Newly crowned European champion James Wade is targeting the World Series title.
He silenced the sell-out crowd in Vienna with a superb 6-3 victory over home town hero Mensur Suljovic.
Michael Smith is also through to the quarter finals but Gary Anderson suffered a dramatic defeat to Dave Chisnall.
Wade will face surprise package Jamie Lewis in the last eight.
The pressure of playing on the Vienna stage clearly got to Suljovic and Wade kept his cool.
His finishing was again spot on as he carved out a 3-1 lead. The Unicorn man outplayed the Austrian and three 180s latter it was all over thanks to a 96 two dart check-out.
He averaged 98 and will be a threat in the final day.
It was a very impressive performance from Smith as he hit three ton plus finishes and four 180s to progress. After Kyle had taken out 109 to level at 1-1, Smith nailed a 120 finish and then a third maximum helped him to a 3-1 lead. The St Helens ace missed darts for 4-1 and the Aussie produced an 11 darter to level again.
But Smith found an extra gear....a 127 finish on the bull to break throw, followed by a 112 check-out and he won the match on D5 after Anderson had missed four darts at ‘tops’ to stay in the contest.
A superb end average of 104 and Smith means business this weekend in Vienna.
Gary Anderson blew it! He averaged 100, took out 170 and 130 and led 5-3 but lost 6-5.
He missed three darts at ‘Tops’ D10 and D5 to win 5-4 and then wired the bull for a 121 finish to win the decider and Chisnall won it on D8 with the last dart in hand.
On a night of big-name casualties, Anderson was joined by Peter Wright and Rob Cross through the exit door.
Saturday 2nd Round results:
Michael Smith 6-3 Kyle Anderson
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Raymond Smith
Gary Anderson 5-6 Dave Chisnall
Peter Wright 1-6 Gerwyn Price
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Daryl Gurney
Rob Cross 5-6 Jamie Lewis
Mensur Suljovic 3-6 James Wade
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Damon Heta
Sunday Q/Finals:
Michael Smith v Dave Chisnall
Gerwyn Price v Simon Whitlock
James Wade v Jamie Lewis
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
STUART PYKE reporting from the World Series Finals
Image courtesy PDC/Michael Braunschadel
