Phil Taylor averaged just over 95 in his first round match against Peter Manley

Phil Taylor began the defence of his Players Championship title at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet with a 6-2 victory over Peter Manley on Thursday.

Taylor raced into a 4-0 lead and rarely looked threatened against Manley.

The 15-times world champion will face Terry Jenkins in the second round, after he needed a deciding leg to beat Holland's Vincent van der Voort.

Elsewhere, Adrian Lewis and Andy Hamilton both won their matches to set up an all-Stoke clash in round two.

Hamilton edged a tight contest against Alan Tabern 6-4, while Lewis was taken to the wire by Brendan Dolan, before eventually prevailing 6-5.

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