Phil Taylor issued a warning to his Ladbrokes.com World Championship rivals with a 4-1 second-round demolition of the man some people were predicting could topple him.

'The Power' was at his peak as he recorded a three-dart average of 109 against Mick McGowan, the Irish qualifier regarded as a highly-dangerous opponent having beaten the 13-time world champion at an event in Holland last month.

The quality of Taylor's performance was put into context by the fact the 102 average of McGowan - who emerged with plenty of credit despite the convincing scoreline - was comfortably the second highest of the tournament so far.

Several other players, including Raymond van Barneveld and Taylor's own protege Adrian Lewis, have laid down their markers to contend for the title in Purfleet.

But the 46-year-old made a statement of intent against McGowan and showed he is a long way from being past his prime.

Next up for Taylor is Chris Mason, another man to have impressed in his two Circus Tavern wins, and while the 37-year-old has the ability to trouble his fellow Stoke-based player, the title-holder knows he has set a standard that will be difficult to match.

"The other players know they will have to up their averages," said Taylor, who is back in action tomorrow night.

"Chris Mason knows he will have to play well against me otherwise he will get beaten. And of course he will play well because he's a quality player.

"But he won't play any better than what the rest of them can do. It's tough out there and you just have to perform on the night.

"That's what the game is all about now. The gap between the top and the bottom is so close now it's unbelievable.

"They are all tough opponents. I won't run anyone down because they all deserve to be here."

Taylor was highly complimentary about fast-improving McGowan, who outscored him in the 180 count by 10 to four.

"Mick was fantastic," said Taylor. "I actually lost track of the scoreline of the match because he just kept trying and trying.

"I knew it would be a tough match because Mick had nothing to lose. He relaxed and never seemed to be under pressure, and I don't think he would have been even if it had gone all the way."

On a night full of action of the highest quality, with the number of 180s topping 60 in four matches, Alan Tabern won a sudden-death leg against Denis Ovens in another epic encounter.

The St Helens left-hander eventually triumphed 4-3 in a two-hour classic, Ovens also enduring the disappointment of missing double 12 for a perfect nine-dart leg in the third set.

Tabern, a 40-year-old qualifier ranked number 48 in the world, will now meet 'Diamond' Dave Askew, who resisted a stubborn fightback from Wayne Mardle's conqueror, Alan Caves, to win 4-2.

And there was more drama as Andy Hamilton overcame 2005 runner-up Mark Dudbridge in another fine tussle that went to a deciding set.