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Taylor was forced to come from behind to win the all-Unicorn quarter-final clash against Terry Jenkins…..after a blistering start, when ‘The Power’ went two sets in front, he found himself 3-2 down, before another purple patch saw him reel off three consecutive sets to finally see off ‘The Bull’ in Holland.

It was also sweet revenge after his defeat against Jenkins in the semi-finals of the World Matchplay just six weeks ago in Blackpool…..but it was a high quality affair – both players hit 11 180s, with Taylor averaging 102 to Jenkins 96 and both ended with impressive stats on the check-outs…..around the 50 per cent mark.

Unicorn’s 13 times World Champion was again quick out of the blocks. He lost only one leg in racing to a two sets advantage…..he started by breaking the Jenkins throw with a 124 finish, also produced a 100 check-out and hit three maximums in the first set – winning the legs in 12, 15 and 11 darts….at that stage Taylor was averaging over 118!

‘The Bull’ though, proved his pedigree, by winning the next three sets –all in the deciding leg. Incredibly, Taylor could have been 4 sets to nil in front but he missed two darts at double 12 in the 3rd set and another at tops in the next, when he was going for a 114 finish. Jenkins made him pay and then a sweet double five, under pressure, gave the man from Ledbury the lead.

This seemed to galvanise Taylor, who stepped up a gear and won the next three sets – dropping only three legs – to claim victory….a trademark double 16 finally finished Jenkins off.

Mervyn King found himself in the same boat, as he came from 3-2 down to win three consecutive sets to beat Welshman Mark Webster…..King’s performance in Utrecht has already guaranteed him a place in the PDC top 32 and a guaranteed place at the World Championship….not bad after just six months with the PDC!

King has twice been runner-up at the WDT and he will have to produce something special to deny Taylor in the semi-finals.

Andy Hamilton, of course, produced the performance of the week in coming from 4 sets to 1 down to beat Lakeside Champion Martin Adams. “It was a brilliant feeling,” he said. “I know I will have to play even better to beat Gary Anderson but my game is getting back to its best and although I have had a fantastic week, I don’t want it to end now!”

The Unicorn star will face Anderson in the first of Saturday’s semi-finals.

Friday’s quarter-final results:

Mark Webster 3-5 Mervyn King
Terry Jenkins 3-5 Phil Taylor

Saturday’s semi-finals (best of 11 sets)

Gary Anderson v Andy Hamilton
Mervyn King v Phil Taylor

BY STUART PYKE