Priestley bows to Ruthian effort by ‘The Power’ (UPDATED)

By Rob Miech

Friday, July 3, 2009 | 3:58 p.m.

Phil “The Power” Taylor crushed Dennis Priestley, 8-0, in the second round Friday before about 1,000 at Mandalay Bay, so why did the king of darts look as if someone had spilled his tea tray?

“I have a big soft spot for him,” Taylor said of Priestley. “He taught me how to save money … ”

The Power’s voice trailed off. His eyes glassed over.

The veterans have immense respect for each other, but there was a job to do. And Taylor improved to 31-5 against Priestley. Second-round losers get about $8,100.

“I’m gutted for him,” Taylor said. “I said to him, ‘You’d have done the same to me.’ We’re pros. It’s my job. But Dennis didn’t play as well as he could have.”

The quarterfinals of the Desert Classic are Saturday, and the semifinals and finale will take place Sunday.

The second round is the best-of-15 legs, and the Sky Sports commentators absolutely gushed about Taylor as he administered the textbook spanking.

“Dennis is up against a non-mortal.”

“It’s cruel. Venomous. But it’s great to rub your tonsils around.”

“It’s Ali, Ruth and Bradman.”

Don Bradman became a legendary Aussie cricketer in the 1950s and 1960s.

Taylor is keeping good company.

The rest of Friday’s action as it unfolds:

John Wade def. Andy Hamilton, 8-4

Wade, the lefty nicknamed “The Machine.” dominated in the day’s first match, improving his record against Hamilton to 10-4.

Adrian Lewis def. Peter Manley, 8-1

Lewis left Manley in his dust from the start and will play Wade in a quarterfinal Saturday. Wade, No. 2 in the Professional Darts Corporation’s Order of Merit, is 7-2 lifetime against Lewis.

John Part def. Jelle Klaasen, 8-7

Part, “Darth Maple” of Canada, trailed 4-2 when Klaasen slipped, allowing his foe to win the seventh game and cut his deficit in half. Part capitalized to take a 5-4 lead. Still, it was the first of the second rounder’s to go all 15 legs, and Klaasen had a chance to win. But his bull’s-eye toss for the victory erred a hair right out of the red circle. Part, needing 80 to win, drilled a triple-20 and a double-10. He improved to 3-0 vs. Klaasen.

Gary Anderson def. Wes Newton, 8-3

Anderson won seven of the first eight games before Newton put up a battle, finally winning a first throw. Alas, “The Flying Scotsman” had too big a lead. Remember, Anderson started this week with a semifinal loss to Phil Taylor in the Las Vegas Players Championship on Tuesday. That might have primed the former marble fireplace chiseler. Anderson gets Taylor next in a Saturday quarterfinal.

Raymond van Barneveld def. Co Stompe, 8-2

“Barney” improved to 5-0 lifetime against his fellow Dutchman. In the eighth leg, van Barneveld just missed executing the perfect nine-dart finish -- and getting a bonus of 10,000 British pounds -- when his final throw flew just south of the double-12. He got a rousing ovation from the crowd and a brisk handshake from Stompe. No matter, Barney closed out that leg to take a 6-2 lead and cruised.

Terry Jenkins def. Colin Lloyd, 8-3

Jenkins, nicknamed “The Bull,” bumped his lifetime series vs. Lloyd to 8-6. Even better, The Bull has played well vs. John Part, the Canadian ace who is No. 2 in the PDC and whom Jenkins gets next in the quarterfinals – they’ve split 10 matches.

Mervyn King def. Kevin Painter, 8-7

Mervyn “The Bull” won the first three games, then Kevin “The Artist” won four in a row. Painter had a chance to take a 5-3 lead, but he wilted. King capitalized, tied it 4-4 and zipped out to a 6-4 lead at the second break. The last match of the day was sloppy, but electric. King had a 7-5 lead but lost two in a row to force the exciting 15th leg. Painter was off, and King finished him off with a double-20. King, now 9-5 vs. Painter, makes the Desert Classic quarterfinals for the second time in his career. That’s where his run ended last year.

NOTES

Single-day tickets for Saturday’s quarterfinals (best-of-19 legs), and Sunday’s semifinals (best-of-21) and finale (best-of-25), are available for $25. The action starts both days at 11 a.m.