Sixteen-time world champion Phil Taylor will return to competitive action in late November, partnering with two-time world champion Adrian Lewis for a team event at the Modus Super Series in Portsmouth, England. The 66-year-old darting legend, who retired from the professional circuit in 2018 and concluded his career in tournaments for older professionals at the end of 2024, confirmed his comeback for the non-Tour-card event.
The Return of The Power in Portsmouth
Phil Taylor’s return to the oche is scheduled for late November at the Modus Super Series team competition in Portsmouth, where players without professional ProTour cards compete. Taylor will team up with fellow Englishman Adrian Lewis, recreating a partnership that won four World Cup of Darts titles for England between 2012 and 2016.
Taylor and Lewis captured four World Cup of Darts titles for England between 2012 and 2016. Speaking to streaming service Pluto.TV, which will broadcast the tournament from November 23 to 28, Taylor explained the motivation behind unretiring.
“I was asked many times if I would ever return. If I did, there had to be a special reason. Adrian is one of the few people I would unpack my darts for again,” Taylor said.
Lewis echoed the sentiment regarding their reunion, stating that they understand the formula required to succeed as a pairing.
“We know what it takes to be successful as a duo, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together,” Lewis said.
An Unmatched Legacy in Professional Darts
Taylor’s career statistics remain the benchmark of professional darts. Between 1990 and 2013, he claimed 16 World Championships, including a run of eight consecutive world titles.
Nicknamed “The Power,” Taylor amassed over 200 tournament victories and 87 major titles throughout his dominance. He stepped away from the main tour following his defeat to Rob Cross in the 2018 World Championship final. He subsequently played in senior events for older professionals before officially ending that chapter of his career at the close of 2024.
“I have won more than anyone else,” Taylor said in an Instagram video announcing his return.
Physical Transformation and Daily Practice Routine
Ahead of his competitive return, Taylor has undergone a notable lifestyle shift. In an interview on The Smith Brothers: Not a Podcast, Taylor detailed a daily fitness and diet regime that includes rowing, treadmill walking, and a transition to a protein-rich chicken salad diet while remaining completely teetotal.
Taylor revealed that he has resumed practicing at the oche for roughly an hour a day, mentioning his grandson Nathan, who he said could play county. Despite stepping up his preparation for the Portsmouth event, Taylor noted that a full-time return to the modern professional circuit remains out of the question due to the grueling ranking requirements.
“No, I couldn’t be on the circuit,” Taylor told the podcast. “Like Adrian Lewis has dropped off the circuit. Just to get into the top 32 would take him two years.”
The Modus Super Series tournament featuring Taylor and Lewis will run from November 23 to 28 and will be broadcast live via Pluto.TV.
Worth a look
