PHIL TAYLOR 3-0 HARUKI MURAMATSU

PHIL TAYLOR began his campaign for a 16th World Championship with a straight sets triumph over plucky Japanese qualifier Haruki Muramatsu at Alexandra Palace on Friday night.

The top seed will return to Alexandra Palace on 27 December where he will face either Mark Dudbridge or Dave Chisnall in the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

Taylor, who has won four televised titles in the second half of 2011, broke throw at the start of the match by landing double 16 but would not be given an easy ride for the Japanese number one, who saw off Dennis Nilsson in the preliminary round.

Muramatsu immediately broke back with a 14-dart finish and had a chance to take the third leg, but his attempt at double top was off-target.

Taylor made him pay for that mistake by taking out 56 in two darts and then hit a 98 finish to claim the first set.

The second set began with Taylor missing three darts at doubles and Muramatsu hit double top at the first attempt to break throw for the second time in the match.

Taylor broke back immediately with a 13-darter and then won the third leg with a 14-dart finish to claim a 2-1 lead.

The world number one, who defeated Gary Anderson in the final of last month's Grand Slam of Darts, hit double 18 in the next leg at the first time of asking to confirm a two-set lead.

Muramatsu began the third set positively by hitting double top win the first leg - leading for the second successive set - before Taylor won the second by landing double 16 with his third dart.

Both players hit three 140s apiece in the third leg and Muramatsu had the first chance to win the leg, but his attempt at bullseye was off-target and Taylor took out 81 for an 11-dart finish.

That put Taylor one leg away from victory, and although he missed two match darts in the next, Muramatsu could not capitalise with a dart at at double top and the Stoke ace stepped in to hit double five and seal his last 32 spot.

"It was hard work out there as Haruki is a very steady player and I had to keep my concentration throughout," admitted Taylor.

"I can relax a bit now and enjoy a good Christmas. I'll be practising hard ahead of my next against Mark Dudbridge or Dave Chisnall as they are both excellent players on their day."