DEFENDING champion Michael van Gerwen recorded a 4-1 win against Terry Jenkins to sweep into the quarter-finals of the William Hill World Darts Championship.

Van Gerwen, who averaged just under 100, hit three 180s and an impressive 56 per cent on his doubles as he connected on 14 of his 25 efforts in an efficient display to move into the last eight at the Alexandra Palace.

Jenkins put up a decent fight as four of the five sets went the distance, but he was only able to win one of those deciding legs as van Gerwen found his extra gear at the right times to book a quarter-final tie against Thornton.

Van Gerwen quickly took the opening set without too many issues, sharing the opening two legs before following a 14-darter with a break of throw to move ahead.

Jenkins responded in the second as he came from a leg down to level the game in a deciding leg, having traded 12-darters with van Gerwen - as the Dutchman bettered his rival's 116 checkout with a 128 finish only to see the decider go to the Ledbury ace.

A high-quality third set also went all the way to a fifth leg, with Jenkins hitting finishes of 84 and 96 only to see van Gerwen follow up legs of 14 and 13 darts by finishing 76 in the decider.

Jenkins led with a 14-darter in set four and opened the second leg with two 180s to raise the prospect of a nine-dart finish - but after missing double 12 in the second round he was unable again to complete the 141 finish, although he returned to take out 76 for a 12-darter to move 2-0 up.

However, van Gerwen hit back with a 12-darter and then finished 72 to level the set, before opening the decider with a 177 score as he moved into a key 3-1 lead in sets.

Van Gerwen also landed a 177 as he opened set five with a 13-darter, with Jenkins taking out 122 and 96 to send the set into another decider, but the Dutchman finished with a flourish as a 65 finish for a 14-darter sealed his quarter-final place.

"I didn't play well in the beginning but overall I was consistent, I was professional and I didn't make many mistakes which is what I had to do," said van Gerwen.

"Even though I was 2-0 down in the fourth set I had a good feeling that I could win that, it was in my mind that I could win that and win the game.

"I'm confident I can go all the way in this tournament. I know when I play well I can beat everyone, but you need to prepare your game against everyone; I prepared to face Terry Jenkins and I did what I had to do to make it into the next round.

"It was a big test, it was not that close but there were a few 3-2 sets so it could have been closer and it's good to have a good game at this stage of the tournament."