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Taylor: awesome form

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Phil Taylor was in unstoppable form as he swept past Ronnie Baxter with a 2-0 win in the first round of the Sky Poker World Grand Prix.

Sky Poker World Grand Prix results

The 13-time world champion finished with an average of 97 as he allowed his opponent just two legs on the way to a clinical victory.

'The Power' signalled his intentions with a 13-darter to take the opening leg and produced another to move 2-1 ahead. He was on course for a nine-darter in the next having opened with visits of 160 and 180 but, although he failed, he clinched the set by taking out double five.

Baxter claimed the first leg of the second set after Taylor surprisingly missed with five darts at a double, but The Power came roaring back with a 14-darter to level matters.

He then made his superior scoring power count as he moved ahead before wrapping up a routine triumph with a single dart at double 16.

Taylor now goes up against Colin Osborne in the second round after his tight 2-1 win over 67-year-old John MaGowan.

The Northern Irishman bagged the opening set but Osborne hit back with a commanding second set, and although MaGowan took a leg in the decider he could not get any closer.

Local favourite Jacko Barry edged a thrilling encounter with close friend Brendan Dolan, pinching a dramatic win in the final leg of the match.

The Dubliner was never ahead in a contest when boith men initially struggled to hit their doubles, but having fallen a set behind landed a superb 144 check-out to force a decider with Dolan having missed a dart for the match.

Dolan edged two sets to one ahead in the final set, but Barry hit back to ensure the match went all the way and then sent the crowd into raptures as he nailed 63 to secure a memorable success.

World champion John Part proved too strong for Chris Mason as he cruised into the second round with a 2-0 win.

Mason was two legs to one up in the first set, but having hit back to steal it Part took the second comfortably to progress.

Terry Jenkins saw off Mick McGowan with a 2-0 success although 'The Bull' on more than one occasion had trouble remembering the double-in format.

Andy Hamilton endured a few nervy moments before he got the better of 'Pieman' Andy Smith, sealing a 2-1 victory with a 112 check-out.

Scotsman Robert Thornton looked particularly sharp as he dumped out 'One Dart' Peter Manley with a comprehensive 2-0 victory.

Thornton blitzed the first set taking it three legs to nil, but was taken to a decider in the second. However, he eased away and was able to pass up eight chances at a double before finally sealing the win with double one.

Mark Walsh started and finished strongly to beat Steve Beaton 2-1. Walsh sped through the first set 3-0 before dropping the second as his scoring faltered, but he recovered well and took the decider by three legs to one, sealing victory by taking out 50.