Taylor salutes legend Wilson

Multiple world champion Phil Taylor has paid his own tribute to twice title holder Jocky Wilson, who died on Saturday.

Wilson, 62, who won world titles in 1982 and 1989, passed away at his home in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, on Saturday after suffering with the lung disorder chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.

He is acknowledged as being one of the main forerunners to darts' current popularity, starring in the game and earning it coverage long before its current boom kicked in.

Taylor won twice in the UK Open qualifiers in Barnsley over the weekend and then the Stoke thrower dedicated his victories to his former pairs partner Wilson.

Taylor said: "That's for Jocky.

"He was my pairs partner for many years and I loved him to bits. We used to have a lot to do with each other, I'm gutted.

"I've got a lot of good memories about Jocky and he's one of those people that when you mention his name it brings a big smile to your face.

"He was a great character and I'm going to miss him. I missed him anyway but I'm going to celebrate Jocky's life."

Wilson, who was born John Thomas Wilson in 1950, helped found the Professional Darts Corporation in 1993.

The PDO wrote on their Twitter page: "We are very saddened to hear of the death of former World Champion Jocky Wilson. Simply devastated. #RIPJocky."