Phil Taylor ends darts career after being forced to pull out of final tournament

Phil Taylor will not play at the World Seniors Masters, despite it being his final competitive darts tournament, after struggling to recover from hip surgery.

Taylor, nicknamed 'The Power,' won 16 World Championships as a professional before retiring in 2018 after losing in that year's final to Rob Cross. However, four years later, he returned in the World Seniors Darts Championship.

Despite hoping to end his career on a high at the oche in the World Seniors Masters this November, injury has now ended it for him. Taylor is experiencing severe pain after tearing scar tissue following his operation this summer.

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He has explained the issue to Online Darts. "I'm struggling a bit with my hip," Taylor said. "Everything was going fine, but then I just did a little too much, and apparently, I've torn my scar tissue.

"So yeah, it's a bit painful. It's been the worst pain I've ever had these last twelve months. Honestly, I'll be glad when this year is gone.

"Practicing, I've been okay, but when you've been playing for a few hours, there's this really bad pain in the hip. It's like having toothache, and it drives me crazy; it really does."

Taylor has previously revealed that this year would be his last playing competitive darts. Reflecting on his career at the time, he said: "It's been an unbelievable journey over the past 35 years, and I've loved every minute of it."

"I'll always love performing to the best of my ability, but time waits for no man, and I know now is the right time to step away from the Tour." Taylor won his first PDC World Championship title in 1995, marking the beginning of an impressive eight-year winning streak at the event.

He captured his 16th and final world championship in 2013, reaching 21 finals in 25 appearances. Taylor also won the Premier League six times as well as leading England to four World Cup victories. His trophy cabinet boasts 214 professional titles, which include a record-breaking 85 majors.

He also earned his first nomination for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2006 and came second behind AP McCoy in 2010. In addition to accumulating honours, he set several milestones, notably becoming the first player to achieve two nine-darters in one match.