Phil Taylor (1/3 World Championship – Outright) thumped outsider Steve Hine 4-0 for a place in the third round of the World Championship at Alexandra Palace – but was already planning ahead for a possible quarter-finals showdown against protege Adrian Lewis.

The 14-time winner, who has dropped just three legs in the tournament, hit six 180s and registered an average of 103.28 in a one-sided contest against the former full-time baker.

He said: “When you are playing it doesn’t feel easy but you try to win every leg. I am happy to get through.”

Taylor said he was relishing the prospect of a Stoke-on-Trent match-up against ‘Jackpot’ Lewis, who saw off Wes Newton 4-2 to make it to the third round.

“He has impressed me for a few matches now, he has been very, very good. If me and Adrian play in the last eight, I think you are going to see the winner (of the event) come from that match,” he added on Sky Sports 1.

“I used to stand next to him and say do this, do that and now he is doing it.

“It will be like Nigel Benn versus Chris Eubank, it will light up the tournament.”

Standing in the way of Taylor next is Robert Thornton (80/1 World Championship – Outright), former number one from the BDO, following his 4-1 victory over German qualifier Jyhan Artut.

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