Gary Anderson has set up a World Championship quarter-final clash with Phil Taylor.
But worryingly, the Team Unicorn star has suffered a recurrence of the back problem which plagued him last month.
He finally saw off Steve West by four sets to two but clearly felt pain in his back again in the fifth set. Gary eventually won with his 13th match dart.
Hopefully Anderson will be able to get some treatment before the quarter-final on Friday night. But it is a major concern for the Scot.
He was made to work hard by West after missing some important doubles. Anderson took the opening set with a 104 check out after West had a dart to take it.
West levelled after Anderson got sloppy, but the Unicorn man powered his way through the third set without reply, winning it with an 11 darter.
West nailed a 170 check-out to force a fourth set deciding leg. But he missed ‘tops’ to take it and Anderson won it on D1.
Gary then missed two darts to win the match 4-1 as his back trouble flared up again and he gritted his teeth and played through the pain barrier to finally get the job done.
Anderson missed another 10 match darts but hit the D4 to win. His back problem though remains the big worry.
Unfortunately Keegan Brown was beaten 4-0 by Taylor. After going two sets behind, the Unicorn youngster fought hard. He missed a dart at D18 to win the third set and was sat on ‘tops’ to take the fourth set only for Taylor to win it with a 106 finish.
But it has been good to see Brown playing well again.
On Friday, all eyes will be in Gary Anderson and his fitness
Friday Q/Finals (best of 9 sets): Afternoon session
Jamie Lewis v Darren Webster
Dimitri van den Bergh v Rob Cross
Evening:
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld Gary Anderson v Phil Taylor
By STUART PYKE at the William Hill World Darts Championship
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig /PDC
