DAVE CHISNALL knocked reigning partypoker.com World Grand Prix champion Michael van Gerwen out of the tournament with a thrilling 3-2 quarter-final victory on Friday night, as Phil Taylor, James Wade and Justin Pipe also won through to the semi-finals in Dublin.
World number seven Chisnall produced arguably the finest performance of his career so far as he hit ten 180s and held off van Gerwen's fightback from two sets down to rally and claim a five-set victory.
The St Helens ace will now play Pipe for a place in Sunday's final at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, but was able to savour a memorable win over the Dutch star.
Chisnall left the reigning champion reeling by taking the first set without reply, hitting 180s in all three legs, before taking the second set 3-1 by continuing his brilliant start.
Van Gerwen began his comeback by winning the third set 3-2, taking out a superb 127 finish in the deciding leg, only for Chisnall - a former Lakeside Championship runner-up and UK Open semi-finalist - to land an 11-darter as he moved 2-0 up in the fourth set.
Van Gerwen hit back to level as Chisnall missed one match dart, at double 16 in leg four, before the world number two took out 92 to win the set and level the game.
Chisnall, though, steadied himself by winning the opening two legs of the deciding set in 13 and 15 darts, and after van Gerwen won leg four, he posted a tenth 180 of the game and finished double ten to seal a fine victory.
Pipe's earlier 3-1 win over Andy Hamilton put him into the semis against Chisnall - with the winner not only guarateed a place in the World Grand Prix final but also a spot in next month's William Hill Grand Slam of Darts.
Pipe, who had not dropped a set in his victories over Andy Smith and Adrian Lewis, also won six of the game's first seven legs as he took a two-set cushion against Hamilton.
The UK Open finalist hit back to take the third 3-1, but Pipe won the fourth set in a deciding leg to seal his place in only a second major televised semi-final.
Pipe had endured personal tragedy earlier this year when his brother Mark passed away suddenly in June, and he added: "Losing Mark was very hard and it would be amazing if I could win this tournament and dedicate it to him because he's a driving force for me."
Saturday's other semi-final will feature ten-time World Grand Prix winner Phil Taylor taking on two-time finalist James Wade.
Taylor booked his place in the last four with a comfortable straight sets victory over Gary Anderson with an imperious display.
The World Champion took the opening set in 12, 13 and 13 darts and took the second set 3-1, and though Anderson kicked off the third with a 160 finish, Taylor won the next three legs to seal the win.
2007 and 2010 champion Wade showed his class by twice coming from a set down against Simon Whitlock before winning a sudden-death leg in their clash with a 101 checkout.
Whitlock took the first set 3-2 before the left-hander won the second 3-1 to level, landing a 106 finish along the way, only for the Australian to punish his missed doubles by sweeping through set three without reply.
Wade, though, took out 160 as he won set four in a deciding leg, after Whitlock missed the bull to claim victory, as the game went into a fifth set.
Whitlock led 2-1 to move once again to the brink of victory, but Wade hit two 180s in a 12-darter to send the game into a one-leg shoot-out before progressing to the semis with a 101 checkout.
partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Friday October 11
Quarter-Finals
Andy Hamilton 1-3 Justin Pipe
James Wade 3-2 Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor 3-0 Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen 2-3 Dave Chisnall
Semi-Final Order of Play
Dave Chisnall v Justin Pipe
Phil Taylor v James Wade
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