Eric Bristow backs Phil Taylor to add to world title

Wednesday, January 2, 2013
9:55 AM

Eric Bristow watched Phil Taylor produce a stunning fightback to land a 16th world darts title and predicted it will not be the last for the Stoke thrower.

Taylor beat Dutchman Michael van Gerwen in a high-quality Ladbrokes World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London last night, battling from 4-2 behind to win 7-4.

It earned 52-year-old Taylor a cheque for £200,000 plus the new Sid Waddell Trophy, named after the late commentator.

Bristow, who dominated darts in the 1980s, helped Taylor financially in the early stages of his career, and has seen the Stoke man develop into the sport’s greatest player.

Bristow cannot see Taylor remaining dominant for years to come, but he expects the latest victory will not be the last world title he takes, even if Van Gerwen is threatening to topple him.

“He won’t get to 20 but there most likely will be another one in him,” Bristow said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“He is getting on a bit now. And Michael van Gerwen is going to win a few, he’s a brilliant darts player, he’s the best of the rest of the bunch.

“It was great for darts. I think we have seen the newcomer coming through, who’s going to take over from Phil, but not yet.”

Bristow puts Taylor’s success down to intense practice.

“He’s just superb, he’s very dedicated. He puts a lot of time into his sport,” Bristow said.

“He plays four, five, six hours a day, even now, 30 years on.

“It was a great final, both of them played superbly.”

Waddell, known as the voice of darts, died in August after a battle with cancer, and his name was chanted by the crowd during the final.

“That was lovely,” Bristow said.

“Phil went out there to win the title. Obviously he wanted to win the first ever Sid Waddell trophy, but once you’re up on that stage you’re playing the game.

“Now he’s got the trophy and it’s got Sid Waddell’s name on it, he’ll be over the moon about that.”