ROCKET Ronnie Baxter is gunning for a place in the PDC World Darts Championships semi-finals at Purfleet tonight, with world number four Peter Manley standing in his way.

Manley, from Cumbria, had a narrow 6-5 victory over John Lowe in the second round after breaking his recent first round hoodoo with a win over Steve Brown in round one.

But now he faces the in-form Church-based Baxter, who currently boasts the highest average of 99.39.

Baxter came to fame in the mid-eighties, oddly enough on the North American circuit rather than the United Kingdom.

It was in America for a couple of years he swept all before him and probably spent more time "out west" than back home in Hyndburn.

Has a tendancy to run out of steam in the major competitions - as Manley claimed Lowe did in their marathon 11-setter - but seems in tremendous form this year.

However, Phil Taylor remains the man to beat and, ominously, he believes he is more than capable of producing a nine-dart finish at the Skol World Championship in Purfleet.

Peter Evison missed the magical finish by the width of the wire in his first-round defeat to Richie Burnett.

The former World Masters title-holder reeled off two maximums before a treble 20 and treble 15 put him in with a chance of the nine-darter - and a cheque for £100,000.

But he flighted his third dart just wide of double 18 and the agony on his face was clear for all to see.

Taylor, who is chasing a 10th world title at the Circus Tavern, twice hit back-to-back maximums against Shayne Burgess but his last three darts fell short.

However, the world number two is confident that the he can become the third player after John Lowe and Paul Lim to achieve the feat on television.

"I think it's going to come, I really do. I missed them both by miles yesterday, but I think I'm going to get more chances," said Taylor.

"I'm actually not nervous going for the nine-darter and that's when they come.

"It would be the icing on the cake for me. It's something I haven't done (on television) and would be fantastic for my sponsors and my manager Barry Hearn.

"The 10th world title is the most important thing for me but the nine-darter would be special."

Taylor produced arguably his best ever display in the 6-1 second-round win over Burgess.

The 41-year-old finished with a remarkable 111.21 three-dart average and now faces Canadian John Part, who inflicted a 6-0 defeat on Steve Beaton.

Taylor added: "I felt smashing, really relaxed. Normally I don't play until after dark but I felt comfortable during the afternoon session.

"I've put enough practice in and I will get stronger as each round goes on - so watch out because I'm coming."

Dennis Priestley brushed aside the challenge of Rod Harrington to book his place in the quarter-finals.

The 'Mexborough Menace' showed true Yorkshire grit to battle his way through and clinch a 6-3 win over a below-par world number three.

A relieved Priestley said: "It wasn't a classic but I played better towards the end.

"Rod must be devastated with the way he played because he is a far better player than that.

"But the way I've been performing lately I'm not a far better player than what's happened. I'm the luckiest player to be in the last eight."

Priestley will now face 'Diamond' Dave Askew, who ended Roland Scholten's hopes with an impressive 6-3 win.