PHIL TAYLOR and Raymond van Barneveld kicked off their Blue Square UK Open challenges with impressive victories in Bolton on Friday night.
Taylor produced a 104 average in his 9-3 win over John Ferrell, but admitted he was distracted by a night of upsets on the other seven stages at the Reebok Stadium.
While defending champion van Barneveld was a 9-0 victor against Tony Ayres, two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley, 2004 UK Open champion Roland Scholten and former world number one Colin Lloyd crashed out of the event.
"It was a good start for me but I'll get better as the tournament progresses," said Taylor. "I was looking round at what was happening in the other games so I have to concentrate more on Saturday."
Taylor will meet resurgent Scottish veteran Jamie Harvey - who has lost his voice due to a throat infection - in the last 32, while van Barneveld meets Irishman Jason Barry.
The world number one looked back to his best following a disappointing Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts campaign, and said: "I played well and my doubles were brilliant. I love this tournament but I'm still only in the last 32."
His fellow Dutchman Vincent van der Voort took eight successive legs in coming from 4-1 down to knock Lloyd from the tournament, while Stoke qualifier "Nutty" Nigel Birch sent Priestley to a 9-8 defeat.
Scholten was defeated 9-4 by 2005 runner-up Mark Walsh, while former BDO world number one Robert Thornton continued his progression with a narrow 9-7 victory against Michael van Gerwen.
America's Gary Mawson, who was lucky to be allowed to enter the UK earlier this week after leaving his passport in an airport lounge in New York, moved into round four with a 9-7 win over Alex Roy.
Wayne Mardle paid for missing match darts in two legs as Adrian Lewis came from 8-7 down to win a thrilling contest in a deciding leg, with the Stoke youngster hitting eight 180s in edging out the fans' favourite.
World Champion John Part included a 167 finish in his comprehensive 9-2 win over Colin Monk, while his rivals in the world's top five, James Wade and Terry Jenkins, were also impressive in heavy wins over Justin Pipe and Andy Smith.
Teenage Bradford postman Joe Cullen saw his dream ended by Chris Mason, having won through from Thursday's first round to reach the last 64 before losing 9-5 to the experienced Englishman.
Part and Jenkins were drawn together in the pick of the fourth round games, which will be played on Saturday afternoon at the Reebok Stadium.
Thornton and Waites, the two remaining Holsten Qualifiers, will take on top opposition in Alan Tabern and Ronnie Baxter respectively, while Birch drew Dutch youngster Jelle Klaasen.
Van der Voort and Colin Osborne face off in a repeat of their 2007 semi-final, which the Dutchman won 11-10, while Peter Manley will take on Mark Dudbridge, who came from 6-2 and 8-6 down to defeat Alan Warriner-Little.
World number three Wade drew emerging Bristol talent Steve Brown in round four, while former practice partners Andy Hamilton and Chris Mason go head-to-head.
2008 Blue Square UK Open
Third Round
Main Stage
Michael van Gerwen 7-9 Robert Thornton
Vincent van der Voort 9-4 Colin Lloyd
John Ferrell 3-9 Phil Taylor
Adrian Lewis 9-8 Wayne Mardle
John Part 9-2 Colin Monk
Board Two
Mervyn King 8-9 Wes Newton
Tony Ayres 0-9 Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter 3-9 Colin Osborne
James Wade 9-3 Justin Pipe
Andy Smith 1-9 Terry Jenkins
Board Three
Kirk Shepherd 3-9 Wayne Jones
Paul Cooper 7-9 Alan Tabern
Jelle Klaasen 9-6 Dave Askew
Martyn Turner 6-9 Jamie Harvey
Board Four
Mark Dudbridge 9-8 Alan Warriner-Little
Barrie Bates 9-4 Jason Clark
Peter Manley 9-3 Dave Honey
Steve Evans 8-9 Simon Whatley
Board Five
Nigel Birch 9-8 Dennis Priestley
Mark Walsh 9-4 Roland Scholten
Alan Casey 2-9 Jason Barry
Board Six
Steve Brown 9-5 Kevin McDine
Matt Clark 2-9 Andy Hamilton
Steve Smith 9-7 Andy Jenkins
Board Seven
Scott Waites 9-4 Wayne Atwood
Gary Mawson 9-7 Alex Roy
David Platt 4-9 Mark Lawrence
Ronnie Baxter 9-1 Sam Rooney
Board Eight
John MaGowan 5-9 Brendan Dolan
Steve Maish 9-6 Denis Ovens
Chris Mason 9-5 Joe Cullen
Chris Thompson 9-4 Adrian Gray