Phil Taylor powers to UK Open fifth round, Dave Chisnall beaten by Stephen Bunting

Phil Taylor stormed past youngster David Pallett to reach the fifth round of the Coral UK Open on Saturday afternoon, as former champion James Wade and world No 1 Michael van Gerwen were amongst the other fourth round winners in Minehead.

Taylor landed seven 180s and twice enjoyed six perfect darts as he booked his last-16 spot and remained on course for a sixth UK Open triumph.

He opened the game with back-to-back 12-darters and led 3-0 before Pallett took out double 14 to hit back before Taylor hit legs of 13 and 14 darts to move 5-1 up.

Pallett hit back on double eight before Taylor followed up a 13-darter with an 11-dart leg which he opened with 177 and 180, before moving 8-2 up by taking his in-running average to 109.

Pallett hit back with a 14-darter, but Taylor kicked off leg 12 with two 180s, and though he missed out on a possible nine-darter for the second time in the game he returned to seal the win.

"David's a good up-and-coming player and he's one to keep an eye on," said Taylor. "He's got a lot of bottle and he's a massive finisher under a lot of pressure, and a really good player so I'm glad to get through that.

"I can relax now and prepare for the next round."

Taylor now plays 2007 UK Open runner-up Vincent van der Voort in the last 16, after the Dutchman saw off another former finalist, Wes Newton, as to move into the last 16 once again with a 9-4 victory.

Two-time UK Open champion James Wade continued his bid to complete a hat-trick in the event with a fine 9-4 win over Nathan Aspinall, the accountant from Stockport who has reached the last 32 and earned a televised debut.

Aspinall shared the game's opening eight legs, but paid for missing a dart at double seven to break Wade's throw in the next as the left-hander edged 5-4 up on tops before hitting the same bed to break and lead 6-4.

He also won the next before taking out legs of 11 and 13 darts to seal his place in the last 16, where he has drawn Andrew Gilding.

MVG through

Michael van Gerwen ended the hopes of Rileys qualifier Paul Hogan with a 9-4 win over the Hampshire ace in a high-quality contest.

The world No 1 kicked off the game with a 129 finish for a 12-darter and clinically moved into a 4-0 lead before Hogan cut the gap to one leg - but he missed doubles to level in a key eighth leg.

Van Gerwen stepped in to take out 80 and then produced a party-piece 115 checkout of bull, single 15 and bull to move 6-3 up before going on to seal the win.

Van Gerwen had played through the pain of a pulled muscle in his arm during his third round win on Friday night, and admitted: "I still feel it but I can still play my game and I needed to.

"Paul Hogan probably played one of his best TV performances ever. It was a great game and it's good to get through it. I've known him for a long time and it's nice to see him on the circuit - if he keeps going like this he could do well."

Van Gerwen was later drawn against Kim Huybrechts in the fifth round, after the Belgian made a brilliant comeback from 3-1, 6-3 and 8-6 down to defeat Andy Hamilton 9-8 in a thriller.

Peter Wright brushed aside two-time UK Open champion Raymond van Barneveld 9-1 with a clinical display as he averaged 100 in claiming his first-ever televised win over the Dutchman.

Wright kicked off the game with a 12-darter as he took out 96 and he also won the second before Van Barneveld got off the mark in leg three - but that was as good as it got for the reigning Premier League champion.

Wright took out 130 on the bull in a key fourth, with van Barneveld having hit a 180 to leave 74, before breaking throw twice with 13-darters as he moved 6-1 up before reeling off the next three for seven in a row as he progressed.

Chizzy out

Stephen Bunting held off Dave Chisnall's fightback from 7-0 down before he progressed to the fifth round with a 9-6 win over another St Helens rival, having also defeated Michael Smith on Friday night.

Bunting punished 15 missed doubles from Chisnall to win the first five legs before also winning the next two for a seven-leg cushion.

Double 16 in leg eight got Chisnall off the mark, with Bunting winning the next to move a leg away from the win only for his opponent to retain his belated accuracy on doubles as he also landed a string of 180s to cut the gap to two legs, before double two sealed Bunting's last 16 spot.

Bunting now meets Irish ace William O'Connor, who won through with a 9-6 defeat of Ian White.

Afternoon Session results

Fourth Round

Phil Taylor 9-3 David Pallett

Michael van Gerwen 9-4 Paul Hogan

Peter Wright 9-1 Raymond van Barneveld

Stephen Bunting 9-6 Dave Chisnall

James Wade 9-4 Nathan Aspinall

Eddie Dootson 9-8 Robert Thornton

Kim Huybrechts 9-8 Andy Hamilton

Vincent van der Voort 9-4 Wes Newton

Devon Petersen 9-6 Jamie Caven

Kyle Anderson 9-7 James Wilson

Mensur Suljovic 9-4 Josh Payne

Jan Dekker 9-4 Ronnie Baxter

William O'Connor 9-6 Ian White

John Henderson 9-8 Daryl Gurney

Andrew Gilding 9-5 Jelle Klaasen

Mervyn King 9-8 Nathan Derry