Phil Taylor beats Keegan Brown to book World Championship quarter-final spot
Anderson next for Taylor but Scot suffers injury scare in victory over Steve West
Friday 29 December 2017 09:55, UK
Phil Taylor booked a place in his 25th World Championship quarter-final after a 4-0 victory over former World Youth champion Keegan Brown at Alexandra Palace.
The Power's hopes of a fairytale finish to his legendary career could yet land him a 17th world title with his third-round victory making him one of only four players in the world's top 16 to make it through to the last eight.
And he did it in style, averaging 101.34, hitting 12 of his 19 darts at a double, taking out three 100+ finishes, including a brilliant 106 to seal his place in the quarter-final where he will face Gary Anderson.
Taylor had been cheered to the oche and was serenaded throughout by the Ally Pally crowd on his way to victory in a vintage display - he has dropped just 15 legs in his three matches so far and his average was his 54th in excess of 100 at the World Championship.
And the belief is growing: "I think it stepped up a little bit. I wanted to put Keegan under pressure, I think it was the biggest occasion of his career so far, and he's going to get better.
"This is a lad who's going to learn, him and his wife are lovely people and I'm sure Keegan's going to grow stronger with this.
Having already beaten Chris Dobey and Justin Pipe, Taylor was once again too good for a younger opponent - taking a near flawless opening set with a 103 average and hitting all three of his darts at a double.
The Power went through the gears to storm to the second set, averaging 112 to reel off three straight legs with a brilliant 122 the highlight.
Taylor's spectacular run, winning 19 of 20 legs across two matches, came to an end when The Needle stopped the rot with back-to-back legs to level the third set.
Brown then missed a dart at double 18 to pull within a set and was duly punished as Taylor took out a spectacular 99 finish courtesy of an audacious pair of double tops.
To Brown's credit he battled on, pinning a 124 check-out and forcing the set into a deciding leg before Taylor delivered the stylish denouement, ending the match with three perfect darts, a symbolic double 16 enough to clinch his victory.
Taylor will next face two-time world champion Anderson on Friday night, in what is sure to be a spectacular atmosphere, after the Scot dispatched Steve West, and it will be the first time at this year's tournament Taylor will not be the favourite for his match.
In this tournament of shocks, only four of the world's top-16 players are left standing, but two of the best remain in Anderson and world No 1 Michael van Gerwen - between them the pair have won the four titles since Taylor last won in 2013.
The 57-year-old would like nothing more than to claim the Sid Waddell Trophy one final time. After a third-round performance that saw him rolling back the years, he may need to beat them both if he is to claim the perfect farewell.
Live World Darts Championship
The 2018 World Championship from Alexandra Palace continues with a mouthwatering double session of quarter-final action on Friday on Sky Sports Darts, coverage of the afternoon's play gets underway from 12.30pm with the evening underway at 7pm
Live World Darts Championship
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