Mark Dudbridge 3-2 Kevin Painter (1-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-1)
Sky Bet World Grand Prix Second Round
MARK DUDBRIDGE produced the comeback of his career to defeat Kevin Painter 3-2 and move into the last eight of the Sky Bet World Grand Prix.
Dudbridge trailed 2-0 after an inspired Painter won six of the opening eight legs of their contest, with the Bristolian looking a shadow of the player who reached the World Championship final in January.
He also trailed 2-1 in the third set before hitting a remarkable run by winning seven legs from the next nine to level the match at two sets apiece.
That also, crucially, put him ahead for the first time at 1-0 in the deciding set.
Painter won the next to level matters, but Dudbridge pulled clear with an 11-dart leg before landing double 20 to round off an heroic display.
"I've never had a comeback on television before and I felt down and out," said Dudbridge.
"I was probably thinking about what I would say to Kevin to wish him well in the next round.
"It usually goes the wrong way in those situations because Kevin was playing well, but I fought back.
"He probably played a better game than me, he was more solid and he played a professional game, when sometimes I looked an amateur at times.
"But I showed my class at the end and came back quite well."
Dudbridge will now take on five-time World Grand Prix champion Phil Taylor in Friday's quarter-finals, and he said: "It's excellent.
"Phil's the best player who has ever lived and I can't wait."