The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Darts legends to face off in Courier Country clashes
Retiring legend to face old rival Barneveld at the Dewar’s Centre
It is as if Lionel Messi had decided to hang up his boots, Tiger Woods put away the golf clubs or Roger Federer tidy away his tennis racket.
Phil Taylor’s retirement, announced in the run-up to last weekend’s Masters, will hit darts fans hard when it comes at the end of the year.
You would have to scour the world to find anyone who has dominated his chosen sport as the Power has done.
The Englishman has been world champion an incredible 16 times and has been the pivotal figure as darts has grown in popularity across the globe.
For those who will miss seeing him at the oche, the good news is that he is coming to a venue near you before he puts away the arrows.
Taylor will play his old rival Raymond van Barneveld, who boasts five world titles himself, in a match at the Dewar’s Centre in Perth on Saturday May 13.
The pair will also be facing up at an event at Piperdam outside Dundee the previous evening.
The gala gathering in Perth is the latest in a long line of special darts nights arranged by local men John Ramsay and Barry Leitham of Arel Promotions.
Thus far they have managed to attract stars such as Scotland’s double world champion Gary Anderson, current champ and world number one Michael van Gerwen, Adrian Lewis, James Wade, Simon Whitlock, Eric Bristow and Keith Deller. Taylor’s match against his Dutch foe will beat the lot, though.
The occasion will tie in with Perth’s bid to be the City of Culture in 2021 and the players will be competing for a specially-made Perth 2021 trophy.
Taylor is certainly looking forward to going head to head with Barney.
Mind you, the proud Englishman isn’t expecting total support from the Scots crowd. “They always like to give me stick but I just see it as a bit of friendly banter,” he said.
“I am really looking forward to this one and both Gary (Anderson) and James (Wade) told me the venue was amazing when they played in Perth in December.”
Taylor was asked about the link with the City of Culture bid and he wished Perth well, revealing he has already seen the positive impact it can have on a city.
Taylor said: “I will be great for Perth if they get it because I have seen the huge difference it has made to Hull recently.”
Mr Ramsay said: “Our last event in Dewar’s between Anderson and Wade was the biggest darting event to ever hit Perth, with over 400 in attendance.”
He added: “For the Taylor event in May, we have gotten behind the Perth 2021 City of Culture bid.
“Phil and Barney have won 21 world titles between them and we thought it was too much of an opportunity not to use it to help promote the bid for our home city.
“Both Barry and I were born and bred in Perth and if we can help to boost the campaign then we will be delighted.”
Meanwhile, the organisers have offered the winner of a competition the chance to play Taylor on the night.
The Perth pub league will go head to head with the city’s club league on February 25. The event winner will receive two complimentary tickets along with a leg against The Power.