Michael van Gerwen claims he floored Phil Taylor in backstage clash amid rivalry

31 December 2023 , 14:02

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Michael van Gerwen claims he floored Phil Taylor in backstage clash amid rivalry

Phil Taylor might be regarded as the greatest darts players of all time but 'The Power' came out second best when things got physical with Michael van Gerwen.

That's according to MVG himself anyway, who was regaled the story of how he once floored the 16-time world champion in a backstage altercation. His claim dates back years to the Grand Slam of Darts, then held at the Civic Centre in Wolverhampton.

Taylor, the most recognisable face in his sport, has shared friendships with a number of sporting icons, not least of all Ricky Hatton. And it was the now 63-year-old boasting about his links with the legendary boxing that prompted the Dutchman to see red.

“At the old venue, Phil came backstage and he was talking about his friend Ricky Hatton, blah, blah, blah," Van Gerwen, 34, told the Sun. “He was doing these little boxing moves. Shadow boxing. He came up to every player. But I didn’t know what he was doing. I took him and before I knew it, he was on the floor next to me. That’s how it happened."

And the three-time world champion admitted neither man was sure how to react to the incident: "I thought, ‘What did I do?’ He was like, ‘What happened here?’."

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Now able to laugh about the notion that he "threw big Phil Taylor on the floor," Van Gerwen insisted the exchange did not affect their relationship away from the oche. "It was quite funny. I was more shocked," he added.

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Phil Taylor celebrates as Michael van Gerwen looks on during the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship Final at Alexandra Palace (PA)

Only once did the two rivals meet on the biggest stage of them all at the Ally Pally, in the 2013 world final. It was Taylor who prevailed 7-4 that night, winning what would prove to be his 16th and final world crown.

Van Gerwen's ongoing quest to win his fourth world title is currently in good shape, with the 'green machine' through into the quarter finals in London. On Monday, he'll face world No.52 Scott Taylor in a clash he's widely expected to win with room to spare.

But for once, it's not been the Dutchman dominating the hype. Instead, 16-year-old Luke Littler has provided the story of the tournament, hammering another former champion in Raymond van Barneveld on Saturday night to book his own place in the last eight.

Fraser Watson