Senior Masters: Taylor Coming to the Boil?

Phil Taylor showed ominous signs of returning form as he cruised into the Quarter-Finals of the World Seniors Masters.

The Power brushed aside former nemisis, and fellow dual-code World Champion, John Part with a 4-0 whitewash at Lakeside on Friday night.

Other results included a surprise victory from Part’s fellow countryman David Cameron who stunned former Players Champion, and WSDT Worlds Semi-Finalist, Kevin Painter.

David Cameron during the 2022 World Seniors Darts Tour Masters 2022.

Returning after more than thirty years, from his legendary second world title win over the late Mike Gregory, the Stoke – On – Trent ace returned to Frimley Green to hand defeat to another former rival.

Not yet firing on all cylinders , Taylor still dominated the contest against three-time World Champion Part, punishing the Canadian’s missed chances to record a straight sets blitz.

John Part & Paul Lim 2022 World Seniors Darts Tour Masters

The 16-time World Champion now awaits the winner of the John Lowe vs Les Wallace clash in Sunday’s Quarter-Finals.

Taylor was still highly critical of his own performance: “I’m trying too hard to lift the roof off the building. It’s not me, but I’m trying.

“It’s so difficult to be as dedicated as I used to be.

“Lockdown threw my game apart and everything changed – my stance, my body, everything.”

Part had earlier defeated fellow legend and fan favourite Paul Lim, taking advantage of the Singapore man’s profligacy on the outer ring. The Canadian reminded the delighted crowd with a memory stirring 164 checkout to seal the win. Part seemed to try to hard and failed to replicate that form vs The Power.

Meanwhile, Part’s compatriot Cameron rattled his way back from 3-1 down to defeat former Players Champion Kevin Painter in a deciding set. Painter, semi-finalist in February’s World Seniors Championship, landed a 110 checkout en route to a 3-1 lead, before Cameron took out 138 in taking the fifth set. Debutant qualifier Cameron. known as Excaliber, then edged set six in a deciding leg before going on to complete the comeback and set up an interesting clash with World Seniors Champion Robert Thornton.

Wayne Jones during the World Seniors Darts Tour Masters May 2022.

Wayne Jones, who, like Cameron, won his place in the Reading qualifier, marked his return to Lakeside with a solid 4-1 win over former UK Open champion Roland Scholten. The Wanderer reeled off three sets in a row, from one a piece, for victory. He will face Martin Adams in the last 16.