Eric Bristow Slates Old Rival Phil Taylor
Darts legend Eric Bristow has laid into his old rival at the oche Phil Taylor, saying the multiple record holding world title winner is Û÷brain-deadÛª.
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The former world champion said, speaking exclusively to 888sport.com: ÛÏPhil Taylor has always had a weakness with his counting because heÛªs brain-dead. He keeps leaving 162s and 163s which didnÛªt matter ten years ago because he was that much better than everybody else. HeÛªd just leave a double and get it. But heÛªs always done that. HeÛªs never been the best counter in the world.Û
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The man they call Û÷The Crafty CockneyÛª admitted thereÛªs no real animosity, but the two arenÛªt friends and he has an interesting explanation as to why that might beÛ_
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He added: ÛÏWe just say hello and thatÛªs it. ThereÛªs no animosity between us. HeÛªs got his own friends and IÛªve got my own friends. I only see him at the tournaments and you donÛªt get much of a chance because when they come in theyÛªve got a job to do.
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ÛÏHeÛªs not a smoker see. If he was weÛªd talk a lot more. All the guys I talk to are the smokers and IÛªm always outside with Gary Anderson and Wade and we get on great.
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ÛÏI donÛªt think it was much of the falling out. I just said what I felt, thatÛªs all, and he took it the wrong way. We always fell out anyway so thereÛªs no big deal. He lives his own life.Û
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The PDC World Championships got underway this week, and Taylor will be looking to avenge his final defeat to Gary Anderson last year by making it a 15th world title at Alexandra Palace.
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But Bristow wonÛªt be backing the man from Stoke, and instead thinks young Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen will be taking the glory, and adding to the title he won in 2014.
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He said: ÛÏThey are all going to play well but the top man at the moment is Michael Van Gerwin. HeÛªs going to take some beating over the next eight to ten years this young lad if he keeps the hunger going. HeÛªs like me really in that heÛªs played the game since he was 10 or 11 and he loves the game.
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ÛÏIf he wants to keep winning then thereÛªs no reason why not. HeÛªs got the hunger, doesnÛªt bottle it, and does the right things at the right time. If he needs to break a leg he does it because heÛªs got big balls.Û
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Read the full and frank interview ÛÒ including BristowÛªs thoughts on Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson ÛÒ here.åÊ