Taylor is on course for his 13th world title at the Circus Tavern

The 12-time world champion strung together some huge scores, with an average of 106, to set up a meeting with Wayne Mardle in Purfleet.

Taylor's protege Adrian Lewis was beaten 5-3 by Peter Manley after walking out midway through their match.

In contrast, Mardle raced to an easy 5-0 win over Alan Warriner-Little while Wayne Jones also beat Gary Welding 5-0.

Lewis walked away in the middle of his quarter-final with Manley, claiming the fifth seed had tried to distract him when he was about to throw.

I didn't actually hear what he was saying but it was swearing Adrian Lewis on Peter Manley's gamesmanship Tempers flare in tetchy quarters

The 20-year-old appeared to be unsettled by Manley's gamesmanship in the opening stages of their encounter as the fifth seed took his time retrieving his darts from the board.

When the 20-year-old debutant took a 2-1 lead in the fourth set, he suddenly walked off stage claiming Manley had spoken to him when he was at the oche.

Lewis returned to make it 3-2 but Manley hit back to close out the tense contest.

Lewis's mentor, Taylor got straight down to business against Painter taking the first set 3-0 with a trio of 180s.

But Painter, seeded seventh, produced some hefty scores in the second to level the match one set-all.

Taylor simply responded by stepping up a gear, closing out the match ruthlessly as Painter buckled under the pressure, making several unforced errors.

Mardle had a much easier time of it in a gripping match against 14th seed Warriner-Little.

The 32-year-old fired three 180s to clinch an edgy first set 3-2 but then never looked back as he continues his search for a first major title.