Defending champion James Wade booked a semi-final date with Brendan Dolan after a 4-2 victory over Andy Smith.
Dolan awaits in last four for defending champion
Defending champion James Wade booked a semi-final date with Brendan Dolan after a 4-2 victory over Andy Smith at the PartyPoker.com Grand Prix in Dublin.
The left-hander was forced to dig deep by the 'Pieman', who tied it up at two sets apiece before Wade edged the next two - which went to deciding legs - to progress.
Wade twice took the lead in sets but Smith scored heavily when it mattered, checking out 141 for a 12-darter on the way to levelling the match 1-1.
'The Machine' cruised through the third set and it looked as though Smith had cracked, only for him to level again with a quality 82 checkout in the deciding leg.
The next set also went to a fifth leg, Wade eventually under no threat with Smith miles back to take out double 10 and the overall lead for a third time.
And this time he made it stick despite some courageous darts from Smith, who bravely nailed double 18 to stay in the match at 2-2 in the sixth.
But it wasn't to be for the big man, who missed one dart at double 16 in the deciding leg to allow Wade the chance to win with double 10, and he duly obliged.
Breakthrough
Brendan Dolan booked a place in his first major semi-final with a 4-1 defeat of Scotland's John Henderson.
The Northern Ireland number one dropped the opening set 3-0 but hit back strongly as he took three consecutive legs of his own to level the match.
Dolan checked out 52 to edge ahead in the third set but back came Henderson with double 10 to send it into a decider.
Dolan had the first chance to take it but missed two darts at doubles, only for a jittery Henderson to blow his chance as he failed to check out 36 - the Northern Irishman taking an unexpected chance to hit double four.
Dolan had the darts at the start of the fourth and the first four legs went with them, Dolan the first to reach a double but missing two darts at tops.
But Henderson agains fluffed his lines, this time unable to take out 56 allowing Dolan to move into a 3-1 lead as he nailed double 10.
Dolan filled the bed at the start of the fifth set on the way to taking the opening leg against the darts, although Henderson to his credit levelled with a tasty 160 out shot.
With the pressure seemingly off the big man's shoulders, Henderson edged into a 2-1 lead but it was a fleeting response as Dolan hit double 10 and then double 14 to close it out for a deserved win.
Power surge
Eight-time champion Phil Taylor did not lose a set for the second night in succession as he crushed Mark Webster 4-0.
The Welshman had shocked Taylor in the quarter-finals of the World Championship nine months ago but there was to be no repeat in Dublin.
'The Power' broke Webster's throw in the second leg and raced through the opening set 3-0.
The key moment of the match came at 2-2 in the second leg, as Webster was left on 41 as Taylor hit a superb 101 finish immediately after a maximum.
That understandably knocked the stuffing out of Webster and Taylor raced through the third set 3-0.
Taylor missed a dart at double top for the match at 2-0 in the fourth and Webster bravely claimed the leg, but Taylor was not to be denied and in the next leg he took out a brilliant 145 checkout to wrap up the victory.
Taylor will face Richie Burnett in the semi-finals after the Welshman's remarkable return to form continued with a 4-1 victory over Mark Hylton.
The first two sets were shared by the odd leg, but the 'Prince of Wales' went clear with a 68 finish to win the third 3-1, then raced through the next 3-0.
Burnett led 2-0 in the fifth but 'Mile High' hit back with a 12-darter.
Burnett surpassed that in the next, winning the match in style with an 11-dart leg to set up his first televised semi-final in a decade.
