Phil Taylor believes players from Asia will win darts titles regularly, once they receive the sponsorship to travel in major tournaments in Europe.
The 15-time world champion told BBC Radio Stoke that the standard of darts is improving all over the world.
"They're coming through thick and fast," he said. "The only trouble is, they haven't got the money to travel.
"I've been to places like China and Malaysia and they're scary players, better than most people I have seen."
Taylor continued: "They need the sponsorship. At the moment darts is big in those countries but they're struggling to get the money to travel.
"Once they start, trust me, they will be the players that will be winning the titles."
There are only three players from outside Europe - Australian duo Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson, as well as John Part of Canada - currently inside the top 32 in the PDC Order of Merit, while India's Prakash Jiwa, at number 114, is the highest-placed Asian player.
Taylor, from Stoke-on-Trent, won the Grand Slam title for the fourth time on Sunday, beating Gary Anderson 16-4 in the final in Wolverhampton.
The 51-year-old has now set his sights on winning a 16th world title at the Alexandra Palace in December.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/darts/15852396.stm
