Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC. 
TERRY JENKINS and Mervyn King produced sensational performances to book semi-final spots at the stanjames.com World Matchplay on Friday afternoon.
Jenkins overcame five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld 16-12 in one of his finest televised displays to earn a place against either James Wade or Ronnie Baxter in the last four.
The pair shared the first ten legs before Jenkins won ten of the next 13 to go to the brink of victory – only for van Barneveld to win four in a row and threaten a comeback before a 12-darter put the 2007 runner-up through.
“I was really up for that match and I’m over the moon to get through to the semis,” said Jenkins.
“Everybody was expecting Barney to win but you can never underestimate me. I know I’ve got a major title in me and if I strike form like I did against Raymond I can beat anybody.”
King, meanwhile, reached his first World Matchplay semi-final with a stylish 16-6 win over Vincent van der Voort.
King averaged 101 and checked out over half of his attempts at a double to see off the Dutchman and set up a semi-final with either Phil Taylor or Adrian Lewis.
“I’m starting to feel more comfortable up on the stage,” said King. “I felt really good and though I might play a little better I’m trying to eradicate a few loose darts.”
The remaining quarter-finals take place in Friday’s evening session, with 2007 winner Wade meeting Blackpool-born Ronnie Baxter before reigning champion Taylor takes on Lewis in an all-Stoke affair.
stanjames.com World Matchplay
Friday July 24
Afternoon Session (1pm start)
Quarter-Finals
Mervyn King 16-6 Vincent van der Voort
Terry Jenkins 16-12 Raymond van Barneveld
Evening Session (7pm start)
James Wade v Ronnie Baxter
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
MERVYN KING 16-6 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT
MERVYN KING powered into the stanjames.com World Matchplay semi-finals with a 16-6 thrashing of Vincent van der Voort.
The number five seed produced his best performance of the tournament to average over 100, hit eight 180s and check out over half his attempts at a double.
His superior scoring power devastated van der Voort’s challenge, with the Dutchman winning the opening leg with a 94 finish after hitting a 180, only to find himself 5-1 down in the blink of an eye.
The duo traded maximums in the second leg before double 16 got King on the board, and a 106 checkout from the Englishman broke the throw and edged him in front.
King opened the fourth leg with another maximum, and hit double 16 to win the next two legs and create a 5-1 lead.
Double 16 from van der Voort saw him get a second leg, but King matched that finish in the next and took out a key 81 on double 13 – with his opponent waiting on 16 – to lead 7-2.
King landed another 180 and double top to take another leg, but was punished for a missed bull in the next as van der Voort took out double eight to win his third.
King fired in an 11-darter to restore his cushion, and finishes of double eight and double two extended the advantage to 11-3.
Van der Voort landed a maximum in taking the 15th, but King secured another three legs to put himself two away from the win.
He took his 15th leg with another maximum and a two-dart 88 finish, which was sandwiched between strong legs from van der Voort – who took out 131 in staying alive at 15-6.
King, though, was in no mood to delay victory further and took out double eight to secure the win.
“I’ve known Vincent for a long time and we’re great mates,” said King. “It’s hard when you play a friend but you have to turn off and hate them when you’re up there.
“I’m starting to feel more comfortable up on the stage. I felt really good and though I might play a little better, I’m trying to eradicate a few loose darts.
“Overall I’m really happy with that win.”
TERRY JENKINS 16-12 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
TERRY JENKINS sensationally held off Raymond van Barneveld’s challenge at the stanjames.com World Matchplay with a 16-12 quarter-final win.
The 2007 runner-up remains on course to reach a seventh major final following a thrilling victory in one of his best-ever televised displays.
He crucially pulled clear from five-all to lead 12-7 and also 15-8 before van Barneveld battled back.
But the Dutchman had too much to do and fell to defeat in the last eight for the third successive year at the World Matchplay.
The opening stages saw the duo trading blows like prize fighters to hold their own throw – with Jenkins taking out finishes of 131, 121 and 100 to win his first three legs while van Barneveld posted a 14-darter and three 180s.
Jenkins took out a 13-darter in the ninth leg of the match, but was unable to break van Barneveld, who was equally accurate on the key double 18 and double 16 checkouts.
A 76 checkout saw Jenkins move 6-5 up, and he then took the game’s first break with a 14-darter and matched that to lead 8-5.
Van Barneveld took the next on double eight, but Jenkins piled home a 180 to set up a double top finish in the next.
Van Barneveld responded with a 180 and a 73 checkout, but Jenkins took the next three legs – hitting two more maximums – to move 12-7 up..
A 12-darter from van Barneveld saw him hit back, only for Jenkins to win the next on tops before securing another key break of throw with a 13-darter.
Double eight pushed him a leg away from the win at 15-8, only for van Barneveld to show his fighting spirit to win four successive legs in 13, 12, 15 and 12 darts.
That spell included four 180s and a 126 checkout as Jenkins – fearing a repeat of Denis Ovens’ second round comeback to rattle his nerves – missed two darts for the game.
However, he kicked off the 28th leg with a 180, and produced a 104 checkout to seal victory with a 12-darter.
“I was really up for that match and I’m over the moon to get through to the semis,” said Jenkins.
“Everybody was expecting Barney to win but you can never underestimate me. I know what I can do on the practice board and I’m learning to take it onto stage.
“I find it easier to perform against Barney and Phil Taylor because they’re the players I want to play against but I find it hard against players I’m supposed to beat.
“I knew if Barney dropped his head I had him on the ropes and I made that count.
“I’m learning all the time and I definitely know I’ve got a major in me. It’s just the luck on the day, and if I strike form like I did against Raymond I can beat anybody.”