Taylor cleans up Painter

Taylor: Different class

Results
J Wade 16-12 W Jones
S Whitlock 16-8 J Klaasen
R van Barneveld 16-12 C Stompe
P Taylor 16-4 K Painter

Watch every dart from the World Matchplay live and in HD on Sky Sports

Also see

• Darts Super 6
• On Sky TV
• Schedule/Results
• Sid Waddell
• £5 Free Bet

World champion Phil Taylor cruised into the semi-finals of the StanJames World Matchplay with a 16-4 demolition of Kevin Painter.

The Power did not even need to be at his best to see off the Artist, with the pair matching each other with four maximums apiece, although Taylor did average 103.

But once again it was Taylor's superior finishing that won the day as he poured in the doubles on the way to a 9-1 interval lead, reeling off seven successive legs.

It featured checkouts of 106, 96, 94 and 89 and although Painter halted the charge with a 13-dart finish, Taylor soon put more daylight between the pair at 14-2.

And although Painter gained a measure of respectability by taking two of the next three legs, Taylor checked out 119 to move within a leg of victory and when Painter missed a shot at bull in the next, the world number one stepped in with double 16 to seal it.

Raymond van Barneveld reached the semi-finals at the Winter Gardens for the first time with victory over Co Stompe in the second evening encounter.

In a tense battle of the clogmen, the former world champion finally broke away from his rival to win 16-12 after they were locked in battle for much of the evening.

Authority

Stompe hit three ton-plus checkouts on the way to a 10-9 lead but van Barneveld took the next three legs to stamp his authority on the match.

He levelled with double 16 and edged ahead when punishing two misses at doubles by Stompe, before a 78 finish gave him some breathing space at 12-10.

Stompe could have drawn level again but missed a bull for a 135 checkout and it cost him dearly, Barney drawing away in the end for the win.

Van Barneveld will take on James Wade, the champion here three years ago, after he saw off Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones 16-12.

Wade hit six maximums and averaged 97.93 against first-time quarter-finalist Jones.

The left-hander raced into a 5-1 lead before Jones hit a purple patch in levelling the match with legs of 13, 14 and 14 darts.

But Wade continued to have the edge and pulled away again to lead 13-9 and went on to close out the victory, an 11-darter in the 15th leg the highlight.

Quick work

World Championship finalist Simon Whitlock blew away Dutch former BDO world champion Jelle Klaasen 16-8 in the other afternoon match.

Whitlock made quick work of Dutch sensation Klaasen, although the early stages were tight.

But trailing 6-5, Klaasen suddenly lost his range and the Australian was able to reel off nine successive legs to move within sight of victory.

Klaasen won the next three, but Whitlock closed out the match to clinch his last four berth with a 93.27 average.

Whitlock will take on Taylor in the semi-finals, a repeat of the pair's meeting in this year's World Championship final.