Darts legend Taylor gets new 'Power' from Asian push

Darts legend Phil "The Power" Taylor has promised "never" to stop playing as he gains a new lease of life from spearheading the pub sport's ambitious push into Asia.

The 16-time world champion is at the forefront of the fast-expanding World Series of Darts, which has broken new ground this year with top players travelling to Yokohama, Perth, Sydney and Auckland.

And the 55-year-old told AFP that taking darts to new frontiers is a huge motivation ahead of the inaugural Hong Kong Darts Masters which, if successful on debut, will join the World Series next year.

"I love every minute of it. I'll never stop. Never," said Taylor.

"At my age I don't get excited much any more but I am actually excited. I've been away from home for four weeks now and I've loved every minute of it. The game's just grown and grown."

Taylor is in Hong Kong along with five-times world champion Raymond Van Barneveld, to face off against three other Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) world-ranked players and three local players in a marquee erected on the city's harbourfront on Friday and Saturday.

Organisers are hoping to sell out 1,250 tickets each night and Taylor was sure there would be great crowds in a sport renowned for raucous fans and a party atmosphere.

"Most people coming will know about darts," said Taylor, adding that he had been pleasantly surprised by the response of fans in Asia.

"We weren't too sure about Japan, but they were probably one of the best crowds we've ever had. They all got involved," said Taylor.

- Bullseye -

Hong Kong's Scott Mackenzie, who has played in three PDC world championships, agreed with Taylor.

"Darts is booming in Asia," said the 43-year-old Mackenzie, referring to the hugely popular, magnetic-tipped electronic darts games which are found across the continent.

"There are a million registered players in Japan. People in this part of the world don't just want to sit in a bar and eat and drink, they want to play games. Darts fills that niche perfectly."

In "soft-tipped" darts, players can be linked over the Internet, meaning a player in Hong Kong can have a game against someone in another country.

Taylor said it was a fantastic innovation for the sport. "I did an exhibition last night," he said. "I loved it."

"You press a button and play somebody in another bar. You're there, you're waving to them on camera. They could be in Germany, France, Thailand, wherever -- honest to God it’s brilliant.

"I did a nine-darter as well," added Taylor, referring to the minimum number darts in which a player can complete a traditional game starting on 501 and finishing on a double.

"In the early days we could never have imagined this in a million years."

Taylor has hit a record 10 nine-dart finishes in televised events, including, uniquely, two in one match against James Wade as he won the 2010 Premier League.

"I am really hoping there's a big market here for darts," said Taylor, "because I'd like to spend more time here."
Source: AFP