PAUL NICHOLSON sensationally knocked reigning champion Phil Taylor out of the Speedy Hire UK Open on Saturday night with a 9-8 triumph at Bolton's Reebok Stadium, as Wes Newton sent two-time winner Raymond van Barneveld packing.
Nicholson followed up his deciding-leg win over Gary Anderson in Saturday afternoon's Fourth Round with another thrilling performance, edging out the 15-time World Champion to reach Sunday's final stages.
The Newcastle-born ace opened up leads of 5-2 and 7-3 before Taylor hit back to within a leg, but a 100 finish saw him move to the brink of victory at 8-6.
A missed bullseye for the match in the next saw Taylor hit back before the defending champion levelled on double 12 - but crucially he was unable to reach a double in the decider as Nicholson posted a 180 and finished double eight for an amazing triumph.
Nicholson had defeated Taylor on his way to winning last year's Players Championship Finals in Purfleet, and he must now face James Wade in the first of three games he will need to play on Sunday if he is to win a second major title.
"I'm so tired after those two matches and I've put everything into them, but I'm thrilled with my mental attitude," said Nicholson.
"I'll be going straight to bed after this because I've got a job to do on Sunday - beating Phil won't mean anything if I don't win the tournament tomorrow."
He added: "Phil Taylor is such an icon and a wonderful dart player but I've looked a lot at how John Part plays against him with no fear.
"When it went to eight-all there was no doubt in my mind because I've been there before against Phil. I just wanted a chance, and I took it."
Wade, the 2008 UK Open, continued his challenge in the event with a fine 9-7 win over resurgent Richie Burnett, who pushed the left-hander all the way but was punished for missing three darts at double top to force a deciding leg.
Fleetwood's ever-improving Wes Newton continued his run of form with a brilliant 9-1 win over two-time winner Raymond van Barneveld, averaging 100 as he swept into the quarter-finals.
"This weekend is now different to how I've been playing on the PDC ProTour events and I wanted to take that form into this tournament," said Newton, who has moved up to eighth in the PDC Order of Merit this year.
"I've put in more effort over the last two years and I've got more belief in myself, and it's paying off because if I can take my floor game onto the stage I'm a danger to anyone.
"I'm in the quarter-finals and I'm due to become a father in a fortnight. Everything's going well in my life and I'm happy, and I can look forward to the quarter-finals."
Newton will take on St Helens' Dave Chisnall in the last eight, after the PDC newcomer continued an impressive Bolton debut with wins over Ronnie Baxter and Widnes amateur John Bowles on Saturday.
Bowles had won four matches to reach the last 16, including wins over Peter Manley and Steve Beaton, but lost out 9-4 to Chisnall.
Mark Webster knocked out the other remaining Rileys Amateur Qualifier, Andy Boulton, in with a fine 9-4 victory which included checkouts of 164, 147 and 146 in a superb display, and now takes on stable-mate Robert Thornton.
The Scot's return to top form continued in Bolton as he defeated 2009 runner-up Colin Osborne 9-7 to reach the quarter-finals.
The other last eight clash sees Denis Ovens, a semi-finalist last year, take on Mark Hylton, the left-hander from Rugeley who bettered his last 16 finish in the World Championship by defeating colourful Peter Wright 9-7 to reach the quarter-finals of a major for the first time.
Stevenage veteran Ovens won his place in the quarters with a 9-6 defeat of Andy Smith in the night's other Fifth Round clash, leaving him as the elder statesman in the last eight aged 53, with five of the players aged 33 or under.
Sunday's decisive final day in the £200,000 event will see the afternoon's Quarter-Finals followed by the Semi-Finals and Final in the evening session at the Reebok Stadium, with the winner pocketing £40,000 prize money.
A limited number of tickets remain on sale for each of Sunday's session, and can be purchased in person from the Reebok Stadium.
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Speedy Hire UK Open
Fifth Round
Main Stage
James Wade 9-7 Richie Burnett
Robert Thornton 9-7 Colin Osborne
Paul Nicholson 9-8 Phil Taylor
Wes Newton 9-1 Raymond van Barneveld
Stage Two
Mark Hylton 9-7 Peter Wright
Mark Webster 9-4 Andy Boulton
Denis Ovens 9-6 Andy Smith
Dave Chisnall 9-4 John Bowles
Quarter-Final Order of Play
Denis Ovens v Mark Hylton
Robert Thornton v Mark Webster
Dave Chisnall v Wes Newton
James Wade v Paul Nicholson
First Group of Games
The 2008 Champion James Wade wins through a high-quality encounter against Welshman Richie Burnett with a 9-7 triumph. In a contest that saw 11 maximums hit between the two players Wade held the early advantage leading 5-3 with the aid of two 12-dart-finishes. The six-time major champion continued to keep two legs clear of his opponent and led 8-7 to go one leg away from the match. The 16th leg saw Burnett rue four missed chances at double top to keep the match alive and Wade gratefully accepted the opportunity by hitting double eight to seal a spot in the last eight.
Mark Hylton comes out on top in a tight contest to defeat Peter Wright 9-7. Hylton led 4-3 before Wright won the next three legs to move 6-4 clear. Hylton hit-back to win the next three legs to lead again before Wright won the next to square the game at seven apiece. But Hylton stepped up a gear at a vital time to take the next two legs and confirm a Quarter-Final place.
Second Group of Games
Scotland's Robert Thornton edges a tight contest to defeat former Runner-Up Colin Osborne at the Reebok with a narrow 9-7 win. The Scot led 4-2 in the early stages only for Osborne to grab the lead by taking the next three legs. Both players held their throws until the decisive 15th leg which saw Osborne miss two crucial darts at double top for an 8-7 lead. That allowed Thornton in to move one leg away from the match and he crossed over the finish line in fine fashion with a 14-darter.
Mark Webster reaches the Speedy Hire UK Open Quarter-Finals for the first time with a 9-4 victory over Rileys Qualifier Andy Boulton. The Welshman, who produced a stunning comeback to defeat Co Stompe in the previous round started the match on fire winning the first two legs with checkouts of 147 and 146 with his opponent waiting on a double on both occasions. That set the pattern for the match as Webster moved further clear at 8-2. Boulton staged a brief revival by winning the next two legs but his tournament came to an end in the next as Webster hit double two to confirm the win.
Third Group of Games
Paul Nicholson backs up his superb win over Gary Anderson by ending Phil Taylor's hopes of a third successive UK Open title with a dramatic deciding-leg victory. Nicholson produced some fabulous finishing in the process of establishing a 7-3 lead. Taylor won the next three legs to get himself back into the contest. Nicholson hit a superb 100 finish to move 8-6 ahead but Taylor won the next two legs to set up a tense final leg. The 15-time World Champion held advantage of throw, however, Nicholson hit a timely 180 which saw him to a finish first and he hit double eight to record his second televised victory against the world number one.
Denis Ovens continues his impressive form at the Reebok to defeat Andy Smith 9-6 at the last 16 stage of the 2011 Speedy Hire UK Open. The Hertordshire thrower established a 7-2 lead early on and looked in total control of the contest. But Smith won the next four legs to give the 53-year-old something to think about. However, Ovens stopped his opponent's momentum by winning the next two legs to confirm victory and reach the Quarter-Finals for a second straight year.
Final Group of Games
Dave Chisnall continues his excellent debut at the Reebok with a 9-4 triumph over the sole Rileys Qualifier John Bowles. The match was a nip and tuck affair in the early stages with both players sharing the first six legs. The former Lakeside Championship finalist then won six of the next seven legs to put his name in the hat for the Quarter-Final draw.
Wes Newton was the final player into the draw for the last eight, knocking out 2006 and 2007 winner Raymond van Barneveld with a brilliant 9-1 victory which also featured a 100 average from the Fleetwood ace.
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