PDC World Darts Championship
Venue: Alexandra Palace, London Dates: 16 December-3 January
Coverage: Live on Sky Sports, reports and results on BBC Sport website
 Phil Taylor has now turned 50 but is still targeting 20 world darts titles |
Phil Taylor says last month's defeats in the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Cup will spur him on as he aims to retain his World Championship crown. Despite being favourite to win a 16th world title going into this Thursday's event, Taylor's form has been patchy. "Losing has set me up for next year," Taylor told BBC Radio Stoke. "It's made me focus on winning my titles back. "It does me good to lose sometimes because it pushes me on. The hardest part is to keep dedicated." Taylor will begin the defence of his Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship title at Alexandra Palace against either Gary Mawson of the United States or Juanito Gionzon from the Philippines. But he admits there are plenty of players good enough to prevent him defending his crown. "I think [third seed] Raymond van Barneveld will do well again," he said, "as will [second seed] James Wade and [fourth seed] Simon Whitlock."  | We've always had that element of snobbery towards us and always will. People tend to look down their nose at us |
While 'The Power' concentrates on North London this week, he will head back to the Midlands on Sunday for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in Birmingham. The 50-year-old from Stoke is again on the short-list - the second time he has been nominated. "I'm over the moon," he told BBC Radio Stoke. "I think I'm more excited about it than the World Championship. It's a big pat on the back for me, I'm really pleased. It's a big honour." Taylor believes his recognition from the BBC has been a 'shot in the arm' for the sport of darts. | 606: DEBATE |
"We've always had that element of snobbery towards us and always will do," he said. "People tend to look down their nose at us. "But people now are getting more and more professional. They've had to change, we've had to go ultra-professional now." Taylor is currently third favourite to win the Sports Personality of the Year award behind jump jockey Tony McCoy and golfer Graeme McDowell, but he knows anything can happen in a public vote. "You never know," he said. "It all depends on how many people vote for me but, if you are in it, then I suppose you can win it." The PDC World Championship, which starts on Thursday, will have a three-day Christmas break from 24-26 December before resuming with second-round matches on 27 December. The event opens with a clash between Players Championship Finals' winner Paul Nicholson and debutant Steve Farmer. Australia's Whitlock, the 2010 runner-up, plays Steve Evans on Saturday before two-time PDC champion John Part begins his campaign on Sunday. On Monday, world number two Wade makes his entrance against Spanish debutant Antonio Alcinas, while on Wednesday 2007 PDC champion Van Barneveld begins his challenge for a sixth world championship overall against Steve Hine. The PDC split from the British Darts Organisation (BDO) in 1994 and since then both organisations have held rival world championships. The BDO event, screened by the BBC, kicks off in January.
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