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 has won 13 PDC world titles

Phil Taylor stayed on course for a 16th world title with a 4-1 win over Peter Wright in the third round of the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Taylor won the first eight legs before fellow Englishman Wright won three legs in a row to clinch the third set.

Wright had chances to make it 3-2 but allowed Taylor back in and the Stoke thrower wrapped up proceedings.

Earlier, third seed Raymond van Barneveld beat England's Kevin McDine 4-1 to reach the last 16.

Taylor, who had a three-dart average of 98.07 to Wright's creditable 96.56, said: "It was a bit difficult to concentrate after getting so far ahead early on and Peter really picked up his game.

"I'm pleased Peter gave me a test like that as it should be a real help when I play Mark Webster in the next round."

Dutchman Van Barneveld, PDC world champion in 2007, won the first five legs before losing focus and allowing McDine to level things at 1-1.

But Van Barneveld gathered himself and reeled off the next three sets, finishing with 10 180s in the match. Van Barneveld next will play 14th seed Colin Osborne, who thrashed Jamie Caven 4-0.

Van Barneveld, who had a three-dart average of 98.24, said: "I put big scores together at important times to get the win and I am pleased with the average.

"Colin [Osborne] beat me in the UK Open at a time when I was struggling. He's a world-class player but I believe in myself again and feel sure I will do better."

Welshman Webster set up a quarter-final clash with Taylor by beating Mark Hylton 4-1, courtesy of a three-dart average of 93.25 and a 156 checkout.

In other matches, Andy Smith upset sixth seed and fellow Englishman Mervyn King 4-3.

Smith, the world number 27, surged into a 3-1 lead before King hit back to level the match at 3-3.

But King missed a host of doubles in the deciding set and his profligacy proved costly, allowing Smith to reach the third round for only the second time.

Smith, who had seven 180s and six ton-plus checkouts, said: "I took the chances when I had them in the early part of the match and I had the match won.

"But I let things get away from me from then on and gave Mervyn chances. But he wasn't at his best and I stuck in and got the win."

Smith will next play Gary Anderson, who beat former world champion Dennis Priestley 4-2.

It appeared as though Anderson was going to ease past Priestley, after the Scot took a 3-0 lead, but the latter hit back to take the next two sets, the highlight of which was a 13-dart checkout.

Ultimately though, Anderson had too much but was full of praise for his opponent.

"Dennis is a true legend of the game and a tough competitor," Anderson said afterwards.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version