Taylor did not surrender a set as he dispatched Hamilton

The 45-year-old recorded a three-dart average of 108 as he remained on target for his 13th world crown in Purfleet.

Taylor's protege Adrian Lewis also booked his place in the last eight as he ousted Dutchman Roland Scholten 4-3.

Lewis lost the first two sets to the fourth seed but hit back with a flurry of 140s to clinch the decider.

Lewis will now meet fifth seed Peter Manley while Taylor plays Kevin Painter.

"I was never really out of the match but I came back strongly," said 20-year-old Lewis.

"But I've had a bit of flu over the last couple of days which has taken all my energy."

We can all see the finishing post of the tournament now and it's time to kick on Defending champion Phil Taylor

Painter defeated last year's runner-up Mark Dudbridge 4-1 to set up a rerun of the 2003 final.

Dudbridge threatened to give Painter a tough challenge when he levelled the contest 1-1 with a string of 180s but Painter coolly took the next three to wrap up the match.

England's Wayne Mardle dumped out twice former world champion John Part, prevailing 4-2 in an exciting match.

Mardle and Canadian Part swapped sets before the sixth seed threw a hat-trick of 180s to seal the sixth set 3-2 and book his quarter-final place.

Mardle, who has yet to win a major title, won the first set with a brilliant 126 checkout and never looked back.

Manley had to dig deep, outlasting Dennis Smith 4-3 after his opponent had missed two doubles for the match.

Fourteenth seed Alan Warriner-Little beat unseeded fellow Englishman Andy Smith 4-2.