Phil Taylor qualifies for second round of Grand Slam

Phil Taylor is looking to win the Grand Slam title for the fourth time

Phil Taylor confirmed his place in the second round of the Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-3 victory over Mervyn King.

"It was a proper game because both of us wanted to win and I loved it," Taylor told BBC Radio Stoke.

"He's a great character who gets under your skin a little bit and you love to beat him. We'll play each other in many finals in the future."

The 51-year-old, from Stoke-on-Trent, finished top of Group E and plays Wes Newton in round two on Friday.

"Wes is a great, consistent player," added Taylor, who won all three of his group matches. "I know exactly how Wes plays and exactly what he's going to do, so I'll be ready for him."

PDC world champion Adrian Lewis, who had already booked his place in the last 16 on Monday, guaranteed top spot in Group H with a 5-2 victory against Vincent van der Voort.

"I knew I wanted three legs to top the group," Lewis told BBC Radio Stoke. "Once I got to three legs I took my foot off the gas, which I don't normally do.

"I'm happy with winning the group and I'm really looking forward to the last 16.

"It goes up to needing 10 legs to win and I think the longer format suits me a lot better."

Lewis has never been beyond the second round at the Grand Slam and faces John Part for a place in the last eight on Friday.

Gary Anderson's clash with James Wade is the pick of Thursday's four second-round ties.

Elsewhere, Dean Winstanley plays Mark Walsh, Terry Jenkins takes on Wayne Jones and Ted Hankey faces Michael van Gerwen.

The final four quarter-final places will be settled on Friday evening.

As well as the matches involving Taylor and Lewis, Mark Webster will play fellow Welshman Martin Phillips and Paul Nicholson will take on Steve Beaton.