PDC World Darts Championship Day 2: Taylor, Wright, Hamilton Advance

The three big names on show all advanced from their first-round match-ups on the second day of the PDC World Darts Championship. Phil Taylor won his match with relative ease, although both Peter Wright and Andy Hamilton were forced to work for their victories. The only upset came as 32nd-seeded Stuart Kellett fell to German preliminary qualifier Sascha Stein.

It was business as usual for Taylor, as he dispatched Jyhan Artut in what was the most convincing display of the World Championships so far. He found the treble with ease and was clinical in finishing, winning the match in three sets—the first two without dropping a leg.

This was in direct contrast to last year, when after coming within a throw of losing his first-round match-up with Rob Szabo, he was bundled out in the second round. His darts had been wayward, and he was hitting with nowhere near the consistency we have come to expect. He followed up with an awful start to the Premier League, before coming right halfway through.

A year on, he looks to be back at his best and is one of the favourites to win what would be his 17th World Championship.

Earlier on, it was last year's runner-up Peter Wright on show. Wright emerged with his characteristic colourful hair—this time with a Christmas tree dyed on the right side—while his beard was also cut in the shape of a Christmas tree.

Despite winning in three sets, Wright was forced to work hard by former rugby union player and Welshman Gerwyn Price. Price hit a handful of 180's and was able to force two of the three sets into a deciding leg.

But his accuracy deserted him when it counted, and Wright walked away the victor.

2012 runner-up Andy Hamilton survived an early scare in the first match of the night, scraping through to beat Dave Richardson 3-2.