Paul Jennings (Eng) bt Steve Douglas (Eng) 4-2

Impressive Jenno dumps out Douglas to reach the last eight

Debutant Paul Jennings surged into the quarter finals toppling speedy Steve Douglas 4-2 in a gripping 74-minute clash.

The 35-year-old 12^th seed from Hartlepool won the north versus south encounter, battling from 1-0 behind to despatch the Gillingham ace, hitting four maximums and overcoming bouts of double trouble to tame the terrier-like Douglas.

Both players hit a maximum in the opening set and despite a 13-darter from Jennings, both missed crucial doubles before Douglas snatched the deciding fifth leg against the throw with a show-stopping 121, finished on bull.

Jennings opened up a 2-0 lead in the next, left-hander Douglas blazing into the third leg with back-to-back 180s but then missing the all-important seventh 60 to set up a nine dart finish.

Jennings missed double eight for a set-winning 76 in the next, Douglas missing double 10 and then double five for a set-levelling finish. Jennings fired in double seven to level the match.

A 12-darter steered Jennings into a 2-0 lead but he missed three darts for the next set, Douglas taking the leg against the throw on double 12. Jenno won the race to the double with the throw in the deciding fifth but wobbled on his finishing once again, missing double tops and double 10 but the Kent man was unable to put pressure on and the Hartlepool hot shot exited on double 10 with his second dart to open up a 2-1 match lead.

The opening legs of the fourth set went with the darts, Jennings stealing the initiative against the throw with a maximum missing two attempts for double eight for a 70 checkout.  eight, Douglas failed to pressurise, Jenno clinching the set his second attempt for double four.

A three dart 120 steered the Gillingham man into a 2-0 lead in the next set but both players missed a combination of more than 20 darts for doubles in all-important third leg, Jennings sneaking it on double 7. Douglas won the next with the throw to pull the match back to 3-2.

Jennings gained revenge taking the opening leg of the sixth set against the throw and then notched the 100^th maximum of the week in the next leg but let in Douglas after wasting three darts for double tops. Jenno raced back to take the next with a 72 finish against the throw.

Douglas applied the pressure in the fifth leg but missed bull for a match-saving 82 checkout as Jenno, who had missed numerous double tops attempts, made it count this time with a perfect one dart finish..