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Robert Thornton stunned Phil Taylor with a brilliant performance in Brighton, while James Wade and Michael van Gerwen moved joint top of the McCoy’s Premier League on Thursday evening.

Thornton moved into the play-off places at the expense of world number one Taylor as the Scotsman continued to impress on his debut season.

The reigning UK Open champion averaged well over 100 for the second week running as he claimed an impressive 7-4 success over ‘The Power’.

The victory moved ‘The Thorn’ onto eleven points and third in the table, as attention turns to the race for the play-offs after Wes Newton and Gary Anderson suffered relegation.

“I’m very proud of myself,” admitted Thornton, who has now won three of his last four televised matches against Taylor.

“Not just for tonight but for how I’ve taken to the Premier League so far.

“It was a huge relief to have not been in the relegation fight tonight so I just relaxed an enjoyed myself.”

Wade defeated Anderson in convincing fashion, with ‘The Machine’ hitting seven out of eight attempts at doubles en route to a 7-3 triumph.

“It is going really well this year,” said Wade, the 2009 winner.

“It wasn’t nice to knock Gary out of the tournament but I had a job to do and I did it.

“It puts me in a good position to reach the play-offs.

“I’ve set myself a target of winning two majors this year and hopefully this can be the first of those.”

van Gerwen joined Wade at the summit of the table with victory over Simon Whitlock, who survived relegation despite the defeat.

Raymond van Barneveld claimed a comfortable victory over Adrian Lewis to join van Gerwen and Wade on twelve points, while Andy Hamilton defeated Newton in the other match of the evening.

By Chris Murphy

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

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