Scott Waites

Wondrous Waites wins semi-final spot

Published: Saturday, 21 November 2009, 6:41PM

Scott Waites produced the performance of his career to win through to the semi-finals of the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts, where he will take on Terry Jenkins on Sunday.

Yorkshireman Waites, the 2008 World Masters runner-up, followed up Friday's thrilling second round defeat of Gary Anderson by seeing off Simon Whitlock 16-13 in the quarter-finals.

Waites came from 5-4 down to lead 9-5 and also landed a 144 checkout in taking a 13-8 cushion.

Australian Whitlock cut the gap to one leg, but Waites hit three 180s in his final three winning legs to book a semi-final berth.

"It was a big struggle all the way through but I'm delighted to have won." said Waites, a joiner who has now earned the biggest paycheck of his darts career with a minimum £25,000 prize money.

He could still take the £100,000 title on Sunday night, although 2008 runner-up Terry Jenkins lays in wait in the semi-finals following his 16-9 defeat of Robert Thornton.

Jenkins made a brilliant start to lead 9-2, and though the Scot cut the gap to 10-7 he could never claw his way back into the game.

"I got a good start and it paid off," said Jenkins. "I'm looking forward to playing Scott in the semis - he's been brilliant and I've been impressed by him this week."

Saturday's evening session features the remaining two quarter-finals take place, as Raymond van Barneveld takes on Kevin Painter and reigning champion Phil Taylor meets BDO number one Tony O'Shea.