Phil Taylor was at his ruthless best as he beat Dennis Priestly 8-0 to move into the quarter-finals of the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
Wade and van Barneveld also progress with ease
Phil Taylor was at his ruthless best as he whitewashed Dennis Priestly 8-0 to move ominously into the quarter-finals of the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
However, the one-sided victory left Taylor tearful, with the 14-time world champion admitting he took no pleasure from whitewashing an opponent with whom he has enjoyed a 20-year rivalry.
"I didn't feel comfortable but I had to do it," he stated afterwards. "It's very difficult to beat a fellow pro 8-0. He's a great guy and I feel for him."
Taylor allowed Priestley just two shots at a double throughout the one-sided contest and was efficiency itself as he progressed to the last eight of competition he has already won four times.
Priestley did threaten to get off the mark in the sixth leg with his only 180 of the contest, but Taylor took out double four to deny him and then, after a 14-dart leg, wrapped up the win by hitting double eight at the second time of asking in leg eight.
James Wade also moved into the quarters as he beat Andy Hamilton 8-4 with a polished display.
Hamilton actually produced two ten-dart legs during the match, but Wade also scored heavily when it mattered and produced a decisive burst to open a 5-2 lead that he was never to surrender.
Lewis on song
Adrian Lewis produced a mature display to ease past Peter Manley who had beaten him on his last two outings at the event.
Manley actually took the opening leg against the throw, but from there it was all Lewis as he reeled off eight consecutive legs to close out a memorable victory.
John Part edged a thriller against Jelle Klaasen to progress, the Canadian holding his nerve to clinch an 8-7 success.
Klassen actually had a dart for the match at 7-7, but his shot at the bull narrowly missed and he could only watch on as Part confidently took out 80 to triumph.
Clinical
Wes Newton's run in the tournament was clinically ended by Scot Gary Anderson who will now meet Taylor in the quarters.
Anderson was never truly tested as he led 4-0 and 7-1 and eventually closed out the match by hitting double tops.
Raymond van Barneveld got the better of his all Dutch clash with Co Stompe to record a comfortable 8-2 success over his compatriot.
Leading 5-2, Barney came within a whisker of a nine-darter, landing seven treble-20s and treble-19 before seeing his dart for double-12 land just the wrong side of the wire.
It didn't affect him, though, as he went on to close out the game without dropping a further leg.
Elsewhere, Terry Jenkins got the better of Colin Lloyd with an 8-3 win, while Mervyn King edged out Kevin Painter 8-7 to reach the last eight.
The Premier League runner-up held his nerve in a final-leg thriller, needing just 13 darts to stay alive with his opponent only needing 40.
