Taylor powers on

Phil 'The Power' Taylor had to overcome an Irish darts legend and vociferous crowd to clinch his place in the quarter-finals of the Paddy Power World Grand Prix in Dublin.

Jack McKenna, 60, who was representing Ireland long before Taylor turned professional, received a thunderous reception from the hundreds of Irish fans at the City West Hotel.

However, Taylor looked totally relaxed and won the opening leg with a brilliant 102 checkout.

McKenna also lost the second leg when Taylor nailed double top.

The local fans almost raised the roof in the third leg when McKenna hit double 16 to get off the mark, but Taylor took the opening set with double 10.

The Stoke thrower never let his foot off the gas and won the opening two legs of the second set, including a 101 checkout.

Taylor wrapped up victory in the next leg, but he immediately raised McKenna's arm aloft as the fans cheered their man.

"I'm delighted with the win but I feel a bit disappointed for Jack," said Taylor, who will face qualifier Mark Holden in the last eight.

"I had mixed emotions going into the match. Me and Jack don't know each other that well but he's friends with everybody."

McKenna was gracious in defeat and said: "I'm not disappointed. The best man won on the day and that was it.

"I always said that if I win I win, if I don't tomorrow's another day."

Roland Scholten, who lost to Alan Warriner in last year's final, produced a superb fightback to defeat Alex Roy 2-1.

Roy settled quickly and moved 2-1 ahead in the first set before finishing with double 16 to take the set.

However, Scholten reeled off the next three legs to level the score a 1-1.

The 37-year-old turned on the style in the deciding set and finished with a 149 checkout to put the seal on a top-class display.