PETER WRIGHT produced a stunning display of finishing as he reached the BetVictor World Matchplay semi-finals alongside Mensur Suljovic in Blackpool on Friday night.
World number two Wright was in clinical mood as he secured an impressive 16-5 win over Simon Whitlock in their quarter-final at the Winter Gardens.
Night Seven of the prestigious Blackpool event saw last year's runner-up Wright reach the semi-finals for the third time in four years thanks to an incredible 76% accuracy on the doubles - winning his final 11 legs without missing a checkout.
Wright took control of the tie early on and never allowed Whitlock to gain a foothold in the contest as the world number two moved a step closer to lifting the Phil Taylor Trophy.
It was pleasing to be so accurate on my doubles
"I wasn't really feeling it tonight until just before I went on stage and then I got my focus," said Wright, who will face Suljovic in Saturday's semi-final.
"I wanted a lot more tonight but I was struggling a bit in the heat which affected my darts. I've been practicing my finishing a lot so it was pleasing to be so accurate on my doubles.
"Simon is always capable of running off a number of legs so I had to keep my concentration to stay in front and keep him under as much pressure as I could.
"The main thing was I got the win but I will have to be better to win the tournament."
Wright took the ascendancy early on, blowing Whitlock away as he raced into a 5-0 lead, and then continued his dominance to lead 8-2 at the second break.
Whitlock never stopped fighting, typified by his showpiece 132 checkout to keep the tie alive at 15-5, but the result was never in doubt for the ruthless Wright.
The Scottish ace rounded off a magnificent performance with an 82 finish on the bull to seal the biggest quarter-final winning margin since 2011.
Earlier in the evening, Suljovic won through to his first World Matchplay semi-final thanks to a hard-fought 16-10 victory over Darren Webster.
The Austrian star started brightly, taking a commanding 4-1 lead before Webster fought his way back to 4-4 and then went ahead for the first time at 5-4.
Suljovic regained the lead at 6-5 but a resilient Webster, who was appearing in his second consecutive Blackpool quarter-final, stuck with the three-time World Matchplay quarter-finalist.
A crucial break of throw was struck by Suljovic to go 13-10 up and the world number six then reeled off the next three legs to book his place in the last four.
"It's a good feeling and I'm so happy," said Suljovic.
"My game wasn't the best today but I never gave up. Darren is such a good player and it was a very hard match.
"I promised my son a new pair of trainers if I won so he was going crazy!"
The £500,000 tournament continues on Saturday at Blackpool's Winter Gardens with the semi-finals, which also see world number four Gary Anderson playing giant-killer Jeffrey de Zwaan before Wright takes on Suljovic.
Click here for the latest odds following Night Seven
The BetVictor World Matchplay will be televised live on Sky Sports and worldwide through the PDC's broadcast partners, as well as through PDCTV-HD for Rest of the World Subscribers (outside of UK, Ireland & Netherlands).
2018 BetVictor World Matchplay
Friday July 27
Quarter-Finals
Mensur Suljovic 16-10 Darren Webster
Peter Wright 16-5 Simon Whitlock
Saturday July 28 (7pm)
Semi-Finals
Peter Wright v Mensur Suljovic
Jeffrey de Zwaan v Gary Anderson