Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor ease through to Grand Slam quarter-finals

Michael van Gerwen has remained on course to defend his Grand Slam of Darts title with a 10-5 victory over Robert Thornton.

The world number one struggled to shake off the Scot over the opening 10 legs but he finished strongly to secure a comfortable win in the last 16.

He will now face Brendan Dolan in the quarter-finals after the Northern Irishman fought back to register a 11-9 triumph against Gerwyn Price.

Phil Taylor bounced back from his whitewash defeat to Darren Webster on Monday night to see off Lakeside runner-up Jeff Smith.

The six-time winner of the event in Wolverhampton was troubled by the Canadian over the first five legs but a mid-match surge ensured that he reached the quarter-finals with minimal fuss.

Taylor will play Peter Wright in the last eight after he reeled off eight successive legs to run out a 10-3 winner against Darryl Fitton.