Report: Taylor oustrips Painter

The 43-year-old Englishman had said he was going to retire after a draining week at the Purfleet championships.

But after thinking over the decision Taylor realised he could not walk away from the sport or his loyal supporters.

"I've had four or five days to think it over and the reality of not playing darts again has sunk in - and it's scary," he said.

Taylor had described his sudden-death 7-6 win over Kevin Painter as the "pinnacle" of his career.

"Darts is proving to be a young man's game and the heat on the stage in the final and the length of the matches have really taken it out on me," he had said in the immediate aftermath of the win.

But he has performed a U-turn and now has his eye on two more world titles, taking his tally to 13.

"My manager Barry Hearn has spent a lot of time talking to me and I've had hundreds of phone calls and messages begging me to change my mind," Taylor added.

"They all said I would miss it too much, how much the game is taking off again and I'd be mad to walk away from it now.

"Sid Waddell (commentator) has also been on the phone to remind me that I said I wanted to win 13 titles before I retired, so I guess I'll have to stick by that promise."