FOLLOW THE VAN

Phil the Powerhouse of darts picks his king of the Palace and reveals: MVG is still the one who can find extra gear

-  MIKE WALTERS

PHIL TAYLOR ruled the oche for longer than Sir Alex Ferguson Iran the show at Manchester United.

In sport's pantheon of iconic champions, only Lester Piggott whose nine Derby winners spanned 29 years between 1954 and 1983 enjoyed greater longevity at the top.

So when Taylor tips Michael van Gerwen to win the 2024 Paddy Power PDC Darts World Championship, which begins at Alexandra Palace on Friday night, he is in an invincible place to shout the odds.

The Power, whose astonishing stockpile of 16 world titles between 1990 and 2013 will never be beaten, believes MVG will be the man to beat this year despite bookies making in-form Luke Humphries (below, top), who won the last three TV Majors, their favourite.

Taylor, 63 and preparing for his last season on the Seniors circuit before retiring from all competitive darts, said: "The man to beat is the one you're always most pleased to see getting knocked out.