Mick McGowan is desperately hoping the pre-Christmas fog disappears - to give him a clear sight of 13-time world champion Phil Taylor.

The Irishman, who has made rapid improvement in recent months, is due to meet Taylor in the second round of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship at Purfleet's Circus Tavern on Boxing Day evening.

But the fog that has caused travel chaos in the lead-up to the festive period, grounding hundreds of flights, will need to have lifted so McGowan can return to Essex for his dream date with the title-holder.

"I'm spending Christmas back in Ireland," said the 33-year-old qualifier, who beat 31st seed Matt Clark on Monday and therefore had eight days between his first and second matches.

"I've had a couple of days back at work and I fly over to England again on Boxing Day morning. I'm booked on the first flight out of Dublin and I can't wait."

Although Taylor has only ever been beaten by three men - Dennis Priestley, Kevin Spiolek and John Part - in World Championships dating back to his debut victory in 1990, many people feel McGowan has a live chance of becoming the fourth to do so.

He knocked Taylor out of a Players Championship event in Holland last month and has strung together some impressive performances away from the television cameras.

"I've had a great three months and I'm looking to push on now," said McGowan. "Things are going really well for me.

"I had never played Phil before we met in Holland and I went up there to try to test myself and see how I could compete. As the match went on I told myself I was hanging in there and that I had a chance. It was fabulous to win it, in the last leg too."

Now he must try to repeat the trick in the darts world's most prestigious tournament and at a venue Taylor has made his own.

"I've done okay on the circuit but the World Championship is completely different to anything else you can play in," added McGowan. "It's just the pressure of it - this is what everyone plays for all year.

"But if you're not going to look forward to playing Phil on the biggest stage in the world you shouldn't be playing the game. We are all geared up for playing Phil because he's the best."