Taylor sets up Barney clash

Taylor: bidding for Grand Slam hat-trick

I thought the atmosphere was one of the best I've ever played in.

Phil Taylor
Quotes of the week

Saturday evening results:
R van Barneveld 16-6 K Painter
P Taylor 16-7 T O'Shea

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Phil Taylor will play Raymond van Barneveld in the last four of the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts after both men enjoyed comfortable victories at the quarter-final stage.

Van Barneveld claimed a 16-6 success over Kevin Painter before Taylor saw off Tony O'Shea 16-7 in Saturday's final match at the Wolverhampton Civic Centre.

Taylor was made to work hard during the early stages against O'Shea in a match that pitted the respective number ones from the rival PDC and BDO organisations against each other.

The Stoke thrower, a 14-time world champion who has been the standard bearer for the PDC since its formation in 1992, took out a 74 checkout in the 10th leg to move 6-4 in front at the second interval.

And Taylor never looked back from that point, hitting an 86 checkout in the 11th leg to give himself breathing space for the first time.

He added three of the next four to go into the second break 10-5 ahead and cruised across the winning line, sealing the result in the 23rd leg to finish with a 104.34 average.

"We both started a bit slowly," said Taylor, who has won both previous editions of this tournament.

"He came back at me and was pushing me. Towards the middle of the game both of us started clicking.

"...I thought the atmosphere was one of the best I've ever played in.

"It was a great game to be involved in. He's got a lot of bottle and doesn't give up."

Dutch master erases Painter

In the first match of the evening session, Painter opened an early 3-2 advantage but that proved the high point of his night.

Van Barneveld combined heavy scoring with pinpoint finishing to reel off eight of the next nine legs for a 10-4 lead.

The Dutchman's burst was highlighted by a 156 checkout in the 13th leg and he did not cool off as the match progressed, eventually clinching victory in the 22nd leg.

"It took everything out of me because this man - Kevin Painter - is world class," said Van Barneveld, who averaged 98.84, including eight 180s.

"It wasn't his night tonight but I know what he can do - he's such a great player."

A demoralised Painter offered no excuses for his performance.

"I was pathetic tonight," he admitted. "I was rubbish.

"Every dart I threw at the treble 20 was underneath - you just can't do that."

Scott Waites is due to take on Terry Jenkins in the other semi-final.