Taylor and Van Gerwen come into the World Darts Championship as the big hitters and bookmakers favourites.

The two biggest personalities in the sport have often collided though.

Taylor leads Van Gerwen 34-26 with two draws, coming in the Premier League, since they first met back in 2006.

And while they generally talk about a respect for one another there have often been flash points.

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Grow up…

In July this year, after Taylor was victorious in the World Matchplay quarterfinal, he told him he was stupid and should grow up.

Taylor said: “Michael said I wasn't a threat, didn't he? I heard he was texting his mate Vincent van der Voort during one of the breaks when he was playing Simon Whitlock, saying 'I've won this'.

“I'll say it now and I'll say it to his face: Come on, Michael – this is professional sport. Grow up.”

You’re a kn*b…

Van Gerwen got a dig in on Taylor during the Grand Slam of Darts.

After an altercation Van Gerwen revealed he called him a kn*b.

“He tried a few of his tricks, what he always does,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.

“In the break I wasn’t allowed to cheer from my own throw. I don’t know why when I finished a 74. 

“What can I say? Honestly, you want to know honestly? I just walked off, had a little nip of my drink. 

“He came to me ‘you shouldn’t do this, you shouldn’t do that’. 

"I just said ‘you’re a kn*b’ again, that’s exactly what I said. 

“Then he was annoyed at what I said, I don’t know why but something always happens in-between our games, after or before. 

“But I also thinks it’s our rivalries in our games because we don’t want to lose to each other, we try to present our best all the time. 

“Maybe I shouldn’t say it but I still think it was a good game for everyone to watch and that’s what is most important.”

Taylor made darts

But the Dutchman showed his respect for Taylor when discussing him ahead of the World Darts Championship and said he will never better his achievements.

Van Gerwen said: “Phil Taylor made darts. Everyone who plays now, and competes for huge prize money, owes their career to Phil. That’s not just being realistic, it’s the truth.

“At this moment we don’t need him any more because darts won’t go down without him but he built the empire. He did really good for everyone.

“I don’t feel any responsibility to carry that on because darts is so big now it is bigger than one person.

“I don’t think his records will be broken because I won’t be playing as long as him!”