The Hammer is Power-drilled

Taylor: Magnificent in quarters

Quarter-final results:
T Jenkins 4-2 J Part
R van Barneveld 4-1 C Lloyd
P Taylor 4-1 A Hamilton
M King 4-2 D Priestley

Also see

• Order of Merit
• On Sky TV
• Darts Schedule/Results

Phil Taylor destroyed Andy Hamilton 4-1 to advance to the semi-finals of the Sky Poker World Grand Prix on Friday.

Taylor, who had a 98.60 average in the match, came within two legs of a complete whitewash against his former practice partner in a performance of the highest quality.

Hamilton certainly played his part in the contest, if not on the score board, out-scoring 'the Power' in maximums with a staggering eight 180s.

But 'the Hammer' was powerless to stop the 13-time world champion from claiming victory, even after claiming the fourth set, and Taylor's sixth maximum in the last leg helped seal his spot in the semis.

Masterclass

Raymond van Barneveld was in fine form as he booked his place in the last four by outclassing Colin Lloyd 4-1 in their quarter-final match.

Lloyd started well enough and weathered two Barney maximums in legs two and three to take the opening set in what looked like a thrilling contest in prospect.

But it was to be Jaws' only set of the match as van Barneveld turned up the heat in Dublin.

After a 3-0 whitewash in set two, Barney went into top gear in the third, taking the decisive leg with a glorious 170 checkout.

And two 180s in the third and fourth sets did the damage as the Dutchman completed a resounding win.

Charge

Terry Jenkins stormed into the last four by beating world champion John Part 4-2 in Friday's first quarter-final.

Jenkins sealed the match on a nervy double seven, despite starting impressively in the last leg with an opening 120 and his 3rd 180 of the evening.

The 'Bull', a Grand Prix finalist for the last two years, had led 3-1 and looked to be cruising to victory, but Part came back at the Englishman in a set four whitewash which included a 157 checkout.

Every set, bar the penultimate, went to five legs and both players took turns to play both impressive and sloppy darts, but it was Jenkins, the world No.4, who played the important points the best and booked his place in the last four.

The final quarter-final on Friday evening lived up to the standard of the earlier matches - Mervyn King edging out Dennis Priestley 4-2.

The Norfolk player closed out victory over veteran Priestley by taking out double 16 in the deciding leg of the sixth set.