He is the best player on television ever, by a long distance

Current world number one Alan Warriner

The Crafty Cockney is credited with harnessing The Power

Taylor, born in Stoke-on-Trent, was first discovered by former world champion Eric 'The Crafty Cockney' Bristow.

He quickly won the World Masters in 1990 but truly broke into the limelight when he beat his mentor for his first world title, the Embassy world darts championship at Frimley Green in 1990.

Two years later he was crowned world champion again in a classic clash with Mike Gregory.

Taylor finally clinched the title in the sudden death leg of the last set in a final that is widely rated as the best match ever.

Unbeatable

Behind the scenes the world of darts was in turmoil and eventually split into rival factions.

Taylor joined the Professional Darts Corporation but his touch left him when he lost the inaugural PDC world title against his friend Dennis Priestley at Purfleet in 1994.

But despite struggling in non-televised open meetings over the years, Taylor has been unbeatable on the world stage since 1995, winning the last eight successive world titles, surpassing Bristow's five world crowns.

Taylor is an unassuming family man with four children but his demeanour on the oche belies a burning ambition to be the best.

Phil Taylor is ultra-competitive

His lethal finishing and competitive drive have raised the bar in world darts to unbelievable levels. He is also a great ambassador for the game, playing exhibitions all over the world.

But his image away from the oche was tarnished earlier this year when he was found guilty of indecently assaulting two 23-year-old women after a darts exhibition in Fife, Scotland. Taylor denied the charges.

Taylor insists it will be twice as difficult to win again next year with the pressure on him mounting.

But he vows to dedicate his year to peaking at the right time.

And he claims he will be even more difficult to beat in 12 months time.