JAMES WILSON knocked out Adrian Lewis to reach the quarter-finals of the Unibet World Grand Prix for the first time as Peter Wright, Mensur Suljovic and Gerwyn Price also enjoyed Wednesday wins in Dublin.
Wilson defeated last year's runner-up Simon Whitlock in round one of the double-start event and backed it up with a 3-2 win over two-time World Champion Lewis at the Citywest Convention Centre.
The Yorkshireman continued his recent fine form, twice taking the lead in sets only for runner-up Lewis to battle back and take the match to a decider.
Wilson pinned crucial doubles to go within a leg of victory and, with Lewis taking six darts to double-in, cruised to victory in the final leg to set up a last eight showdown with Wright.
"I can't believe it, I feel like I'm dreaming and anything is possible," said Wilson, who took out 150 and a showpiece 125 during the contest.
"I knew it was a massive game playing against Adrian, just like it was against Simon and I'm so happy to get through.
"I have to credit my wife for my recent form, she always supports me - the support I get from my family spurs me on to do bigger and better things.
"A few times tonight I miscounted but if you make a mistake you have to be able to laugh it off and go again.
"Now I know what I've got to do to beat Peter and hopefully I will do it."
Wright dropped just two legs in his 3-0 whitewash of Jermaine Wattimena to equal his best tournament performance and continue his quest to win the £100,000 top prize.
Despite not being at his best, Wright's scoring proved too much for Dutch debutant Wattimena as the world number two cruised through to the last eight for a second consecutive year.
However, the Scot feels he is going under the radar in this year's event and is keen to make his mark in Thursday's quarter-finals.
"Apparently this competition is all about Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson," said Wright.
"We're just here to turn up apparently, so some commentators keep saying.
"It feels like sometimes we're not invited to the party but sorry guys I'm going to gate-crash that party - I'll be there in the final."
A sublime display of finishing proved the difference for two-time semi-finalist Mensur Suljovic in his 3-0 destruction of Ian White.
World number six Suljovic landed four ton-plus checkouts and three bullseye finishes to knock White out of the Dublin event for a second successive year.
Suljovic reached the semi-finals last year and the Austrian fans' favourite is feeling confident about his chances of going two better this time out.
"This is the first time I have ever said this about a tournament but I think I can win this one," said Suljovic, who will face Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals.
"I think the checkouts on the bullseye killed Ian but if you give me chances I will take them.
"I don't care who I play in the rest of this tournament, I am focused only on my game."
Welsh star Price reached the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time with a 3-1 win over Steve Beaton.
The world number 12 punished Beaton's missed darts at finishing double throughout, and pinned a crucial double 11 with his last dart in hand to go two sets ahead after his rival wasted his chance to level.
Two-time semi-finalist Beaton, who was starring in his 15th World Grand Prix, pulled a set back before Price came back strongly in the fourth and found his favourite double top to finish the job.
"I felt like I couldn't be myself and go for the big celebrations tonight because I have so much respect for Steve," said Price.
"At key stages of the match I got a burst of energy that I just had to let go. I was so glad to see the double 11 go in for the second set after I missed three darts for it."
Price added: "Mensur believes he can win it just like I do or else I wouldn't be here. I'm going to try to out-do him on his favourite double 14!"
The Unibet World Grand Prix continues on Thursday with the four quarter-final ties, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and worldwide through the PDC's series of international broadcast partners, as well as at PDCTV-HD for Rest of the World Subscribers.
Photos courtesy of Lawrence Lustig.
Unibet World Grand Prix
Wednesday October 3
Second Round
Mensur Suljovic 3-0 Ian White
Gerwyn Price 3-1 Steve Beaton
Peter Wright 3-0 Jermaine Wattimena
James Wilson 3-2 Adrian Lewis
Best of five sets
Thursday October 4 (7pm)
Quarter-Finals
Mensur Suljovic v Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright v James Wilson
Daryl Gurney v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
Best of five sets