Friday 12 December 2014 10:35, UK
Raymond van Barneveld was dumped out of the BetVictor World Matchplay by Justin Pipe, while defending champion Phil Taylor survived an epic challenge from Terry Jenkins in Blackpool.
Taylor, the 13-time Matchplay champion was last beaten on the Winter Gardens stage by Jenkins back in 2007, but kept his hopes of a sixth straight title alive by surviving a huge scare and coming through in a 14-12 tie break victory.
The Power seemed in no trouble as he led 5-2 and 7-5 in the early stages, but Jenkins found some of his very best form to come storming back and light up the Winter Gardens crowd.
The Bull took five legs on the spin against a stunned Taylor to lead 10-9, forcing the 16-time world champion to take out 109 just to level at 10-10.
A break then put Taylor in touching distance of the win, but perhaps still rattled by Jenkins he then missed five match darts to enable Jenkins to level once again at 12-12 and force a tie break.
It did not last too long though, as Taylor gritted his teeth and won the next two to go through 14-12 and set up another tough test against Barney's conqueror Pipe.
"I thought I had him at one stage," Jenkins said on Sky Sports after the match. "He was 9-5 up and then when I came back to lead 10-9 I thought I had him then but he just didn't miss anything from then.
"I was determined, I had a few chances to take control of it through the match, but I missed a few silly doubles. But in general I'm happy with the way I played."
Taylor added: "It was a fantastic game, the way he came back I've never seen anything like it - that was like the way Terry used to play, he's had a bad year but now he's on his way back again.
"I've just got to move on now to the next one, it'll be a different kettle of fish. Justin's style put Barney off a bit, but it'll suit me down to the ground."
Barney never really looked up for the fight against Pipe, despite coming back from 7-4 down to lead 9-7 after Pipe missed a plethora of doubles - Barney still looked to be down on himself.
Pipe nailed a maximum 170 outshot early on and despite falling two behind he moved up a gear to battle through 13-9 and set-up his showdown with Taylor.
"To beat Raymond, a multiple world champion, is amazing," said Pipe. "To beat him up there on the World Matchplay stage is awesome - I love him to bits, he's my hero to be honest and to beat him up there is definitely the biggest win of my career."
Simon Whitlock and Kevin Painter were always neck-and-neck in their clash, with the Australian edging ahead at 9-6 and then able to just hold on to go through 13-10.
Whitlock will go up against James Wade in the last eight after the seven-time major winner produced a fine display to see off Gary Anderson 13-9.
