In the world of darts, few names command as much respect and awe as **Phil Taylor**, the legendary “The Power” who dominated the sport for decades with his unmatched precision and mental fortitude. Recently, rare footage from over two decades ago has resurfaced, capturing a moment that perfectly encapsulates Taylor’s character—not just as a fierce competitor, but as a true sportsman with a playful sense of humor.
The clip dates back to December 2004, during the PDC China Telecom Cup held in Shantou, China. This was an invitational event aimed at growing the sport in Asia, featuring top PDC stars like Taylor, John Part, Colin Lloyd, Wayne Mardle, Peter Manley, and Roland Scholten. Taylor, already a multiple-time world champion by then, was the overwhelming favorite and ultimately claimed the title, defeating Kevin Painter in the final to pocket $20,000.
But the real highlight came in the last-16 round against local Chinese player Shi Yong Sheng. In the third leg of the second set, something extraordinary unfolded that left fans in stitches when the footage went viral years later.
Taylor, sensing the lighthearted atmosphere and perhaps wanting to give the home crowd a thrill, decided to intervene during Shi’s turn at the oche. He casually tapped the Chinese player on the shoulder, stopping him mid-throw, and then walked up to the board. With a grin, Taylor proceeded to pluck Shi’s two previously thrown darts out of their lower-scoring positions and reposition them both squarely into the treble 20 bed—the highest-scoring area on the board.
The crowd erupted in cheers at this audacious move. Shi Yong Sheng, clearly stunned but amused by the unexpected “assistance,” stepped back up and threw his third dart—only to hit the single 1 bed, scoring a total of 121 for the visit. As one fan later quipped online about the moment: “Okay, I suddenly have an opportunity to hit a 180 against Phil Taylor… Nearly hits a double 1. Amazing.”
This cheeky act of “cheating” on behalf of his opponent turned what could have been a routine leg into a memorable spectacle. It wasn’t about gaining an edge—Taylor was already in complete control—but about entertaining the audience and showing goodwill toward a local player in an emerging darts market.
Fans have reacted with delight to the resurfaced clip, with comments flooding social media: “That’s actually unbelievable,” one said, while another joked, “Is that allowed in the rules ahahah, might do the opposite and put all my opponents’ darts in the 1.” Others marveled at the smaller treble beds visible in the old footage, a reminder of how the sport has evolved.
The leg itself was full of drama, featuring attempts at a nine-dart finish and even a 10-darter aimed at the bullseye, adding to the excitement. Taylor’s playful interference highlighted why he was beloved beyond his trophy cabinet: his ability to blend ruthless dominance with genuine fun.
This incident underscores Taylor’s role in promoting darts globally during its expansion phase in the early 2000s. Events like the China Telecom Cup were crucial for introducing the sport to new audiences, and moments like this helped endear the game to fans far from its traditional British stronghold.
Taylor went on to cement his legacy as the greatest ever, retiring with 16 World Championships and countless records. Yet clips like this remind us that behind the intimidating walk-on and laser-focused throws was a player who never forgot the joy of the game.
In an era where darts is more competitive and serious than ever, this hilarious throwback serves as a heartwarming nod to the sport’s lighter side—a time when the undisputed king of the oche could afford to “cheat” for his opponent, just to put a smile on everyone’s face.
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