JAMES WADE 4-2 ANDY SMITH

(3-1, 1-3, 3-0, 1-3, 2-3, 2-3)
JAMES WADE'S bid to retain the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix continued with a gritty 4-2 quarter-final win over Andy Smith at the New Citywest Convention Centre on Friday night.

The world number three will now face Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan in Saturday's semi-finals as he seeks to win a third title in the double-start.

However, he was pushed all the way by a plucky Smith performance, as the Studley ace twice came back from a set behind to level before being edged out 3-2 in the game's final two sets.

Wade made an electric start by finishing 127 to win the opening leg, and after Smith levelled in the second the left-hander defied 180s from his opponent to take the next two legs and the first set.

Wade began the second with a 160 before taking the first leg, but Smith levelled and then powered in a brilliant 141 checkout on double 18 to break.

Smith then kicked off leg four with a 160, and hit tops to take the set 3-1 in reply and level the contest.

Smith's doubling deserted him, though, in the third set's opener as he missed three darts to lead, with Wade posting double ten to capitalise before hitting the same bed in the next two legs and move 2-1 up in the game.

A pair of double tops gave Smith the first two legs in set four, and after Wade took out double five in the third he replied to take the set with a 180 and an 82 finish as the tit-for-tat game continued.

Smith led for the first time with double four to take the fifth set's opener, but despite a 180 in the next his advantage was short-lived as Wade hit double nine to level and double four to lead 2-1.

Smith took out tops to square the set in the fourth leg, but Wade opened with another 160 in the decider and finished double ten to edge the set.

Wade led in the sixth set courtest of double two, and hit the same bed in leg three after Smith had levelled matters with a fine second leg, which featured his fifth 180.

Smith landed double 18 with his third dart to win the fourth as Wade waited on 40 for the match, but after he missed the bull for a 170 to seal the win, a miss at double 16 from his opponent allowed the reigning champion to march on.

"Andy made me work hard," said Wade. At times when I thought he was dead and buried he'd come up with a finish; he never gives up and kept coming back at me.

"I felt I was in control for most of the game but he is a great competitor and I made it hard for myself. I should have got the job done much quicker but to win was the aim and I've done that.

"I'm moving along under the radar - people like to talk about the Phil Taylor's, the Adrian Lewis' and Gary Anderson's and I'm just going about my business.

"My starting has been brilliant but I've a bit of work to do with my finishing if I'm going to go all the way.

"But I've got to play Brendan Dolan - and the crowd - first on Saturday, which will be a great challenge."

Match Stats

Andy Smith	2-4	James Wade
33	100+	37
19	140+	17
5	180	3
28.59	Ave1	29.40
85.78	Ave3	88.19
141,105	High Finish	127
4	Breaks of Throw	6
25/61 - 41%	Starting Doubles	25/50 - 50%
11/24 - 46%	Finishing Doubles	14/35 - 40%