Phil Taylor plans diet after title No 15

PHIL Taylor plans to employ a nutritionist to improve his fitness and help him remain the best darts player in the world.

Taylor secured his 15th world title – and picked up a cheque for 200,000 – after outclassing unseeded Australian Simon Whitlock 7-3 in a gripping PDC World Championship final at Alexandra Palace on Sunday.

The 49-year-old was made to work hard after Whitlock secured a 2-1 lead with some fine early darts. But the defending champion fought back to take five sets in a row in a classy display, including a 170 checkout. Whitlock bravely took the ninth set but Taylor powered back to claim the title.

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Taylor has now revealed he will spend the early part of this year on his fitness and is looking forward to the challenge of losing weight. "I am going to start working with Amanda Hamilton, she's a nutritionist," he explained.

"Hopefully it works for me. I want to eat all the right products and look after myself. I'm having a gym built at the minute as well.

"Everything I can do to improve I will do so that I can prolong my career. I really, really enjoy it and the only thing to do now is to get fitter. I love new challenges. I've always lost weight but I've never done it right. I've always starved myself and not done it properly. This time I'm going to do it right."

Taylor savoured Sunday night's success, which came an incredible 20 years after his first world title. "It's everything I have ever dreamed of and practised for," he added. "I think it is one of the greatest finals. It was hard and it's absolutely brilliant. I'm so chuffed."