The Power is Born
The 13th of August 1960 marks a significant date in the history of darts, with the birth in Stoke-on-Trent of Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor. While his later career would see him dominate the sport, his journey to becoming a 16-time world champion began with two memorable world titles captured during the BDO/Embassy era.
Taylor announced his arrival on the world stage at the 1990 Embassy World Championship. He entered the tournament as a 125-1 outsider, yet produced a stunning run to the final where he faced his own mentor, the legendary Eric Bristow. In what proved to be a comprehensive performance, Taylor defeated Bristow 6-1 to secure his maiden world title, signalling a seismic shift at the top of the sport.
He would regain the trophy two years later in one of the most dramatic finals in the history of the BDO World Darts Championship. The 1992 final pitted him against Mike Gregory in a contest that went the full distance. In a tense and captivating match, Taylor held his nerve to edge it 6-5 in a deciding leg, confirming his status as one of the era’s leading players and adding his name to the list of BDO world champions for a second time.
That victory over Gregory was notable not just for the drama, but for the sheer quality of the darts. Taylor’s average of 97.58 in the final set a new record for the BDO showpiece. It was a statistical benchmark that would remarkably stand for the entire remaining history of the tournament, right through to its final staging in 2020. These foundational BDO successes were the launchpad for a career of unprecedented dominance.
