Darts: Taylor' uses experience to tame Wardle

Phil Taylor, the 10-time world champion, advanced to the quarter-finals of the PDC World Championship at Purfleet's Circus Tavern last night after ending the brave challenge of Wayne Mardle who fell to a 5-3 defeat.

Mardle, 29, who is known as "Hawaii 501" because of his colourful shirts, produced flashes of brilliance during the game, including a 152 checkout to take the opening leg. But Taylor's experience soon told and he took the next three legs, closing with a 12-dart finish for an average of 105.

Taylor's average dropped in the next set, but he kept hitting the doubles and won all three legs. Mardle fought back and hit a double top to edge the third set three legs to two. Taylor clinched the next set by the same margin but Mardle, whose confidence was growing all the time, again reduced the deficit.

The first four legs of the sixth set were shared before Mardle hit the double one to draw level in the match. But Taylor won the next set before opening up a 2-1 lead ­ including a 114 finish ­ in the eighth. The Stoke thrower was on a roll and finished with double 18 before punching the air.

Taylor has set up a quarter-final tie with Dennis Smith who became the first man to book his place in the last eight with an impressive 5-1 win over Denis Ovens.

After a delay because of a technical problem, the players shared the first four legs of a hard-fought opening set. Ovens looked favourite to edge the fifth leg and take the set but he missed a shot at double 16 and Smith took advantage to move ahead. However, the Stevenage thrower responded with a successful attempt at double 16 to take the second set by three legs to one.

Smith showed coolness under pressure to edge the third set, and the confidence looked to be flowing when he nailed his first attempt at double eight at the start of the next. Ovens won the second leg, but he started to miss a few shots at crucial times and Smith went on to claim another five-leg set.

Smith also reeled off the fifth set impressively to move within one of victory. Ovens fought back in the sixth though and the set again went to a deciding leg, but it was Smith who prevailed.

Alan Warriner lived up to his "Ice Man" nickname as he fought back against Les Fitton to clinch his place in the quarter-finals. The 40-year-old looked to be heading out at 4-2 down, but he won the next two sets and then held his nerve to clinch a thrilling decider for a 5-4 success.

Warriner, who won his first major title at the 2001 World Grand Prix, scored heavily in the first set, which he won three legs to two, but Fitton hit back by winning the second set, which included a superb 170 checkout, then edged the third 3-2. The fourth set went to a deciding leg and Warriner produced a 112 checkout to square the match.

Fitton won all three legs in the fifth set to regain the lead, but the Bolton thrower hit back in the sixth by winning two legs against the throw before producing a 62 finish to take it 3-1. Warriner wasted several chances to reduce the deficit before he hit double four to close the gap to one set. He also took the next set to set up a tense decider.

One of the players had to win by two clear legs, but they could not be separated after six. Fitton moved ahead with a shot at double 20 before Warriner responded with double 18 to level at 4-4. Warriner moved ahead with a double top and won with double eight.