Phil 'The Power' Taylor reveals plan to retire from darts circuit

Heroes come and go, but legends never die.

Phil "The Power" Taylor, the most accomplished player in the history of professional darts, announced plans to retire at the end of the 2017 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) campaign.

Taylor, 56, topped Michael Smith on Friday in the Unibet Masters to advance to the quarter-finals, and after the match, he revealed his strategy for bowing out with ITV 4's Dan Dawson.

"It's the last year for me, so this will probably be my last Masters now, so at the end of the year that's me down," Taylor conceded. "And I'm looking forward to it now.

"January, that's it. No more," Taylor said about the 2018 World Championship.

Sixteen-times the World Champion, a decorated career saw Taylor, 56, win 216 professional tournaments including 84 major titles and earn PDC Player of the Year on six occasions (2006, 2008-12).

Twice nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2006 and 2010 - when he was runner-up to Northern Ireland jockey Tony McCoy - exits the circuit as the only player to hit two nine-dart finishes in one match during the 2010 Premier League final against James Wade.

(Courtesy: DartsMad)

Even in the twilight of a decorated career, Taylor flashed his trademark grin when asked about the advances of PDC chief Barry Hearn.

"The Premier League and the World Series are the ones that Barry has asked me to consider (playing in) so let's see what happens in January," Taylor conceded.