefully paid himself a minimum wage despite having millions in the bank as part of his Worlds build-up routine.
The 63-year-old said: “I was a fanatical practiser. I was so dedicated.
“I paid myself £200-a-week wages so I was always skint. As if I was always on the breadline.
“I could have £1million, £2m or £3m in the bank but for me I was skint. That was my motivation.
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“Be hungry. A lion that has eaten will not fight as hard as one that is hungry.
“I had 30 houses, I was worth millions, but in my opinion, I was only worth this much.
“Whoever isn’t prepared for the world championship now, you’re a fool. You’re talking £500,000 for the winner. That’s life-changing money. That’s your mortgage paid.”
But Michael van Gerwen, renowned for his p***taking in the practice room, could not wait to rib the Power about their overlapping rivalry.
To an audience of about 400, the Dutchman, 34, roared: “Phil’s so lucky I wasn’t born early!”
In Van Gerwen’s opinion, he lives rent-free in Taylor’s head, adding: “Phil has always been scared of me anyway. He doesn’t want to tell anyone.
“In every interview, they ask him questions. What is your favourite meal, Phil? ‘Yeah, Michael, Michael, Michael.’
“Phil, where did you go on holiday? ‘Yeah, Michael, Michael, Michael.’ Always.”
MVG and Taylor met three times at world level and the Stoke thrower won all of those games, most notably 7-4 in the 2013 final at Ally Pally.
Mighty Mike, a three-time world champion, said: “I had chances to beat him. It’s annoying.
“It’s probably my biggest regret at the world championship. Because I played him three times and I should have won two of those games. I didn’t do it.
“You can only blame yourself for that. That’s probably my biggest mistake I made at the world championships.
“You have to stay truthful to yourself or you will never be a better player.
“If you want to compete with the big boys and if you want give it to them, you have to perform.
“I know that deep inside his heart, Phil knows I was the one who made it really difficult for him in loads of games. He knows that.
“But you still have to do it. I did it in loads of other tournaments but never at the world championships and that’s something what I cannot anymore.”
One of the highlights of the night was seeing two-time champ Adrian Lewis in good form, even though he is off the competitive circuit for mental health reasons and has no plans yet for a comeback.
A story was told which, according to host Dan Dawson, once saw a Royal Protection Officer nearly pull a gun on Jackpot.
Lewis, 38, recalled: “I’d just come off stage after reaching my first final in 2011.
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“Prince Harry came up to me, put his arms round me. As I normally do, as people have seen me do loads of times, I kiss people.
“On this occasion, it was Prince Harry. Then the shock hit me. Oh my God. I’ve just kissed. Prince Harry. There was security looking at me. I’m thinking: ‘Oh s***, here we go…’”