PHIL TAYLOR and Michael van Gerwen will clash in the BetVictor World Matchplay quarter-finals after progressing through Wednesday's second round alongside Adrian Lewis and Alan Norris in Blackpool.
Taylor, the 15-time World Matchplay champion, punished missed doubles from great rival Raymond van Barneveld to claim a comfortable 11-3 victory from their eagerly-awaited clash on the Winter Gardens stage.
The Dutchman missed chances in each of the first three legs as Taylor, aided by finishes of 61 and 64, moved clear, only to see Van Barneveld finish double seven and 76 to pull back to 3-2.
He also shared the next two to remain in touch at 4-3, but a miss at tops in leg eight to level the game allowed Taylor to scramble home double one in a key leg.
A brace of double 16 finishes moved Taylor clear at 7-3, and he also landed an 11-darter before securing the win by taking out 96.
Article by Dave Allen/PDC
