Phil Taylor SHOCK retirement U-turn? Barry Hearn responds to suggestion he won't RETIRE
PDC chairman Barry Hearn has confirmed Phil Taylor will never play professional darts again.
Phil Taylor will retire after the PDC World Darts Championship
Taylor, 57, announced in January 2017 that he would retire after the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship.
He has since reached the final - giving him a shot at a 17th world title - and there had been talk that The Power could make a shock U-turn to play on.
Hearn was asked by one fan on Twitter whether there would be a possibility that that would be allowed to happen.
Jason Maher asked Hearn: "If Taylor wins the final would he be allowed back in a years time to defend it if he wanted?"
Hearn responded to confirm that would not happen, replying: "No. He has relinquished his membership."
Taylor meets Rob Cross in the Alexandra Palace final, who 12 months ago was watching from home having not qualified for the tournament.
Asked ahead of the match how he would describe Taylor, Cross said: ""One word - legend.
"Don't get me wrong, It's Phil Taylor's last year and it's going to be the first time I play him.
"He's truly amazing for what he's done for the sport but I've got to be right at the same time and I've got a match to win.
"It's going to be hard to separate the two but it's got to happen that way."
Phil Taylor retires at the age of 57
TAYLOR v CROSS - Tale of the tape
PHIL TAYLOR
Age: 57
Born: Burslem.
Nickname: The Power.
Walk-on music: The Power by Snap!
Former job: Maker of ceramic toilet roll handles.
World ranking: 6.
Career prize earnings: £7.1m (not including World Championship).
World titles: 16.
Major career titles: 83
ROB CROSS
Age: 27
Born: Pembury.
Nickname: Voltage.
Walk-on music: Hot, Hot, Hot by Arrow.
Former job: Electrician.
World ranking: 20.
Career prize earnings: £211,250 (not including World Championship).
World titles: This is his debut.
Major career titles: 0