Blue Square UK Open - Quarters

PHIL TAYLOR ruthlessly whitewashed Mark Lawrence to win his place in the Blue Square UK Open semi-finals and remain on course for a third Bolton title.

Taylor created a new UK Open record with a 115.62 average against the Yorkshireman, eclipsing the 115.51 he marked in a win over Ken Mather on Saturday afternoon with a sensational performance.

Taylor hit nine 180s in the ten legs, and sealed a comprehensive victory with a ten-dart finish.

The 2003 and 2005 UK Open champion will now take on Ronnie Baxter in Sunday evening's semi-finals, after the Evesham-based thrower reached the last four for the first time in Bolton with a 10-7 win over Terry Jenkins.

Baxter came from 4-1 down to win six successive legs and take command before completing the victory.

The other semi-final sees Colin Osborne take on Kevin Painter, who will also be appearing in the last four for the first time after a 10-8 win over Alan Tabern.

Painter trailed Tabern 3-1 but produced finishes of 124 and 121 in reaching his first major semi-final for 18 months.

Osborne, a Reebok Stadium semi-finalist two years ago, saw off Derby rival Jamie Caven 10-3 in the other last eight fixture.

Osborne never looked back after taking a 5-0 lead, and hit a 160 finish in remaining on course for a first major final appearance.

Blue Square UK Open
Quarter-Finals
Kevin Painter 10-8 Alan Tabern
Colin Osborne 10-3 Jamie Caven
Ronnie Baxter 10-7 Terry Jenkins
Phil Taylor 10-0 Mark Lawrence

Semi-Finals (7pm)
Colin Osborne v Kevin Painter
Ronnie Baxter v Phil Taylor
Best of 19 legs

KEVIN PAINTER 10-8 ALAN TABERN

KEVIN PAINTER reached his first Blue Square UK Open semi-final with a battling 10-8 win over Alan Tabern.

Painter's strong weekend at the Reebok Stadium continued as he proved too strong for the 2006 semi-finalist, with a mid-game burst to go 8-5 up proving key.

Tabern led 3-1 early on, defying a 124 checkout from Painter in leg two to secure the game's first break in the fourth with a two-dart 78.

Painter hit a 180 and a 121 finish to break back, and won the next two legs to lead 4-3 before missed doubles allowed Tabern to level with another 78.

Both missed their chances in the next as the tension rose, before Painter held his nerve to hit double 18 at the fourth attempt for a key 5-4 lead.

Painter also won two of the next three to lead 7-5, and traded 180s with Tabern before double 18 put him two legs away from victory.

Tabern hit 180s in the next two legs as he cut the gap to one leg, although Painter took the 16th to move 9-7 up.

Double 16 kept Tabern in the match, but scores of 140 and 180 pushed Painter clear in the next before double eight sent him into the semis.

"Alan's got a good record against me so to beat him is good for me and in some ways it's a better result than some of my victories in the World Championship," said Painter.

"Alan's hard to play against and at 8-5 his head didn't go down and he came back, but I played well and I'm pleased with the way the game went.

"My finishing was good when it was tight but I'll need to be better again in the semi-final.

"It's been a good weekend so far. I came into the event under some pressure for 16th place from Robert Thornton but I've seen that off now and know I'll stay in the top 16.

"I've been playing well this year but I've always been a better player on TV and believe I can beat anyone on stage."

Match Stats

Kevin Painter	10-8	Alan Tabern
19	100+	25
16	140+	12
4	180	3
30.96	Ave1	30.25
92.89	Ave3	90.76
124,121	High Finish	78 x2
4	Legs Against Throw	3

COLIN OSBORNE 10-3 JAMIE CAVEN

COLIN OSBORNE won through to the semi-finals of the Blue Square UK Open with a stylish 10-3 defeat of Jamie Caven.

The Derby-based duo had impressed in winning through to the quarters, but Osborne proved the more clinical to reach his second Bolton semi.

He did much of the damage early in the game, taking out 102 in the opening leg and punishing three missed doubles from Caven to double his advantage.

Double 18 put him 3-0 up, and he matched a 180 from Caven in the fourth to set up a double six checkout in going four legs clear.

Double top put him 5-0 up before Caven finally got off the mark, taking out double 13.

Osborne hit double 12 to restore a five-leg cushion and a brilliant 160 checkout moved him 7-1 up, and he again matched a Caven 180 in the next before double 16 took him further clear.

Caven hit a fourth 180 of the game in leg ten, which he took on double 12, before missing two darts to steal the next before Osborne took out double five to move 9-2 up.

A 101 finish for a 12-darter kept Caven alive, but a missed bullseye in the next allowed Osborne to seal victory with a fine bullseye, double 16 checkout.

"Jamie and I are close friends, we practice together and travel together, so it was hard," said Osborne. "I had to get up there and do a professional job, and I did that.

"I've got that stage experience and was full of confidence after beating Raymond van Barneveld on Saturday night.

"Over the last six months I've been solid on the circuit and really happy with my form.

"It's one game down and now I'll get ready for the semi-finals. There are a lot of good players left in this event and anything can happen."

Caven admitted: "Missed doubles were the difference and that's what cost me. I scored well and I'll take the positives from it.

"I've had a good weekend and I'm not down about being beaten. Colin was the better man but it's great experience for me."

Match Stats

Colin Osborne	10-3	Jamie Caven
18	100+	13
11	140+	8
2	180	5
31.62	Ave1	31.95
94.85	Ave3	95.84
160,103	High Finish	101
3	Legs Against Throw	0

RONNIE BAXTER 10-7 TERRY JENKINS

RONNIE BAXTER won through to his first Blue Square UK Open semi-final by defeating Terry Jenkins 10-7.

Baxter had never surpassed the last 16 in Bolton before this weekend, but continued his quest for a first major title with a comeback victory over the world number six.

Jenkins started excellently, winning four of the first five legs to leave Baxter - whose only leg came with a 97 finish - reeling.

A 14-darter from Baxter broke and kick-started his fightback, as he won six legs in a row, hitting double top in three legs and a 96 checkout in another.

Jenkins cut the gap to 7-5 on double top, but crucially missed his chance to sneak the 13th as Baxter eventually took out double six to restore a three-leg cushion.

The pair traded maximums before Jenkins won the next on double ten, but five missed doubles allowed Baxter to move a leg away from the win on double top.

Jenkins hit the same bed to win the 15th leg, but two more misses in the next allowed Baxter to seal victory on double 16.

"It's my first time in the last eight here and it's not come my way in previous years, but this year is different," said Baxter.

"At 4-1 down I was worried but maybe he took his foot off the pedal and I kicked him up the backside."

Match Stats

Ronnie Baxter	10-7	Terry Jenkins
24	100+	24
11	140+	14
2	180	7
30.92	Ave1	31.20
92.75	Ave3	93.60
97	High Finish	80
4	Legs Against Throw	3

PHIL TAYLOR 10-0 MARK LAWRENCE

PHIL TAYLOR ruthlessly whitewashed Mark Lawrence to win his place in the Blue Square UK Open semi-finals and remain on course for a third Bolton title.

Taylor created a new UK Open record with a 115.62 average against the Yorkshireman, eclipsing the 115.51 he marked in a win over Ken Mather on Saturday afternoon with a sensational performance.

He set the tone for the match in the opening leg, landing a 180 and a 103 checkout before trading maximums with Lawrence in the second, which he won on double four.

A 13-darter gave Taylor leg three, on double 18, and he hit back-to-back maximums in the fourth before landing double top for an 11-darter.

He missed four doubles in the next before double three moved the two-time UK Open winner 5-0 up.

The pair again traded 180s in leg six, with Lawrence missing a dart at double top in his first chance to take a leg, with Taylor punishing that by hitting the same bed.

A 120 checkout saw Taylor take a 7-0 cushion and double eight moved him further clear before a 13-darter put him a leg away from the win.

Taylor opened the tenth with back-to-back 180s, although a potential fifth Bolton nine-darter went begging on the seventh dart.

Lawrence had hit a 180 of his own and then missed double top for a 157 checkout, but that was to be his last visit to the oche as Taylor hit double 18 for a ten-darter and victory.

"I really want to win this event and I'm on course for it," said Taylor.

"Mark never gave up and I'll give him his due - he kept battling away and trying and I was impressed by him."

Match Stats