Phil Taylor produced a virtuoso display to crush the challenge of Irish danger man Mick McGowan and reach the third round of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship in Purfleet.

But it had to be a performance from the top drawer to win 4-1 against McGowan, who was unlucky to meet the greatest player in the history of darts right at the peak of his game.

McGowan was generally regarded as a potential threat to the 13-time world champion having beaten Taylor in a Players Championship event in Holland last month.

One of the fastest-improving throwers on the circuit, the Dubliner let nobody down with the way he played as he outscored his opponent in the 180 count by 10 to four and had a three-dart average constantly hovering around the 100 mark.

Against anyone else it would surely have resulted in victory, but 'The Power' was at his imperious best and after losing the opening set, the 46-year-old raised his game to a level nobody can match.

Whatever McGowan threw at him Taylor responded with darts of superior quality, but while the title-holder finished with a magnificent average of 109 he was flattered by the scoreline.

"Mick was fantastic," said Taylor, who will meet Chris Mason in the third round on Thursday night.

"I actually lost track of the score because he just kept trying and trying. I was two legs up in the last set and then he hit two 180s to really put the pressure on me.

"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."