MICHAEL VAN GERWEN told Phil Taylor "you were lucky I wasn’t born ten years earlier" as darts legends came together to mark 30 years of the PDC.
All 11 winners of the professional World Championship attended a celebration at the Leicester Square Theatre.
And while 16-time world champion Taylor was the headline act, Van Gerwen couldn’t resist ribbing The Power about their rivalry.
The Dutchman said: “Phil’s so lucky I wasn’t born early!”
Van Gerwen, 34, who claims to live rent-free in Taylor’s head, added: “Phil has always been scared of me anyway. He doesn’t want to tell anyone.
“In every interview, they ask him questions. What is your favourite meal, Phil? ‘Yeah, Michael, Michael, Michael’.
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“Phil, where did you go on holiday? ‘Yeah, Michael, Michael, Michael’. Always.”
MVG and Taylor met three times at world level and the Stoke thrower won each time, most notably 7-4 in the 2013 final at Ally Pally.
Mighty Mike, a three-time world champion, said: “I had chances to beat him. It’s annoying. It’s probably my biggest regret at the world championship.
“Because I played him three times and should have won two of those games. I didn’t do it.
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“You can only blame yourself for that. That’s probably my biggest mistake I made at the world championships.
“You have to stay truthful to yourself or you will never be a better player. If you want to compete with the big boys and if you want give it to them, you have to perform.
“Deep inside his heart, Phil knows I was the one who made it really difficult for him in loads of games.
“But you still have to do it. I did it in loads of other tournaments but never at the world championships.”
Taylor — who retired from the PDC circuit following his 2018 final defeat by rookie Rob Cross — regaled the crowd with some colourful stories of his career.
The 63-year-old spoke about paying himself a minimum wage in the build-up to the worlds. He said: “I was a fanatical practiser. I was so dedicated.
“I paid myself £200-a-week wages so I was always skint. As if I was on the breadline.
“I could have £1million, £2m or £3m in the bank but for me I was skint.
“That was my motivation. A lion that has eaten will not fight as hard as one that is hungry.
“I had 30 houses, I was worth millions but, in my opinion, I was only worth this much.
“Whoever isn’t prepared for the world championship now, you’re a fool.
“You’re talking £500,000 for the winner. That’s life-changing money — your mortgage paid.”
Two-time champ Adrian Lewis is off the competitive circuit for mental health reasons so it was good to see him in good form — even if he is not yet planning a comeback.
Host Dan Dawson claimed a Royal Protection Officer once nearly pulled a gun on Jackpot.
And Lewis, 38, recalled: “I had just come off stage after reaching my first final in 2011.
“Prince Harry came up to me, put his arms round me.
“As people have seen me do loads of times, I kiss people.
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“On this occasion, it was Prince Harry. Then the shock hit me. Oh my God. I’ve just kissed Prince Harry.
“There was security looking at me. I’m thinking: ‘Oh s**t, here we go . . .’”
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