DESPITE missing out on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, Phil Taylor admitted he was delighted to be nominated for the event.
Taylor was selected on a ten-man shortlist for the prestigious title following a public vote and a poll of sports editors.
He was joined by stars from a wide range of sports and 5,000 fans at Birmingham's NIA Arena on Sunday for the awards ceremony.
Members of the public voted for their winner by phone and text, with Equestrian star Zara Phillips taking the title ahead of golfer Darren Clarke and gymnast Beth Tweddle.
"I would have loved to have been in the top three but it was just tremendous to be involved in the top ten," said Taylor, who begins his quest to retain the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship next Monday.
"For the first time in my career, I had no prejudice against me. I wasn't just a darts player, I was a British sportsman.
"Looking around the room and seeing all those sports stars who were my heroes from years gone by, people like Bjorn Borg and Peter Schmeichel, all of a sudden I was one of them instead of being singled out as a lazy darts player.
"I had the chance to chat to lots of stars and they all congratulated me on being there."
He added: "The red carpet treatment was certainly very different and a bit overwhelming, but we had a great night."
Taylor had a chance to rub shoulders with Royalty when he met Phillips to congratulate her on winning the award afterwards.
"Zara said she watches the darts and she told me she'd like to come to Purfleet," said Taylor.
"I never thought I would get to the stage where I was asking the Queen's grandchildren to come and see me play!"
Taylor won the two top honours in the BBC Midlands Sports Awards this year, being awarded their Sports Personality of the Year and Sportsman of the Year trophies.
Click here to read about Taylor's nomination