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He blitzed Darren Webster in a one-sided quarter-final at the Circus Tavern and then admitted he had chilled and cooled down after the bust up with Chris Mason. In complete contrast to events on Thursday night, there were hugs and smiles on stage after this latest impressive win.

The war of words between ‘The Power’ and Mason has been the talk of the darts world over the last 24 hours…..but don’t worry – Taylor won’t be walking away from darts.

He made the threat in the heat of the moment after the Mason incident but you can bet ‘The Power’ will be lighting up the world of tungsten for at least another five years.

“I was a bit silly, not with the truth about what happened but I shouldn’t be swearing and I apologise for that,” Taylor said. “I am here to win a World Championship and not to feel sorry for Chris Mason. The DRA (Darts Regulation Authority) will deal with it all now.”

Hamilton believes he can give Taylor a real run for his money…..memories will go back to their brilliant semi-final at the World Matchplay Championships in Blackpool. Taylor won 17 legs to 11 but ‘The Hammer’ averaged 102 in defeat and if he’d hit the crucial doubles, he may well have won.

“I will play my own game but I know I can put him under pressure,” said Hamilton. “I reckon I can get better and I will have to do just that against Phil. It will be the biggest game of my life and I intend to enjoy every minute of it and I will be trying my heart out to reach the final.”

Taylor brushed aside Webster with another power-packed display. He lost only the 5th set, which in truth Webster deserved, after hitting a brilliant 164 on the bull, which is the highest check-out of the tournament.

Taylor’s end average was an impressive 101.51 and his tournament average is a brilliant 102.16. He dropped only one leg in the opening four sets but applauded Webster’s efforts at the end. In this mood though, Taylor looks unstoppable in his relentless chase of that 14th World Championship crown.

But he has tipped Hamilton as a future World Champion. “I am sure that one day he will win it….hopefully not this year!” he said. “It will be a cracking semi-final. In a way, Andy is like John Lowe…he just keeps going and going.”

Raymond Van Barneveld kept on course for a showdown in the final against his great rival Taylor. The Dutch star outclassed Alan Tabern – dropping only four legs, as he beat the St.Helens man 5-0.

Friday’s Quarter-Final results (best of nine sets):

Andy Jenkins 5-4 Colin Osborne
Andy Hamilton 5-4 Terry Jenkins
Raymond Van Barneveld 5-0 Alan Tabern
Phil Taylor 5-1 Darren Webster

Saturday’s Semi-Finals (best of 11 sets):

Raymond Van Barneveld v Andy Jenkins
Phil Taylor v Andy Hamilton

BY STUART PYKE

Photo : Lawrence Lustig/PDC