Born in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent to Douglas and Elizabeth Taylor, he left school at the age of 16 and quickly entered work at JF Sale and Co. in Burslem. Between jobs there were moments of unemployment, but Phil indulged in his favourite hobby - darts. It was his playing in the pubs of Stoke-on-Trent that brought him to the attention of Eric Bristow, one of the most popular and well known figures in the game in the 1980s. Bristow decided to sponsor Phil to the tune of £10,000 on the condition that it had to be repaid. With this money Phil could practice and enter low-level tournaments. His rise to the top from this moment was nothing short of meteoric.
After winning the 1990 Canadian Open, irony won through when Phil beat his mentor Bristow in the Embassy World Final 6-1. Taylor's odds where 125-1 at the beginning of the tournament. In the same year Phil became world number 1.
Since then Phil has won numerous world titles, including the 1992 classic encounter against an excellent Mike Gregory and the 2002 troucing of John Part when he averaged 107 in scoring and 72.5% checkout rate - one of the best performances ever seen. In 1999, a TV special darts contest was held between him and the number 1 player from the Embassy rankings - Raymond van Barneveld. Phil won comfortably.
There have been a couple of setbacks though, his 1994 defeat to Dennis Priestley and the 2003 defeat against arch-rival John Part prove that he is human and that there are always threats to his dominance. The ever modest Phil is always the first to admit this.
Outside Darts
Phil is a family man and has four children - Lisa, Chris, Kelly and Natalie - to wife Yvonne. His popularity among darts fan had led to increasing business oppurtunities - such as writing his autobiography (with OTT SKY TV darts commentator Sid Waddell), and appearances on TV such as The Frank Skinner Show where he dressed up in drag and sung alongside former 'Hear Say' singer Mylene Klass.
He is also a huge fan of Port Vale F.C
World Championship Results