Phil Taylor will be remembered alongside Britain's best sportspeople, says Wayne Mardle

"Dennis Priestley, John Part, Rod Harrington, Peter Manley, Colin Lloyd were all world No 1s but he saw them off."

Wayne Mardle

Darts Expert & Columnist @Wayne501Mardle

Tuesday 2 January 2018 16:06, UK

Wayne Mardle pays tribute to Phil 'The Power' Taylor, whose legendary career ended by losing the World Championship final to Rob Cross.

Phil will be remembered as the most successful darts player ever, and maybe as one of the most successful British sportsmen ever (which I think he should be). The way he has conducted himself over the years has been unbelievable - the players he has seen off, generation after generation.

He saw me off - it only took him a week, mind you.

Dennis Priestley, John Part, Rod Harrington, Peter Manley, Colin Lloyd were all world No 1s but he saw them off. Nowadays it's tougher. He's 57 years of age trying to deal with an aggressive 27-year-old.

Michael van Gerwen has had his say on Phil reaching the end of his tether because Michael has dished out some beatings.

Phil said on stage [after losing to Cross]: 'I got beaten by the better, younger man'. It seems like he has run out of fight but his legacy will live on forever.

He has left the game in a brilliant state with brilliant players. Maybe darts wouldn't be in such great shape if Phil had never picked up a dart. We owe him a lot.

Rob has been likened to Phil a couple of times during this World Championship. It's his workmanlike approach, his non-celebratory style. He gives the odd cocky wink, but that's it. Phil was never a celebrator of winning sets or legs. He would let the opponent know with a look, or a head nod. They don't expend too much energy, and Rob is of that ilk.

Rob copes well with pressure, he's got a good action, an aggressive action. That makes him dangerous and consistent. Once you get a player like that, just like Phil does, you can't rely on them [missing]. You know you have to improve to beat them. I think that's what beat Phil, in the end.

Phil got to a point [where he thought]: "This fella is not going to wilt, he is not going to buckle, I am going to have to improve." But he didn't have the gears that we have seen over the decades.

We haven't seen Phil beaten like that since 1994 when he was annihilated by Dennis Priestley 6-1 in the World Championship final. We're talking 24 years for it to happen again, that's how good Rob Cross is.

Twelve months ago he was an amateur and an electrician, and now he's the world champ. He destroyed Phil Taylor from the first leg when he hit a double with his first dart. He settled, which unsettled Phil who just couldn't get into the match.

We are used to seeing Phil over three decades bully people. They wilt, they falter. Rob was having none of it - he was relentless. It was a performance you would expect from someone who has played in four, five, six World Championships. But he was one of 20 debutants! It was improbable.

The 2018 Premier League is the next major darting event on Sky Sports, running from February to May. Dublin's hugely popular 3Arena will open the 2018 season on Thursday, February 1 from 7pm on Sky Sports Action with the season concluding at the Play-Offs on May 17 at The O2 in London.

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