DARTS: Phil "The Power" Taylor made light work of Kevin Painter last night to secure his place in the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship at Alexandra Palace.
The duo memorably met in one of the most enthralling finals of this tournament in 2004, when Taylor won in sudden death, but there was no repeat of that drama as Taylor ominously swept a nervy-looking 17th seed aside 4-1.
Taylor broke the match open with a run of 10 consecutive legs after Painter had won the opening set.
It was a performance to give Taylor hope of claiming his first title at this tournament since 2006 and add to his record tally of 11 PDC crowns.
A maximum from Painter enabled him to clinch the opening set against Taylor's throw, wrapping up a 3-1 scoreline with a double eight at the first time of asking.
Painter's hopes of building on his early advantage were soon lost, however, as he lost his first throw of the second set. The Daventry man twice missed the chance to clinch what was the second leg and Taylor capitalised to hit double 16 before going on to tie the match at 1-1.
Taylor then broke in the first leg of the third set as he embarked on his 10-leg streak. Taylor claimed the break with a double top and ominously followed that up immediately with a maximum to assert his authority.
Painter's composure was lost as he then twice more missed chances to stay in the set, allowing Taylor to comfortably secure the third set 3-0.
The wind was now in Taylor's sails, he hit maximums in consecutive legs to start the fourth set, and although his rival responded with a 180 of his own there was no denying the top seed as he wrapped up the fourth set with his ninth consecutive leg in a row.
Painter showed some fight in the fifth set, twice hitting maximums, but it was too little, too late as Taylor clinched the win 3-1.
Taylor will meet the winner of this afternoon's match between eighth seed Wayne Mardle and Co Stompe in the quarter-finals.
James Wade progressed to the third round with a 4-2 win against Tony Eccles, although it was not a convincing display from the world number three.
Wade struggled for consistency throughout, but held his nerve at the key moments to hold off the challenge of his Hartlepool rival.
Next up for Wade will be Dutchman Vincent van der Voort after he beat Colin Osborne 4-1 in today's afternoon session.
Paul Nicholson caused a shock when he ousted sixth seed Adrian Lewis 4-3 in their second-round match this afternoon.
The English-born Australian is making his debut at this tournament and held his nerve in a decisive set, claiming it 6-4.
Lewis had looked set to crash out in the eighth leg before hitting his ninth maximum before converting a double 10 with his last dart to still in the contest.
Nicholson restored his advantage in the next leg and then, against the throw, completed a 121 checkout by hitting the bullseye to progress.
"It was a scrap from start to finish," Nicholson said.
"I don't think there was anything between me and Adie and it was going to take something special to break his throw in that last set.
"I was already confident with the 121 because I'd hit it earlier in the game.
As soon as I lined up the bull I knew it was going in."
Nicholson will meet Dennis Priestley in the third round after he defeated John MaGowan 4-1.