World Matchplay quarters: Former champs Taylor and Wade feature

This year’s World Matchplay darts just keeps getting better and better, with the sport’s best being pushed all the way by unfavoured opponents.

A third giant of the game has exited the tournament, following Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis’ premature eliminations, with Gary Anderson the latest to go.

The world champion and Premier League title holder was shocked by Mensur Suljovic in the second round, and the Austrian next takes on past winner here James Wade. Phil Taylor, aiming for his 16th World Matchplay trophy, meanwhile, faces a tough test against Dave Chisnall in the other match on Friday night.

James Wade v Mensur Suljovic

Five-time World Matchplay finalist Wade (8/1 title chance) may be going though a bit of a dry spell in terms of major trophy success, but he is looking on top form in what is no doubt his favourite tournament.

The Machine is the only player in the competition’s 21-year history to have won as well as be runner-up here (Taylor has triumphed in all 15 finals he’s taken part in), and his worst result in Blackpool is exiting at the quarters.

Wade (1/4 odds-on match favourite), still just 32, is next up against Serbian-born journeyman Suljovic (3/1), who arguably caused the shock of the tournament by beating Anderson 13-8 in the last round.

Suljovic has never gone past the quarters at a major tournament before, but has reached that stage in the last two editions of the Coral UK Open, so The Machine knows he can’t take the Austria World Cup of Darts representative lightly.