Paul Nicholson makes quarter-finals of World Grand Prix darts in Dublin

'The Asset' has been struggling of late and was in danger of sliding out of the world's top 16 heading to Dublin, but he looked more like his old self in a typically battling performance against Osborne.

In a tournament where seeds have been tumbling all the way through, Nicholson will now fancy a big run at a first major title and if he can get back to his best he will be a big danger in the tournament.

It was nip-and-tuck in the opening two sets but both went to The Asset thanks to him playing the crucial fifth legs better as he won them both 3-2 to leave Osborne visibly frustrated on the oche.

The Wizard reversed the roles in the next though, after surviving a match point when Nicholson just missed the Bull for the victory, allowing Osborne to take that one 3-2 on the back of his first 180 of the match.

Eight missed doubles in the next leg by Nicholson let Osborne in again, but he could not capitalise and despite Nicholson then missing another dart for the match, Osborne could not take out tops to stay in it and a double six sent Nicholson through.

Nicholson will now go up against one of only two seeds to be left standing in the last eight in Wes Newton, and he managed to grind out a 3-1 win over Ian White.

Newton edged a nervy first set, but White started to assume control in the second and after taking that went on to dominate the third and looked odds-on to go in front.

However, he missed three darts for the set at double 18 and Newton took out 88 before following up in the next and winning a set that he never looked like having a chance in.

That proved to be just the catalyst Newton needed and he produced his best darts of a scrappy match in the next set to take it and go through 3-1 to set-up a meeting with Nicholson.