Barney races through

12 April 2012

Defending champion Raymond van Barneveld raced into the third round of the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Championship with a 4-1 victory over Jason Clark.

Despite reportedly suffering from the flu, van Barneveld was never in any real danger at London's Alexandra Palace.

The Dutchman was in particularly good form in the third set, managing a three-dart average of 107.4 and an 11-dart finish. He narrowly missed a maximum 170 checkout in the last leg of the fourth set but sealed victory in the fifth with another 11-dart leg.

Thirteen-time world champion Phil Taylor survived an epic tussle with Lancashire's Alan Tabern to advance to the fourth round.

Tabern looked set for a 4-2 win when he needed 116 for the match with his opponent back on 187, but Taylor fired in a superb 171 to leave double eight, which he hit with his third dart to force a deciding set.

Tabern had the advantage of throwing first but missed two darts to go 2-0 ahead and the next two legs went with the throw to leave both players needing to win by two clear legs.

The 41-year-old from St Helens took out a superb 160 finish to lead 3-2 but Taylor came back with a 13-dart leg to level the scores once more.

The next two legs went with the throw before Taylor crucially broke Tabern's throw to lead 5-4, and the 47-year-old from Stoke then fired in consecutive 180s to help seal a thrilling 4-3 victory.

Earlier in the day, world number five Andy Hamilton slumped to defeat against Alex Roy. Hamilton, a semi-finalist 12 months ago, was beaten 4-1 by the world number 27 who will face John Part in the next round.

Tony Eccles made a miraculous comeback from 3-0 down against Steve Maish to continue his dream debut in the event. Maish missed several darts for the match before Eccles snatched it in a decider.

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