Sixteen-time world darts champion Phil Taylor is set to come out of retirement eight years after stepping away from the professional circuit. He will reunite with fellow former world champion Adrian Lewis for the Modus Super Series’ International Pairs tournament in November, according to the BBC. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Portsmouth from 23 to 28 November.
A Legendary Pairing Returns
Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, 66, is widely recognised as the most-decorated player in the history of darts. During his illustrious career, he won 214 professional tournaments and a record 87 major tournaments between 1987 and 2018. His partner, 41-year-old Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis, secured the World Darts Championship title in both 2011 and 2012.
The duo share a significant history, having previously teamed up to win the PDC’s World Cup of Darts four times as Team England, making them the most successful pairing in the event’s history. They also faced each other in five Professional Darts Corporation major title finals, all of which were won by Taylor.
Lewis had not played professionally on the PDC circuit since April 2023, having announced a break from the sport, although he did feature in Modus’ International Pairs Tournament last year alongside Steve Beaton.
Taylor’s Reasons for Comeback
Taylor indicated that the opportunity to play alongside Lewis was a key factor in his decision to return. He stated, “I’ve been asked plenty of times about coming back, but it would have to be for the right reason. Adrian is one of the very few people I’d come out of retirement to play alongside, and the Modus Super Series is the place I wanted to do it.” He added, “We’ve got a lot of history together, we know each other’s games inside out and I’m looking forward to getting back up there with him.”
While this marks his return to competitive action, Sky Sports reports that this comeback is unlikely to be a permanent one. Taylor has recently undergone a successful hip replacement. Although he retired from the competitive circuit in 2018, he did participate in the World Seniors Darts Championship in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Lewis also expressed his excitement about the reunion: “Phil and I have shared some brilliant moments playing together over the years, so to get the chance to do it again is really special. We know what it takes to win as a pair and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do together.”
Tournament Details
The Modus Super Series is not an official PDC event. The full entry list for the International Pairs tournament is expected to be revealed on October 10.
