Christmas dinner and at least three hours throwing darts — that’s how Phil Taylor will spend Christmas Day.

‘The Power’ is attempting to win his 15th World Championship, a tournament that started on Friday — Taylor beating Colin Monk in the first round — and concludes with the final on January 3.

He said: “I should be playing the day after Boxing Day so I need to get my practice in.

“About 25 of us are going for a carvery (on Christmas Day), so I need to practise in the morning.

“I'll practise from about 10am until 1pm, then the rest of the day is mine.

“I practise every day. The family don't mind because I've been doing it every year for 20 years, they're used to it.”

The £1 million Ladbrokes.com World Championship — at Alexandra Palace in London — takes a break for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day and Taylor will have had over a week off between his first and second round matches.

“It doesn't make any difference,” he said.

“I get a break for Christmas, but it doesn't matter really. At least if there's any mistakes, there's time to get ready for the next round and sharpen up a little bit.”

It has been a phenomenal year even by Taylor’s standards, the 49-year-old winning all the main events — the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, UK Open, Las Vegas Desert Classic and Grand Slam of Darts.

And Taylor revealed the secret of success for a man approaching his half century in years — sleep!

“I have to get more rest than I used to. I have to watch my sleep a little bit because as you get older, you get a bit more tired,” he said.

The winner of the World Championship, the richest event in darts history, will pick up £200,000. There is also £25,000 on offer for a nine dart finish, the ultimate leg of darts.

But Taylor, already a wealthy man through his sporting prowess, played down the money on offer.

“It's not so much about the money. The money's a bonus. I don't even think about it, just about the title. That's all I'm interested in. I know it sounds strange, but it really is.

“But it's not about prize money, it's about looking after my family. I want them to have a good life,” he said.

Sky Sports have been running a series of adverts for the World Championship with stars like Steven Gerrard, Andrew Flintoff and Ricky Hatton paying tribute to the darts master.

Taylor laughed: “I was absolutely gobsmacked, I didn't realise all of that had gone on. For them to do that for me is very humbling. What can I say? I'm very grateful.”

But not everyone is so appreciative of Taylor, the World champion again overlooked for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

“I'm very disappointed that the BBC keep shunning me all the time, but I'm not going to let it affect me because it happens every year! It's not one year, it's been the last 20.

“It's part and parcel of the BBC and my life. Perhaps I should have been a bit outspoken, a little bit more arrogant and I might have got a bit more recognition. I don't know, I think it just boils down to snobbery.”

He might just be right about that.