PHIL TAYLOR and Adrian Lewis will clash in the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals after picking up quarter-final wins over James Wade and Kim Huybrechts on Saturday night.
Taylor continued his bid to win a fifth Grand Slam of Darts title with a 16-12 win against Wade in a tense last eight contest at the Wolverhampton Civic.
The World Champion looked set to race to victory when he won seven successive legs in taking a 9-2 lead - including a superb 143 checkout - only for Wade to fight back, reducing the gap to 12-10 at one stage.
Taylor won the next three legs, and though Wade hit double ten and a 121 finish to keep his hopes alive, a miss at double top in the next leg allowed the Stoke ace to follow a 174 score by hitting double ten for the win.
Lewis, meanwhile, ended Kim Huybrechts' superb Grand Slam debut by denying the Belgian a win to celebrate his 28th birthday, as the Stoke star picked up a 16-11 triumph.
Lewis raced into a 6-1 lead with some majestic early darts, which included a ten-dart leg and a 110 finish to match Huybrechts' checkout of the same total.
The Belgian won four legs in the next five as he pulled back to 7-5, only for Lewis to pull away to 13-7 as he took his tally of 180s to nine for the match.
Huybrechts again responded, finishing 65, 76 and 148 to reduce the gap to three legs, but a second 11-darter of the game from Lewis settled any nerves before he finally sealed the win on double 16.
Lewis ended the game with 12 maximums and averaged over 100 as he reached the semi-finals for a second time in Wolverhampton.
Lewis had moved in to a new house on Friday, and admitted: "It wasn't the best preparation for me but I'm looking forward to getting a good night's sleep now!"
Sunday's opening semi-final will see 2010 champion Scott Waites, the reigning Lakeside Champion, take on 2012 UK Open winner Robert Thornton, who is bidding to reach the final in Wolverhampton for the first time.
The £400,000 tournament will then conclude on Sunday evening with the final at the Wolves Civic as the destiny of the £100,000 first prize is discovered.
William Hill Grand Slam of Darts
Saturday November 16
Quarter-Finals
Kim Huybrechts 11-16 Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor 16-12 James Wade
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