Adrian Lewis showed why he is World Champion after seeing off Dave Chisnall 10-5 to reach the European Championship quarter-finals in Dusseldorf.
The World Champion was tied at five apiece against the St Helens man, but when they returned from the break Lewis fired in four 180s and took out 146 and 104 as he won five in a row, then clinched the match with a 123 checkout to send a message to the rest of the field with a 105.80 average - with the eight players in action tonight averaging 100.14 between them.
Lewis will face Kim Huybrechts in Sunday's quarter-finals after the Belgian won a tense match with World number seven Wes Newton 10-8.
"It was a fantastic match, one that deserved a nine-darter," said Lewis. "I've never played Dave on TV and he's got a lot of bottle. I'm just happy to get through that. I don't know much about Kim but he's done well to get past Wes so I will have to be at the top of my game because he's bound to be on a high."
The 25 year-old Belgian was on the edge of the top 100 in the PDC before the match but will make great strides for reaching the last eight, and will be dreaming of going even further after defeating the in-form Fleetwood man.
The eighth leg appeared to be crucial as Newton fired a brilliant 143 checkout having fallen to close the gap to two legs, and won the next two for a share at 5-5. Huybrechts took out 96 to edge ahead again, only to be pegged back by Newton who moved 7-6 ahead.
But the young Belgian dug deep and capitalised on a crucial mistake from Wes when he looked set to take out 100, Huybrechts made it 7-7. Huybrechts went in for the kill and made it three on the trot, and although Newton rallied to take the 17th leg, a 13-darter from Huybrechts saw him complete his biggest ever win.
World number three James Wade admitted Ronnie Baxter let him off in their second round clash, as the Blackpool man missed six darts to move 4-0 ahead. Wade won five legs on the trot to move 8-5 ahead from 5-3 down, Baxter answered back to Wade's 11-dart leg to stave off the defeat, but the Aldershot ace closed the match out 10-7.
Wade will face Raymond van Barneveld on Sunday after the Dutchman treated the German crowd to a finishing master class in his 10-5 win over Mark Walsh.
Van Barneveld moved 6-3 ahead with a 100 per cent checkout percentage, including back-to-back 121 checkouts. Walsh was playing well himself and at 7-3 behind he closed the gap to two legs and missed the bull to trail 7-6. Van Barneveld's 70 checkout was the key as he made it 8-5 and the Dutchman - who faced Wade in the quarter-final of the World Matchplay last week - won the match in the grand manner, taking out 161 for a 10-5 triumph.
Earlier in the day, Phil Taylor set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with Paul Nicholson after both men completed convincing second round wins.
Defending champion Taylor defeated Mervyn King 10-3 to register his 17th straight European Championship win, to follow Nicholson's 10-4 win over Terry Jenkins at the sold-out Maritim Hotel venue.
Nicholson has had some strong words to say about the World number one recently, and Taylor said that their match tomorrow will be compulsive viewing live on ITV4.
Simon Whitlock cruised into the quarter-finals with a dominant 10-2 victory over Colin Lloyd in the opening match of the afternoon session. The Australian all but sealed victory in the opening stanza by taking the first five legs, and with the score at 6-2, he took four on the trot to stroll into Sunday's action.
The Australian will face Peter Wright in Sunday's quarter-finals after Snakebite stunned Gary Anderson in the final second round clash of the afternoon session.
The in-form Scot held a 4-2 lead of Wright but the Lowestoft man punished Anderson for missing doubles, taking out 121 to level at five-each and then repeating the trick in the 14th leg to move 9-5 ahead. Wright had a dart at tops to take out 114 to win in real style, but it did not cost him as he returned to register his fifth leg in a row to cap a remarkable comeback.
PartyPoker.net European Championship
Saturday July 30
Second Round Results
Afternoon Session (2pm)
Simon Whitlock 10-2 Colin Lloyd
Terry Jenkins 4-10 Paul Nicholson
Phil Taylor 10-3 Mervyn King
Gary Anderson 5-10 Peter Wright
Evening Session (8pm)
Wes Newton 8-10 Kim Huybrechts
Adrian Lewis 10-5 Dave Chisnall
James Wade 10-7 Ronnie Baxter
Raymond van Barneveld 10-5 Mark Walsh
All games the best of 19 legs
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