PHIL TAYLOR 3-0 PAUL NICHOLSON

(3-1, 3-1, 3-1)
PHIL TAYLOR brushed off the challenge of Paul Nicholson to sweep into the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix with a straight sets triumph at the New Citywest Convention Centre.

The world number one continued his bid for a tenth victory in the double-start format with a comfortable victory over Nicholson, who failed to live up to the pre-match hype.

Taylor dropped just three legs in the game, and took out a trio of ton-plus finishes to set up a quarter-final with Mark Webster on Friday night.

Taylor had taken the game's opening leg on double 16, a bed which would be profitable throughout the contest.

Nicholson hit a 180 and double top to level, but Taylor produced two fine finishes to take the next two legs and win the set, following up a 105 checkout by taking out 120.

Nicholson posted another maximum and a 140 in a 12-darter to take the second set's opener, but Taylor landed double 16 in the next two and then hit double eight to win another set 3-1.

A pair of misses from Nicholson allowed Taylor to follow up a 180 with tops to win the third set's opening leg, and while Nicholson levelled on double ten his opponent produced a killer blow in the third leg.

Nicholson posted a 171 score to leave 122, but with Taylor needing 147 he hit treble 20, treble 17 and double 18 to move a leg away from the victory, which he sealed with an 89 finish on double 16.

"I'm really pleased with the win and it's another indication that my game's in good shape at the moment," said Taylor.

"Paul didn't play as well as he can. He's making a name for himself at the moment and he's a very good player, but he's not as consistent enough yet.

"He does everything right and he's got to keep doing that until he finds a way of getting the consistency every week."

Taylor meets Webster in the quarter-finals on Friday night, having lost to the left-hander in the World Championship on New Year's Day.

He added: "Mark's done his apprenticeship, he's won a World Championship and beaten me at Alexandra Palace, and the Premier League this year gave him a lot of experience. He's confident and it will be an exciting game."

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	3-0	Paul Nicholson
14	100+	14
11	140+	8
1	180	2
30.96	Ave1	29.88
92.87	Ave3	89.64
3	Breaks of Throw	0
147,120,105	High Finish	71
12/32 - 38%	Starting Doubles	12/31 - 39%
9/15 - 60%	Finishing Doubles	3/8 - 38%