PHIL TAYLOR avoided a major scare from Terry Jenkins to earn his place in the quarter-finals of the totesport.com Players Championship at Thurrock’s Circus Tavern on Saturday night.
Taylor, the reigning champion in the £250,000 event, was pushed to deciding leg by Jenkins before prevailing 8-7 to set up a quarter-final with Colin Lloyd on Sunday.
Jenkins led Taylor 4-3 midway through the contest, but a 160 finish helped the world number one to regain the lead, and he proved too strong as the game went to a deciding leg.
"Terry's great under pressure and he took some superb finishes out with his last dart," said Taylor. "It was a really tough game and I'm relieved to be through it.
"I'm here to win and I'll look forward to the quarter-finals now against Colin Lloyd on Sunday, and hopefully I can go all the way."
Saturday's evening session also saw Adrian Lewis (pictured) emerge victorious in a deciding leg, following an entertaining clash with Stoke rival Andy Hamilton.
The duo shared 12 180s, while Lewis led 6-3 and 7-5 before Hamilton levelled, only to miss double eight for a 136 finish in the decider before the youngster progressed.
Mervyn King had fewer problems in sweeping past below-par Jelle Klaasen 8-1, while the tournament's Dutch challenge was ended when Michael van Gerwen went down 8-2 to Colin Osborne.
King now meets Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones in the quarter-finals, while Fleetwood's Wes Newton takes on Osborne.
Lewis will meet Paul Nicholson in Sunday's opening quarter-final, with the final stages played across two sessions, with the semi-finals and final taking place in the evening.
Taylor or Lloyd will meet Lewis or Nicholson in one semi, with Jones or King facing Newton or Osborne.