'Darts was always labelled an old man’s sport... It’s remarkable how it’s completely swung around' - Phil Taylor sees rising prize money change sport

The PDC recently announced a major shake-up in prize money across its tournaments, with a record-breaking £25 million now on offer in total. Most eye-catching of all is the news that the winner of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship will walk away with a staggering £1 million — double the amount Luke Littler received for his historic victory earlier this year.

One man well placed to comment on the sport’s growth is Phil Taylor. ‘The Power’ dominated darts throughout the 1990s and 2000s, winning 16 world titles (14 in the PDC, two in the BDO), 16 World Matchplay trophies, and every other major multiple times. Though he recently confirmed his full retirement from darts — including exhibition events — Taylor still follows the game closely.

Speaking about the dramatic increase in prize money with Online Darts, Taylor was full of praise: “The prize money has gone up ever since we first started. The first time me and Dennis [Priestley] played, it was £10,000 and £15,000. Now it’s a million — and probably half a million for the runner-up — so it’s great. Wow," says Taylor. "I think Barry [Hearn] will keep pushing forward, and he’ll get more and more youngsters practicing. Because it is a sport that anybody can do — you haven’t got to be a Linford Christie or a Daley Thompson to play darts. You can do it at any size.”

Taylor also reflected on how the image of the sport has changed, with a new generation of talent emerging and redefining the game’s demographic. “Darts was always labelled an old man’s sport, but now the demographic has changed. We’re seeing these young, hungry — and they are kids — 12 years old… it’s remarkable how it’s completely swung around.”

For Taylor, the benefits of darts go beyond competition, with there also possibinity to help kids learn: "I would buy them a dartboard. It’s also good for their education — it’s great for mathematics. I taught my two grandsons to play darts and their maths went poof — through the roof. So it’s great. Plus, again, it gives them something to do. They’ll be walking up and down. I know it’s not like playing football on the streets, but the world’s changed.”

At 64, Taylor may have stepped away from the oche for good — but his passion for the sport, and his belief in its future, remains as strong as ever.