PHIL TAYLOR powered past Andy Hamilton to move into the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship - and warned his rivals: "I'm ready to retain my title."
Taylor, the 12-time World Champion, had failed to hit top gear during his opening victories over David Platt and Matt Clark.
But he was in blistering form against fellow Stoke thrower Hamilton, averaging over 108 and dropping just four legs in a straight sets victory.
"I've got the World Championship in my head now and I'm ready to win it," said a focused Taylor. "I got up this morning, looked in the mirror and told myself to get on with it.
"That's what I did, I went out there and fought. I feel a lot different and whoever plays me from now on will have to play out of this world.
"I feel confident, very aggressive and everything a World Champion can be. I just feel great."
Taylor will face Kevin Painter on Friday in a repeat of their quarter-final clash of 12 months ago, and the classic 2004 World Championship final.
Painter won nine successive legs to eventually see off Mark Dudbridge 4-1 with an assured display, and said: ""Someone's got to play Phil, and it seems like every year it's me!
"But I am going to have to raise the bar again. Everyone knows what Phil is going to do and it's up to me to raise the bar.
"He smashes you all over the place and you have to stay with him so that if he does miss a double - which happens occasionally - you're there to pounce."
Wayne Mardle set up a quarter-final against Alan Warriner-Little with one of his best ever displays to overcome John Part 4-2.
Warriner-Little had earlier won 4-2 against Andy Smith, while young gun Adrian Lewis marched into the last eight by defeating Roland Scholten 4-3.
Lewis - who is now 3/1 to win the tournament with sponsors Ladbrokes.com - faces Peter Manley, who also won 4-3 in his clash with Dennis Smith.
Friday's opening quarter-final sees qualifiers Gary Welding and Wayne Jones meet for a place in the last four.
Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Thursday 29 December
Afternoon Session (12pm)
Peter Manley 4-3 Dennis Smith - Report
Roland Scholten 3-4 Adrian Lewis - Report
Andy Smith 2-4 Alan Warriner-Little - Report
Evening Session (6pm)
Wayne Mardle 4-2 John Part - Report
Phil Taylor 4-0 Andrew Hamilton - Report
Kevin Painter 4-1 Mark Dudbridge - Report
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