Trina Gulliver (Eng) bt Lisa Ashton (Eng) 2-0

Brave Trina dedicates victory to Mum Muriel

Golden Girl Trina Gulliver remains on course for a record 10^th world crown after toppling England team mate Lisa Ashton 2-0 in the quarter final

But behind the 22-minute victory was a Gulliver’s deep desire to win this week’s women’s world title in memory of mother Muriel – her biggest fan – who died just two days before the tournament began.

The defending champion had wanted to withdraw from the tournament but was told by her dying mother to play in the tournament, promising her: “I will be with you on stage.”

Cheddar-based Gulliver wore her mother’s wedding ring on a gold necklace as she moved purposefully into the penultimate stage of this year’s tournament.

Gulliver fired a 100 and 83 en-route to taking the opening leg with the throw after the Bolton player fluffed two doubles.

The Golden Girl followed up with a 140 in the next, Ashton having a chance to check out but missing three attempts, Gulliver blazing in 140 and 121 shots in the next, annexing the set with a 95 checkout, finished on her favourite double tops.

The rout continued into the next set as the nine times world champ blasted in a maximum as she took the opening leg against the throw on double five.

She missed double tops in the next as Ashton gratefully seized the leg but only after squandering darts for the double.

As nerves crept into the match, both players missed doubles in the crucial third, the Somerset sharpshooter hitting her favourite double 20 after the Bolton player missed a further seven doubles.

After missing double tops for a 74 match-winning shot in the seventh leg of the match, Gulliver watched on as her opponent hit 25 throwing for bull and a 108 match-saving finish. Gulliver planted two darts on the wire of the double 20, firing in the third to win through and produce the top average in this year’s women’s event of 24.60.

An emotional Gulliver, choking back tears smiled and acknowledged the supportive crowd. The past four days have been a roller coaster of emotion for the Golden Girl.