World Championship Quarter-Finals

PHIL TAYLOR and Raymond van Barneveld romped into the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship without dropping a set to kick off 2010 in style at Alexandra Palace.

The pair, who competed in last year's final, remain on a collision course to meet again in this year's decider on Sunday after powering into the last four of the £1 million event.

Taylor dropped only four legs in a 5-0 defeat of his former practice partner in Stoke Adrian Lewis, who had impressed in reaching the quarter-finals but ultimately paid the price for one missed dart to win the opening set.

Taylor then took nine successive legs in sweeping into a four-set lead before edging the fifth to complete the rout, recording the highest average of the tournament so far at 107.37 in setting up a semi-final with former Lakeside Champion Mark Webster on Saturday night.

Van Barneveld was similarly impressive in restricting Ronnie Baxter to just three legs in his five-set romp.

The Dutchman, who was diagnosed as diabetic last summer, showed signs of fatigue in his third round win over Kevin Painter but hardly broke sweat in a comfortable victory against the number seven seed.

Whitlock had powered into the semis earlier in the day with a thrilling 5-3 win over James Wade, averaging 105, hitting 15 maximums and a 170 finish in a superb display.

Webster earned his place in the last four in his first tilt at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship by seeing off Co Stompe 5-3, taking a 4-0 lead before the Dutchman threatened a miracle comeback.

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A limited number of extra tickets have been made available for these final four sessions and can be purchased via www.seetickets.com/darts and collected from Alexandra Palace on the day.

Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Friday January 1
Quarter-Finals
Co Stompe 3-5 Mark Webster
Simon Whitlock 5-3 James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld 5-0 Ronnie Baxter
Phil Taylor 5-0 Adrian Lewis

Click here for audio reaction from players

AFTERNOON SESSION

MARK WEBSTER 5-3 CO STOMPE
(3-0, 3-1, 3-1, 3-1, 1-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-0)
MARK WEBSTER continued his dream debut at Alexandra Palace to reach the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship semi-finals with a 5-3 triumph over Co Stompe.

The Welshman appeared to be cruising after winning the first four sets, but Stompe hit back to win three in a row before Webster sealed the match in the eighth.

Webster came out all guns blazing, winning the first two legs of the match with checkouts of 118 and 136 and returned after four missed doubles to take out double 14 for the first set and an early advantage.

Webster kept up the pace in the second set, winning the first leg in 14 darts and following that with a two-dart 76 finish.

Stompe managed to win his first leg of the contest in the next after Webster missed opportunities to seal the set, but the former Lakeisde cChampion made no mistake in the fourth, which included his second maximum of the game to confirm a two-set lead.

A 13-dart finish gave Webster the opening leg of the third set and he won the second with an 84 checkout.

Stompe hit a 13 darter of his own to win just his second leg of the match, but then missed a dart at double top in the fourth which allowed Webster the opportunity of moving 3-0 ahead, and he took it by hitting double ten with his final dart.

The Dutchman, who defeated former finalist Mark Dudbridge in the third round, won the first leg of the fourth set but Webster replied to win the second with a 75 finish. The left-hander won the third leg against the darts and established a four-set lead with a 94 checkout to move closer to a semi-final place.

Stompe hit a 13-dart finish to make a winning start to the fifth set but lost the second after missing a host of opportunities at doubles.

The 47-year-old Dutchman led again by converting an 81 finish, with Webster waiting on 40, and then won the fourth leg to seal the set.

Stompe won the first leg of the sixth and then broke throw to win the second before Webster hit a fabulous 130 checkout to take the third, only to then miss four darts at double top to keep the set alive - and the Dutchman made him pay by hitting double 12 to reduce the deficit.

The first two legs of the seventh set were held with throw before Stompe secured the advantage with a break of throw in the third by hitting double nine, with his last dart.

Stompe hit his fifth 180 of the game in the fourth leg but missed four darts at double top for the set and Webster stepped up to hit double 16 and level.

The deciding leg was finely balanced but Stompe managed to hold throw by hitting double 16, with his opponent waiting on double top, to win the set and increase the pressure on Webster.

The eighth set began with Webster winning the first leg with an 82 finish, which was followed by a 71 checkout as he moved two legs ahead and closer to the winning line.

A maximum from the Welshman put him in command of the third leg and he double top to end Stompe's comeback and seal victory.

"When I was 4-0 up I just wanted to win the fifth set and get the match over with," said Webster, who now plays either Phil Taylor or Adrian Lewis.

"Whether I play Phil or Adrian in the semi-final I intend to enjoy to myself as I have nothing to lose. The last two games are my best two on TV, and I'm really confident."

Stompe admitted: "I gave him a run for his money - but it wasn't enough. Mark came out firing and played brilliantly to get 4-0 ahead and that was the deciding factor."

Click here for audio reaction from Mark Webster and Co Stompe

Match Stats

Co Stompe	3-5	Mark Webster
33	100+	39
20	140+	22
5	180s	5
31.62	Ave 1	32.85
94.86	Ave 3	98.54
81	High Finish	136,130,118
6	Legs Against Throw	9

SIMON WHITLOCK 5-3 JAMES WADE
(3-0, 3-0, 1-3, 3-1, 2-3, 2-3, 3-0, 3-0)
SIMON WHITLOCK produced the performance of his life to send James Wade crashing out of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 5-3 defeat in arguably the finest game seen on the Alexandra Palace stage.

The Australian recorded the second highest average of the tournament so far at 105.37, as well as landing 15 maximums and a 170 checkout in a superb display.

Whitlock had led 3-1 only for the number three seed to hit back and level the game - but the Cessnock-based thrower powered to the finishing line by winning six consecutive legs to seal a place in the semi-finals.

Whitlock produced an astonishing start to the match, winning the first leg with an 11-darter, a 122 checkout to take the second in 12 darts and the third in 14 to wrap up the first set in just 37 darts.

A brace of 14-dart finishes followed without Wade having a shot at a double, before he won a sixth successive leg with another 122 finish, which was converted by hitting treble 18, double 18 and double 16 to take a 2-0 lead.

Wade only had one attempt at a double at that stage but he managed to win his first leg of the game at the start of the third set, and traded maximums with Whitlock in a 13-darter to take the second.

Whitlock hit another 180 in the process of recording a 12-dart finish to win the third leg, but Wade landed double top in the next to win the set and get himself into the contest.

The Australian took an early advantage in the fourth set with a two-dart 87 finish before Wade won the second to level. Whitlock regained the lead with a 70 finish to win the third and then took the next by hitting double top to restore a two-set cushion.

Whitlock claimed the first leg of the fifth before Wade won a high-quality second leg after both players had hit maximums, while the third was a dramatic affair that was won by the left-hander on double six following misses from the Australian.

Whitlock, the 2008 Lakeside Championship runner-up, put that disappointment behind him to win the fourth leg, but Wade took the decider with a two-dart 98 checkout to seal the fifth set.

Wade hit a 12-dart finish to win the opening leg of the sixth before Whitlock landed the second with a fantastic 126 checkout on the bullseye.

Wade won the next leg after both players hit a 180, and the players repeated the trick in the fourth which was won by Whitlock after his opponent had missed a dart at bullseye to take the set.

The Aldershot man, who came through a tough third round match against Andy Hamilton, won the deciding leg by hitting double 10 to square the game at three apiece and threaten another comeback victory.

Whitlock, though, regained the lead by winning the seventh set in stunning fashion. He hit a wonderful 170 checkout to win the opening leg - the first of his career in a televised game - followed by 150 finish in the second leg, before taking out 50 to regain the advantage and move a set away from victory.

Whitlock secured a vital break of throw at the start of the eighth set after converting an 80 finish, and landed a 15th maximum of the game in taking the second.

And when Wade failed to leave a double in the next, twice hitting the wrong single number, Whitlock capitalised on double top to end an incredible match.

"That's probably the hardest match I've ever played in," revealed Whitlock. "I was really focused and knew that I had to play at my best.

"My whole life has changed through this one tournament and I have been able to gain a sponsor too and that will enable me to move to the UK and play on the PDC circuit full-time this year. I try to play the board and not the player and I have full belief in my ability."

Click here for audio reaction from Simon Whitlock

Match Stats

Simon Whitlock	5-3	James Wade
31	100+	34
23	140+	22
15	180s	9
35.12	Ave 1	32.42
105.37	Ave 3	97.29
170,150,126,122x2	High Finish	98
9	Legs Against Throw	5

EVENING SESSION

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 5-0 RONNIE BAXTER
(3-0, 3-0, 3-1, 3-0, 3-2)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD cruised into the semi-finals of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 5-0 thrashing of Ronnie Baxter.

Baxter failed to find the form he had produced in his previous matches in allowing the Dutchman to make comfortable progress to a semi-final meeting with Simon Whitlock at Alexandra Palace.

The Dutchman had struggled against tiredness in seeing off Kevin Painter in the last 16, but showed no ill-effects in sweeping to a third straight-sets win of the tournament so far.

Van Barneveld won the first leg of the match in impressive fashion by hitting the bullseye to convert an 85 finish, and the next two legs also went in his favour as he wrapped up the first set with ease.

The second set followed a similar pattern as van Barneveld doubled his lead without dropping a leg, winning the first leg with a 12-darter after recording an 81 finish, the second in 15 darts and the third on double top to extend his cushion.

Van Barneveld won a seventh leg on the trot to make a winning start to the third set before Baxter finally got off the mark with a 13-dart finish to win the second leg.

The five-time World Champion hit his third maximum of the game in process of taking a 2-1 lead, and then won the set in the fourth leg by hitting double eight to leave Baxter with a mountain to climb.

Van Barneveld continued to dominate as he broke throw at the start of the fourth set courtesy of a 93 finish. He then won the second leg with an accurate dart at double 16 after Baxter had missed an opportunity at the same bed.

Van Barneveld hit an 80 finish in the third to give him the set after Baxter missed two more chances at double 16, before the Dutchman won the opening leg of the fifth set.

Baxter hit a 180 in the process of taking just his second leg of the match to level in 13 darts, and then recorded a 120 checkout to ahead in a set for the first time.

But van Barneveld won the fourth leg with an 88 finish and closed out the game with a clinical two-dart 100 checkout.

"I felt much better up on stage today," revealed van Barneveld. "In my last game I didn't feel good and was uncomfortable but I had a nice rest on Thursday.

"I have known Simon Whitlock for many years - and he is a fantastic guy. He's beaten me and Phil Taylor before in the International Darts League, so it's no surprise to see him do well here.

"He's been playing awesome darts all week but I can improve and if I believe in myself who knows what can happen."

Click here for audio reaction from Raymond van Barneveld and Ronnie Baxter

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	5-0	Ronnie Baxter
30	100+	27
12	140+	11
4	180s	1
31.72	Ave 1	30.15
95.16	Ave 3	90.46
100	High Finish	120
7	Legs Against Throw	1

PHIL TAYLOR 5-0 ADRIAN LEWIS
(3-2, 3-0, 3-0, 3-0, 3-2)
PHIL TAYLOR stormed into the semi-finals of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a superb display to end the hopes Adrian Lewis with a straight sets rout.

Taylor ended the match with a three-dart average of 107.37, the highest of the tournament so far, in booking a semi-final meeting with Mark Webster on Saturday night.

Lewis had impressed in his previous three matches, but ultimately paid the price for one missed dart at double top to take the first set as Taylor powered clear with 11 successive legs in setting up the win.

Lewis won a competitive opening leg with a two-dart 58 finish before Taylor won the second leg by hitting double three.

The Stoke youngster then went 2-1 up with an impressive 13-dart finish but the world number one held throw to win the fourth leg by hitting double top.

A dramatic deciding leg saw Lewis hit a maximum only for Taylor to hit two 180s on the spin. Lewis was first to the finish, but his dart at double top fell just short for a 104 finish and Taylor stepped to convert an 81 finish - hitting double 12 with his last dart to snatch the crucial opening set.

Taylor defied a maximum from Lewis to win the first leg of the second set and won the second with a 79 finish after Lewis missed two attempts at double top.

The set was then sealed with a two-dart 48 finish before Taylor made a winning start to the third set, courtesy of a 13-dart finish.

Taylor hit two 180s in the process of winning the second leg and then hit two more in the third leg, in a superb 12-darter to establish a 3-0 advantage in the contest.

Taylor continued his run of wining legs by taking the first of the fourth set, defying a sixth maximum of the game from the 24-year-old.

Taylor, who has only dropped one set so far in the tournament, then won the second leg by hitting double eight to break throw and the third with the aid of another 180 to go 4-0 up thanks to a run of 11 successive legs.

Lewis won his first leg since the middle of the first set at the start of the fifth with a 64 finish for a 12-darter, but Taylor replied with a 62 checkout of his own to level.

The youngster took the third leg after hitting double ten, but Taylor won the fourth with a classy 108 checkout, and again found the goods in the deciding leg, defying a 180 from Lewis with scores of 174 and 180 of his own before checking out double eight for a 12-darter to seal an emphatic win.

"I didn't feel nervous at all about this - more excited than anything," revealed Taylor. "I felt very relaxed out there and I didn't give Adrian many opportunities.

"I finished well and matched him for 180s, and every time I was on a finish I had to take it out, which I did."

He added: "I'm expecting Mark to play well and I'm going to hit him with everything I can in the semis. That's what this game is all about, because he'll whack you and I'll have a big push against Mark.

"He hasn't really got the breaks since his moved to the PDC and he really deserves his place in the semi-finals. He is a former World Champion, which some people seem to forget."

Lewis admitted: "Phil was too good but I don't think the scoreline reflected the game. I had a shot at 104 for the first set and I wired the double top, and he took out 81, and that hurt.

"I was chasing straight away, which doesn't help, but I've got to take my hat off to him because he was fantastic. Six of the ten 180s he hit were in the final leg of a set."

Click here for audio reaction from Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis

Match Stats