Stan James World Matchplay - Quarter-Final Afternoon Session Reports

REPORTS from the first two quarter-finals at the Stan James World Matchplay, with Terry Jenkins defeating Ronnie Baxter and Mervyn King taking on James Wade.

Watch the action live on Sky Sports. The second two quarter-finals will take place on Thursday evening.

Stan James World Matchplay
Quarter-Finals
Terry Jenkins 16-13 Ronnie Baxter
James Wade 16-11 Mervyn King
Best of 31 legs

TERRY JENKINS 16-13 RONNIE BAXTER

TERRY JENKINS survived a scare from Ronnie Baxter before sealing his place in the semi-finals of the Stan James World Matchplay with a 16-13 win.

Baxter came from behind to win his second round match against Michael van Gerwen, and looked set to produce another fightback when he hit back from 15-8 to 15-13.

However, Jenkins regained his composure after missing six match darts earlier in the game to finally book his last four berth, where he will face Phil Taylor or Roland Scholten.

"I feel relieved to get that last leg - I didn't think it was going to come," said Jenkins. "The missed doubles weren't far away

"I didn't feel any pressure until Ronnie started coming back and at 15-8 you don't think he can come back, but Ronnie has been around for years and is capable of that.

"It's getting over that last hurdle that's hard for me on odd occasions, and that is dangerous. But I'm in the semi-finals now and it feels great."

Jenkins took an early 4-1 lead before Baxter hit back to 5-4, only for two further bursts from the number five seed to keep him ahead at 9-5 and 14-7.

A superb 125 finish lifted Baxter, and he put together a run of five straight legs to pull himself back into the match before Jenkins finally stumbled over the finishing line.

"I missed too many doubles early on and that cost me," said Baxter. "I had too much to do late on, and when Terry was only one leg away it was always going to be hard to pull back."

JAMES WADE 16-11 MERVYN KING

JAMES WADE remains on course for a second successive Stan James World Matchplay final following a 16-11 quarter-final victory over Mervyn King at the Winter Gardens.

Wade fought through to his first major final 12 months ago in Blackpool, and recaptured that form to see off the impressive PDC newcomer.

Wade never trailed against his gutsy opponent, and eventually pushed himself over the winning line to set up a semi-final against Raymond van Barneveld or Adrian Lewis.

"It's great," said Wade. "I've been lucky but seem to keep hitting the doubles that count.

"I came through a tight game against Dennis Priestley in round two and have done the same in this game, so there's not much more I can do."

King began well, taking out 126 and 88 to hold his throw, but Wade stepped in to win leg six against the throw with a 14-darter for the first break of the match to move 4-2 up.

King took out 114 to win the eighth leg, but another break from Wade, in 15 darts, saw him extend his advantage to 7-3.

Back-to-back 14-darters from King halved the deficit, only for Wade to take two of the next three and lead 9-6 at the third break.

A 133 finish for a 12-darter saw Wade push further clear at 12-8 and further heighten King's frustration as missed doubles cost the former World Masters champion.

He shared the next four legs to stay in touch at 14-10, but Wade landed double 16 to move within a leg of victory.

King took the 26th leg, but a sixth maximum of the game sent Wade on his way to wrapping up the win on double top.

"Overall the whole game wasn't very good for me but I struggled to reach the board," said King.

"The throw felt long to me, although I know it's not because I was there when they measured it. It was very frustrating, everything I went for I was surrounding but not hitting."

King defeated Colin Lloyd and Andy Jenkins to reach the last eight on his World Matchplay debut, and added: "I suppose it's been a good event for me, but I look to do this and more in every tournament I enter.

"It certainly doesn't surprise me that I've reached the quarter-finals but I would have been looking to reach the semi-final really as I fancied my chances against James."