Adrian Lewis has had a similar year to last, when he went on to reach the World Championship final.
The Stoke-on-Trent thrower continued his bid to win the title for a third time with a comfortable 4-0 win over Joe Cullen at Alexandra Palace on Friday.
Last year's runner-up Lewis, champion in 2011 and 2012, began in blistering fashion and ended with an average of just under 103.
The 31-year-old warned that "there is more in the tank" following his victory as he prepares for a potential blockbuster clash against five-time winner Raymond van Barneveld in the third round.
'Jackpot' has not had the best of years, with World Cup glory alongside Phil Taylor the one major title he could boast about.
But Sky Sports' darts expert Wayne Mardle believes Lewis is now playing "beautifully" and could repeat his run to the World Championship final.
"We've said it before, it's the format that he loves, it's the tournament that he loves. It's the best and biggest tournament," Wayne Mardle told Sky Sports Darts.
"If you're going to turn up somewhere, just like Gary Anderson, just like Phil Taylor -, the one they perform at best is [the World Championship].
"Adrian Lewis last year was looking halfway through the year like he was not interested in darts. He wasn't playing well, he was being kind of lazy, he said he wasn't practising. He turns up here last year, get through to the final and has a chance, a real chance to win it.
"This year, he's had a similar year, but he's actually applied himself. Him and Keith Deller [his manager] and said 'look, if you don't apply yourself you're not going to go anywhere. You're going to go backwards'. Look how he's playing now, he's playing beautifully."
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