PDC World Darts Championship
Venue: Alexandra Palace, London Dates: 16 December-3 January
Coverage: Live on Sky Sports, reports and results on BBC Sport website

Taylor looked in fine form again after stumbling through round one

Phil Taylor continued the defence of his PDC World title with a 4-0 win over Per Laursen to move into the last 16.

Taylor, eyeing a 16th world crown, struggled for form in the first round but had few problems against the Dane.

Peter Wright, a shock 4-2 winner over Players Champion Paul Nicholson, will play Taylor in the third round.

Qualifier Mark Hylton continued his good run by beating Colin Lloyd, with Adrian Lewis, Robert Thornton and Mark Webster also progressing on day nine.

After limping past American qualifier Gary Mawson in the opening round, it was a vastly improved Taylor who eased past Laursen on Monday night.

Taylor, finished with a three-dart average of 102.09 and despite Laursen hitting a maximum in the fourth set, it was his last visit to the oche as 'The Power' wrapped up the victory.

It's the biggest win of my career Peter Wright on beating Paul Nicholson

"I did feel comfortable but fair play to Per, he kept trying and played well," Taylor said. "The crowd reception was incredible. It made me feel very humble."

Hylton, the current world number 90 and making his PDC World Championship debut, impressed again at Alexandra Palace with a 4-2 victory over Lloyd, ranked ninth and former world number one.

The match was finely poised at two sets apiece but the man who saw off Steve Beaton in a five-set thriller in the first round claimed six of the final seven legs to progress.

"I know how good I can be but in the past my mind has wandered," Hylton said. "I was really up for the game and I thoroughly enjoyed it and I feel I can improve in the longer formats."

England's Baxter, ranked eighth, was another high profile casualty on the ninth day of competition after a 4-0 demolition by former Lakeside champion Webster.

606: DEBATE Can Taylor win a 16th World title?

The Welshman improved as the match went on and after sealing the fourth leg in the fourth set, he hit scores of 174 and 140 before securing the win with double top at his third attempt.

Nicholson, who defeated Taylor at the semi-final stage to win this year's Players Championship, lost out 4-2 to Wright.

The Scot survived a Nicholson fight back to hold his nerve take the match after making a double 10.

"It's the biggest win of my career," said Wright. "I need to hit more treble 20s, but I'm still in the tournament and I could go all the way."

England's fifth seed Lewis was in flying form as he cruised to take the first three sets against compatriot Dudbridge, and despite a mini revival from the 28th seed thanks to a sixth maximum in the fourth set, the Stoke player eased through.

Lewis will next play Thornton, finalist at the 2009 Players Championship finals, who had little trouble in defeating Andy Hamilton 4-0.

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