Phil Taylor on Eric Bristow's words that broke his heart.

Phil Taylor's Openness About Eric Bristow

According to The Sun: Phil Taylor shared an emotional moment with Eric Bristow that 'broke' his heart.

At 65, Taylor received casual support from Eric Bristow early in his career. He became a 16-time world champion, surpassing Bristow's record of five titles.

But the emotional pain Taylor felt was not during competitions, but in a conversation with Bristow. He shared that his idol, as his career was coming to an end, said to him: “You know I’m no longer able?”

“And he shouted: ‘Phil, come here for a second.’ He said, ‘Do you see all these people here?’ I replied: ‘Yes?’ He said, ‘They are talking to me.’ And I asked, ‘What's wrong with that?’ “He said, ‘They never talked to me when I was number one in the world.’ He said, ‘You know what that means, right?’ I replied: ‘What?’ “He said, ‘I am no longer good.’ And it broke me, saddened me, you know? It kind of broke my heart. I said: ‘Don’t be silly.’

Bristow was one of the most recognizable darts players in the 1980s. He won the World Championship in 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, and 1986. Sadly, he passed away in 2018 after a heart attack during the Premier League in Liverpool.

In addition, Taylor expressed some regrets about his brilliant career. Losing in the World Championship final to John Part in 2003 interrupted his record streak of eight consecutive titles.

“When I lost to John Part, when I was winning for eight years in a row, even Eric [Bristow] told me: ‘People switch off, Phil. You’re getting boring. You’re winning every year.’ And I thought: ‘Yeah, I know.’ “But it was a huge relief for me. Then all the ordinary people came up to me and said: ‘Come on, Phil, win your title back. It’s not the same without you.’ I thought, yeah, I won them back over to my side, so I can prepare for next year.”

The darts legend continues to live on in the memories of his fans.

Phil Taylor's openness about his experiences with Eric Bristow underscores the importance of support and friendship in sports. The memories of Bristow as an outstanding player and personality remain significant for darts fans, and his legacy has influenced many generations of players who follow in his footsteps.