Taylor powers on at Palace

Phil Taylor rolled back the years to see off Kim Huybrechts and set up a mouth-watering World Championship quarter final with Raymond van Barneveld.

The Power was at his brilliant best to fight off a spirited comeback from Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts and seal a Friday night date with his old nemesis Barney, almost 10 years since their classic 2007 final.

This time they will meet for a semi-final place and with 21 titles between them, Van Barneveld took to Twitter after Taylor’s win to declare the match-up darts’ own version of El Clasico.

World No 1 Michael van Gerwen had to produce a brilliant performance to see off Darren Webster, while Peter Wright continued his brilliant performances at Alexandra Palace to dispatch Ian White in straight sets.

But on a night when three of the world’s top four booked their place in the last eight, it was Taylor’s display that had the experts waxing lyrical.

Taylor had been below par despite a 4-0 victory over Kevin Painter in the second round but he was anything but as he steamrollered Huybrechts with a performance reminiscent of The Power in his pomp.

The Belgian hit the ground running taking the first two legs, but after missing a dart for the set and a 136 finish, The Hurricane was punished as Taylor stormed back to win six of the next seven legs and move 2-0 in front.

Incredibly, he upped the ante in the third, wrapping up the set in double quick time thanks to 12, 11 and 13-dart legs to leave …

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