Baxter swept aside in Glasgow
Phil Taylor kept his unbeaten record intact with an 8-4 victory over Ronnie Baxter in week nine of the Whyte and Mackay Premier League.
The world champion struggled on his doubles, landing eight of 32 attempts, but was still too strong for a below-par Baxter in front of a raucous crowd at the SECC in Glasgow.
The opening eight legs were shared before the Stoke thrower stepped up a gear, winning the next four in a row to seal the result.
"I'm really happy with the win," Taylor, who now has eight victories and a draw in this year's competition.
"My doubles were terrible but when I needed one it went in.
"It was exceptionally noisy tonight but, fair play to them, they paid their money and were fair to both players."
King defeat
Taylor is now seven points clear at the top of the standings after James Wade claimed the scalp of second-placed Mervyn King.
Wade's heavy scoring allowed him to open a 4-0 advantage before King hit back to reduce his deficit to two legs at the interval.
But Wade was dominant when the players returned to the oche, taking four of the next six and closing out an 8-4 success in style with an 81 checkout.
The Aldershot left-hander is now in sixth place, just one point outside of the play-off spots.
"I'm kind of still in the running, although it's no secret I've made it hard work for me," said Wade, who had seven 180s.
"I shouldn't have got myself in this situation but I've still got a slight chance."
Simon Whitlock kept hold of fourth position in the table with an 8-3 demolition of Terry Jenkins.
The Australian was never under pressure after claiming the opening three legs.
He was pegged back to 4-2 at the interval but another run of three on the bounce took him to the brink of victory, which was duly closed out in 11th leg.
Intimidated
Whitlock, with nine points, remains in the final play-off position on legs difference from Adrian Lewis, who had won a topsy-turvy encounter with Raymond van Barneveld in the first match of the evening.
Lewis raced into a 4-1 lead before Van Barneveld belatedly found his range to the delight of the partisan crowd.
The Dutchman took five of the next six to move ahead at 6-5, aided by missed doubles from his opponent in both the 10th and 11th legs.
But Lewis levelled with a 127 checkout and won the next two to close out an 8-6 triumph.
"I've never been so intimidated (by a crowd) in all my life," Lewis said. "I can't believe how (well) I performed.
"Barney played well in patches and put me under pressure, I'm just thankful for the win."
