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Wade earned a deserved victory over Steve Brown, while Webster disposed of top seed Justin Pipe in a dramatic affair.
Both players are back in action in the quarter finals on Sunday, when one of them could pick up the trophy.
James Wade 8 – 6 Steve Brown
James Wade progressed into the last eight of the Players Championship with victory over Steve ‘The Bomber’ Brown.
The UK Open winner showed only glimpses of his brilliant best, but still had too much for his opponent.
Wade was as deadly as ever on double ten to take the first leg, but Brown hit back, taking out 64 to win the second.
The next leg again went with the throw, as Wade put himself back in front. He then grabbed an early break, hitting double top to open up a two leg lead.
The Machine hit his first 180 in leg five, and went on to win it with a nice 106 checkout as he threatened to run away with it.
Wade almost took out a spectacular 170 in the next leg, just missing the bull, before Brown hit double ten to get his self back into the game.
Brown then managed to break back to reduce Wade’s lead to a single leg, but The Machine pulled off a stunning 142 finish to open the gap once more.
Wade’s lead quickly increased to 6-3 with a 60 checkout, before Brown hit double one to pull a leg back.
Wade then produced a leg of real quality, as he finished on double 12 in just a dozen darts. Brown earned a stay of execution when he hit double top to take the twelfth leg.
The Bomber threatened to make it more than just that by breaking the throw in the next leg, but Wade inflicted his punishment by breaking straight back to secure a fairly comfortable win.
Wade faces Scott Rand in Sunday afternoon’s quarter final.
Mark Webster 8 – 7 Justin Pipe
Mark Webster held his nerve to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against number one seed Justin Pipe.
Webster, seemingly undeterred by his opponent’s unusually slow style, won a nail-biting last leg decider and progressed into the quarter finals.
Webster suffered an early setback when Pipe broke his throw in the opening leg, but he took out 80 to break straight back.
Webster successfully returned to double ten to win the third leg before Pipe levelled things up.
The Welshman edged ahead again, holding his throw to take leg five before Pipe restored parity. It was Pipe who got the break, hitting bull to take a 4-3 lead.
Pipe then hit double 18 to open up a two leg lead for the first time, but Webster bounced back by taking out 64 to win the ninth leg.
Webster then inflicted a big blow on his opponent, a former boxer, by hitting eight perfect darts against the throw. He just missed out on a stunning nine dart finish, but cleaned up to level the score.
The world number six hit double top to win the next leg, but was unlucky to bust his score by hitting the wrong double when going for a break of throw before Pipe took out 101 to square the score at six all.
Webster missed four darts at double six allowing Pipe to break and leave himself throwing for the match.
Pipe then missed four darts at doubles and Webster duly punished him, hitting double five with the last dart in his hand.
In a tense last leg, Pipe missed two more darts for the match and Webster took out 60 to ensure that it was the Spider who claimed eight legs.
Webster will face Dave Chisnall in the quarter finals on Sunday afternoon.
