RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD defeated Phil Taylor for the first time since his move to the PDC with an amazing 11-10 win in the Budweiser UK Open quarter-finals.
Van Barneveld lost twice to Taylor in the Premier League Darts this year, but produced one of his gutsiest displays to come from 6-2 down.
He led 2-1 early on, but paid for missing doubles in four successive legs as Taylor pulled away.
A run of four successive legs saw van Barneveld move back in front at 8-7, but once again Taylor lifted to edge 9-8 and 10-9 up.
But van Barneveld landed two 140s in the 20th leg before taking out double 18 to send the game into a decider.
Taylor began the decider with shots of 137 and 140, with van Barneveld trailing after shots of 60 and 59.
The Dutchman produced a maximum on his third visit to the oche, but Taylor was left on double top.
The double UK Open champion, though, missed three darts for the match, and van Barneveld checked out 97 to take the win.
"I'm exhausted," said the Dutchman. "I can't believe it, this means the world to me.
"Phil has beaten me so many times over the years and I've finally got one back. I thought I could play darts, but Phil is something else, perfection.
"But I've not won the tournament yet, so I'll regather myself for the semi-finals."
Taylor admitted: "It was a brilliant game and fair play to Raymond. I had my shots to win it, I had three darts for double top so I can't complain."
Welshman Barrie Bates, Northern Ireland's John MAGowan and St Helens player Alan Tabern are the other semi-finalists.
Bates came from 6-1 and 10-7 down to win 11-10 against Alex Roy, MAGowan defeated Robbie Green 11-8 and Tabern overcame Andy Callaby 11-5.
Budweiser UK Open
Quarter-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 11-10 Phil Taylor
Barrie Bates 11-10 Alex Roy
Alan Tabern 11-5 Andy Callaby
John MAGowan 11-8 Robbie Green
Semi-Final Draw
Alan Tabern v Barrie Bates
John MAGowan v Raymond van Barneveld