Phil Taylor defeats Keegan Brown to step closer to glorious farewell

News
Thursday, 28 December 2017 at 21:34
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A relaxed Phil Taylor did not break a sweat in a second 4-0 victory in a row at the World Championship. His third round victim, Keegan Brown, managed to win just five legs as the 16-time world champion's final Ally Pally appearance continued without an end being threatened.
The Power under-performed against Justin Pipe in a second round whitewash, but did not feel any pressure from his opponent. It was the same again in the last 16, with 25-year-old Brown struggling to score with any great consistency. The Isle of Wight's greatest darting export grabbed one leg in the third set but Taylor, then averaging 103, rounded things off with an 11-darter. The second set was an uneventful romp for the sixth seed, with a 122 checkout on the bull providing the sole highlight.
The third and fourth sets, however, were much closer affairs. With Taylor suffering a few erratic visits, Brown was able to claw his way back into the game. A 94 checkout sent the third set to a decider, but when Brown missed a set dart at double 18 for a 110 checkout, Taylor needed 99. A single 19 and two tops later, the end was in sight. But Brown refused to give up. The Power went two legs up, as in the third set, but an excellent 124 finish kept Brown alive. Brown had accounted for James Wade and Zoran Lerchbacher thanks to good finishing, and it was that finishing that took the fourth set all the way. A 180 for the underdog made things very interesting, but Phil Taylor always has a trick up his sleeve. That trick was a 106 finish culminating in his favoured double 16, and now Gary Anderson or Steve West will take up the challenge of ending the finest career in darts history.
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