Richie Burnett booked his place in the quarter-finals of the PDC World Championship with a hard-fought win over Australian wildcard Simon Whitlock.

After a disappointing season the former world champion has looked in better shape at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet and he took the match 5-3.

Burnett opened up a 3-1 lead and when he then reeled off three straight legs to move within a set of victory the contest looked all over.

However, Whitlock responded by reeling off six of the next seven legs to close the gap to 4-3 before Burnett finally closed out the match in the eighth set.

Whitlock battled bravely before succumbing

"I've had a terrible season," Burnett admitted afterwards. "There is only one way to go after the season I've had and that is up.

"When I put my mind to it I know I can do it, so I'm pleased with my performances here so far. There is plenty left in the tank."

Burnett now faces Kevin Painter on Friday, after he knocked out fellow Englishman Ronnie Baxter in the third round.

Canada's John Part had to show determination as well as talent to move into the quarter-finals of the PDC World Championship with a 5-3 defeat of Jamie Harvey.

The world number two looked out of sorts and at 3-2 down he had to dig deep just to stay with his opponent.

But Part levelled at 3-3 and then snatched the seventh set with a superb 161 checkout under pressure and went on to clinch a 5-3 success.

"That 161 really made life a lot easier for me. I think it was the killer blow for him," said Part.

Strong finish

"When I got the treble 17 I just looked at the bull. It was everything to me and I hit it. Sometimes you do that and you miss by two inches.

"I think that finish took a lot out of him."

Chris Mason ended Colin Lloyd's championship with an impressive 5-1 third-round win.

The Bristol thrower's temperament has sometimes be called into question but he looked composed and in control throughout.

And Lloyd, who reached last year's semi-final, had no answer to Mason, who is 10 places behind his Essex opponent in the world rankings.