Phil Taylor ranks among the most notorious offenders for breaking wind during PDC matches, according to fellow darts star Adrian Lewis.
The two-time world champion has alleged that Taylor, known as ‘The Power’, deliberately passed gas while standing at the oche as a form of psychological warfare against his opponents.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Lewis described how his great rival would employ such tactics to throw competitors off their game.
“He would be standing there and farting on the oche doing all sorts,” Lewis said. “Oh God, he is awful for it!”
The 65-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent claims these mind games were constant and frequently occurred before packed crowds and television cameras.
Beyond the flatulence, Lewis revealed that Taylor’s repertoire of dirty tricks extended to sabotaging equipment.
The double world champion alleged that opponents would mysteriously find their darts cases had vanished during events.
Phil Taylor ranks among the most notorious offenders for breaking wind during PDC matches, according to fellow darts star Adrian Lewis
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“For instance your darts case would go missing,” Lewis added.
“It’s like hold on a minute. He would do loads of things.”
According to Lewis, these unsettling tactics were unrelenting throughout their rivalry on the professional circuit.
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The gamesmanship was not confined to private moments but played out openly in front of arena audiences numbering in the thousands and viewers watching at home on television broadcasts.
Lewis acknowledged that he lacks the mental fortitude to simply brush off such behaviour from rivals.
The Stoke-on-Trent player confessed that his temperament has not always served him well when confronted with gamesmanship.
“I do bite when I shouldn’t bite,” he admitted. “I don’t think I’ve always had as stable a mind as I should have.”
Rather than letting provocations slide, Lewis explained that he opts for immediate confrontation when opponents cross the line.
Fellow professionals on the PDC tour have questioned his approach, asking why he does not wait until after matches to raise grievances.
Adrian Lewis enjoyed his rivalry with Phil Taylor
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“But sometimes I do laugh it out,” he added, suggesting his responses vary depending on the situation.
Lewis explained his philosophy of tackling problems in the moment rather than saving confrontations for later. He sees little value in raising objections once players have left the stage.
“Listen, there’s no point telling someone later if they’re doing something wrong,” he said.
“I’m going to tell them there and then while they’re here.”
The presence of millions of television viewers does not deter him from speaking his mind during competition.
“It doesn’t matter if there are millions watching,” Lewis stated. “There’s no point waiting until I get backstage. We might as well have it out and say, ‘Listen, I don’t like it. Stop it.'”
