Phil Taylor, one of the greatest players in darts history, has revealed that he no longer eats chips or potatoes after claiming doctors discovered he has “Mongolian blood.”
The 16-time world champion said the finding came after a series of blood tests that led him to overhaul his diet and lifestyle in retirement.
Taylor, 65, officially retired from competitive darts this year after more than four decades in the sport.
Though he ended his professional career in 2018 following defeat to Rob Cross in the World Championship final, he continued to play exhibitions and compete on the World Seniors Tour until the summer.
Since then, he has focused on improving his health and fitness after years of joint pain and surgery, including a hip replacement.
Speaking to the Metro, Taylor said that the results of his blood tests had changed the way he eats.
“My blood group is a funny blood group, mine comes from Mongolia,” he claimed.
“It must have been when the Mongolians took over the world, so I’ve got their blood group.
Phil Taylor, one of the greatest players in darts history, has revealed that he no longer eats chips or potatoes after claiming doctors discovered he has “Mongolian blood"
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"So if I eat rice, in Chinese food, I get no stomach problems at all.
"But if I eat chips and potatoes, bread, it kills my stomach and gives me heartburn.”
He added that he now takes great care to manage his diet and comfort while travelling.
“I take my own cooking stuff to hotels, I take my own mattress topper, I take my own pillow, and I got all this off different sports people,” he added.
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Phil Taylor dominated darts during his time in the sport
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Medical experts, however, have noted that there is no specific “Mongolian blood group.”
The population of Mongolia shares the same four major blood types — A, B, AB and O — found throughout the world.
Nor is there scientific evidence to suggest that people of Mongolian descent are intolerant to potatoes.
The traditional Mongolian diet is largely meat-based, though modern eating habits include rice, bread and potatoes as common staples.
Taylor’s comments come as part of his wider efforts to prioritise health after a series of physical setbacks.
“I’m trying to keep fit a bit more now,” he said.
“I had a new hip and the surgeon told me, ‘Phil, keep your legs strong because if you fall and break your hip in your 60s, you’re in trouble.’
Phil Taylor won his last world titles at the age of 52 | GETTY“So I do cycling, and I’m with one of my best mates Bobbie Goulding.
“He played rugby for Wigan, St Helens and England. He’s in his 50s and fit as a fiddle. He’s getting me into weights now so I built a gym.”
The darts icon has previously spoken about his struggles with arthritis, which affected his throwing motion late in his career.
“Because I have arthritis in my hip, I cannot turn right, so I’m not throwing straight,” he said last year.
“It’s a nightmare. Even if you turn over in bed at night, you’re in pain.”
Despite those battles, Taylor remains the most decorated player the sport has ever produced, with an unmatched 85 major titles to his name, including six Premier League Darts crowns and 16 World Matchplay championships. His final world title came in 2013, when he defeated Michael van Gerwen 7–4 in a classic final.