DARTS legend Phil Taylor thrashed John Ferrell in the third round of the Blue Square UK Open last night then warned his rivals: I want this title and I’m going to win it.

The Power, 47, romped to an easy 9-3 win over former world championship quarter-finalist Ferrell and now wants to halt Raymond van Barneveld’s charge to three consecutive FA Cup of darts wins.

Taylor, who has drawn Jamie Harvey in today’s fourth round, admitted: “I’ve heard Barney say that this is his tournament – well he better be scared because I’m going to prove him wrong.

“Fair enough he’s won the last two years but that means nothing now, we all start equal and I want to win so much.

“Just like the FA Cup in football there are so many banana skins along the way and Saturday is a tough day because we have a lot of matches and tiredness can come into it. But if I find my top game no-one will beat me, simple as that.”

But Dutch Destroyer Barney made even lighter work of Tony Ayres with a 9-0 whitewashing and follows Taylor into the fourth round.

But there were also shocks galore. Former world No1 Colin Lloyd crashed out to Vincent van der Voort 9-4. Dennis Priestley also went out 9-8 to Nigel Birch while world No15 Kevin Painter was dumped out 9-3 by classy Colin Osbourne.

Mark Dudbridge came from 6-3 down to beat Alan Warriner-Little by the odd leg and Kirk Shepherd, the fairytale world championship finalist at the start of the year, also took an early exit losing 9-3 to Wayne Jones.

Adrian Lewis knocked out Wayne Mardle in the clash of the heavyweights with a thrilling 9-8 win. And new Scottish star Robert Thornton showed a Dutch of class to beat Michael van Gerwen in another classic.

The Thorn, 40, trailed 4-2 at one stage to the youngster but recovered to snatch a dramatic 9-7 victory.

Thornton admitted: “That was a really tough match. Michael is a very fine young player and he had me on the ropes at one stage.

“To be honest I had some luck. He missed some chances and at this level you can’t afford that. The crucial thing is to make the most of them – and I did.”