Ronnie O’Sullivan: Darts Hasn’t Been The Same Since Phil Taylor Retired

The Rocket missed out on winning a third title of season at the Scottish Open after a shock 4-3 loss to Gary Wilson on Wednesday night
09:53, 01 Dec 2022

Ronnie O’Sullivan reckons darts has never been the same since the great Phil Taylor called time on his extraordinary career. 

And although the Rocket tried to play down the impact on snooker when he finally packs away his cue, other leading players are in no doubt about the huge hole he will leave. 

Reigning and record seven-time world champion O’Sullivan, 46, has always put Taylor up there with sporting legends Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.

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Despite missing out on winning a third title of season at the Scottish Open after a shock 4-3 loss to Gary Wilson on Wednesday night, the world No1 and snooker’s biggest box office draw for three decades is himself often included in that bracket for his achievements and brilliance at the table. 

But in hailing Taylor, 62, who came back at the Worlds Darts Seniors this year, O’Sullivan – who still packs out venues like no one else - left the analysis of his own legacy to others. 

O’Sullivan said: “Tell Phil to get his darts back out, we miss him! I don’t watch it now that Phil is not playing, I used to watch it all the time when he was there. 

“Some people like watching anyone throw darts – and I suppose some people like to watch certain players. 

“Phil Taylor was one of those who even if you weren’t a darts fan, you would want to watch him. 

“In snooker there is a lot of good talent about, the sport is exciting, and you have a lot of young players around, who play the game in the right way. Crowds want to watch.” 

However recent UK Championship winner Mark Allen is in no doubt at the void O’Sullivan could leave – and insists World Snooker Tour must be ready and prepared for that day.

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The world No 5 from Northern Ireland said: “When Ronnie leaves snooker it will leave a big hole, there’s no doubt about that. 

“Some of the things he does on the table are just pure genius and you will maybe never see the likes of him again. 

“So from that angle alone the game will be left with a big hole when he goes – but he will leave eventually whether that is next year, or five years, 10 years down the line. 

“And when that happens snooker as a sport needs to be in a position where they are not struggling because one player leaves. 

“They need to be working behind the scenes to keep things good behind the scenes and promoting other players a bit more maybe, not always focusing on Ronnie. 

“I know he is the leading light and deserves what he gets, but concentrate on the others too and like that it won’t be quite as big a hole as it might be.” 

And five-time ranking-event winner and current world No8 Kyren Wilson, 30, said: “Ronnie has had a huge impact on the game. 

“For me personally every time I play him I feel I come away from the match having learned something more about my game and where it is at. 

“They are great opportunities and I embrace them, so just those matches will be a big miss whenever it happens.  

“He is hugely popular for what he has done in the game and how he has done it – on and off the table. And I don’t think we will see the likes of him ever again. 

“So we all have to make the most of him while he is here. But with how fit he keeps himself and how well he is playing, he probably feels like there is plenty left in the tank. 

“When Roger Federer retired at the O2 arena in the Laver Cup tennis, that was magical for him, and he was obviously in tears. 

“It would be very interesting to see how Ronnie would react when that day comes, I honestly don’t know what we would get.” 

O’Sullivan first threatened to quit snooker when he was barely into his 20s, and has enjoyed and often suffered a love-hate relationship with the game that has given him a millionaire’s lifestyle but also some hairy moments and even a few grey hairs. 

However working with leading sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters in 2011 not only saved his career but led to a new and in many ways better one – a spectacular renaissance that has seen him deal with his emotions far better and pile on the trophies setting many records in the process.

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