The short version
- Phil Taylor will compete in the Modus Super Series International Pairs tournament in November, marking his first professional appearance since 2018.
- He will team up with Adrian Lewis, a former world champion who has been away from the PDC circuit since April 2023.
- The duo previously won four World Cup of Darts titles together as Team England, establishing them as the most successful pairing in that event's history.
Phil Taylor is ending his eight-year retirement from professional darts to compete in a pairs tournament this November. The six-time world champion will join forces with Adrian Lewis for the Modus Super Series International Pairs event, scheduled to take place in Portsmouth between November 23 and 28. This appearance marks a significant return for Taylor, who has not played on the main professional circuit since concluding his career in 2018.
Taylor’s decision to return is selective. He stated that he had been asked numerous times about coming out of retirement but insisted it would only happen for the right reason. According to Taylor, Lewis is one of the very few individuals he would consider playing alongside again. The Modus Super Series was identified as the specific venue where he felt comfortable making this comeback.
The partnership reunites two of the sport’s most decorated figures. Taylor, now 66, holds the record for the most major tournament wins in history with 87 titles and has won 214 professional tournaments overall between 1987 and 2018. Lewis, 41, is a two-time World Darts Champion, having secured victories in 2011 and 2012. Despite their individual successes, their head-to-head history in major finals has been one-sided, with Taylor winning all five PDC major title finals they contested.
However, their record as teammates is far more successful. The pair holds the distinction of being the most successful combination in the history of the PDC World Cup of Darts. They won the event four times during six appearances together representing Team England. This shared success appears to be a key factor in their decision to reunite for this upcoming competition.
Lewis has also been away from regular professional competition recently. He announced he was taking a break from darts in April 2023 and has not played on the PDC circuit since that time. However, he did participate in last year’s Modus International Pairs Tournament alongside Steve Beaton. His return to the sport for this event signals a renewed engagement with professional play after his extended hiatus.
Taylor has maintained some level of competitive activity during his retirement, though not on the main tour. He competed at the World Seniors Darts Championship in 2022, 2023, and 2024. These appearances kept him involved in the sport but did not constitute a return to the professional ranks he left in 2018. The upcoming pairs tournament represents his first step back into that specific arena.
Both players have expressed enthusiasm about the reunion. Lewis described the opportunity to play with Taylor again as special, citing their shared brilliant moments over the years. He noted that they understand what it takes to win as a pair and are eager to see what they can achieve together. Taylor echoed this sentiment, highlighting their deep familiarity with each other’s games and their extensive history.
The event will test whether their past synergy translates to success in this new format and after such a long absence from regular competition. While their individual records are formidable, the challenge lies in combining their skills effectively after years of separation from the professional circuit. The tournament offers a unique glimpse into how these legends perform when reunited under competitive pressure.
This return does not signal a full-time comeback for either player. Taylor’s statement emphasized the specific nature of this engagement, limiting his return to this particular series and partnership. Lewis similarly has not indicated a permanent return to the PDC tour. The focus remains on this single event in Portsmouth, serving as a special occasion rather than a restart of their professional careers.
Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how both players adapt to the current style of play. Darts has evolved significantly since Taylor’s last major title win and Lewis’s last PDC appearance. Their ability to adjust to modern techniques and competition levels will be a key point of interest during the tournament in late November.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC Sport↗Taylor to come out of retirement and reunite with Lewis
