Lethal Lewis a history man

to let again to win the next two legs for 4-0 before taking the match on double six.

“I thought it was going to be a closer game, maybe 5-3 or 5-4, but to win it 5-0, I am so chuffed,” said Lewis. “I can’t believe I am in the semi-finals.

“I do get a bit edgy at some points but I am trying to stay as relaxed as I can and it seems to be working. I have nothing to lose now.”

If Lewis was sensational, the second quarter-final of the day was one of the best ever in the championship.

And in the end, England’s Rob Cross, in his first season as a professional, found just enough to beat Belgian’s World Youth champion Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-4.

It was a game which backed up PDC chairman Barry Hearn’s message that “we will sell you a seat but you will only need the edge of it”, because this match was an absolute classic.

Cross, 27, had led 4-1 before Van den Bergh, 23, came back to take it to a decider.

And what an epic the ninth set proved to be as Van den Bergh had a bounce out on double six as he trailed 2-1, leaving Cross on eight, a checkout he finally landed on double one for victory. But as Cross said: “The best player lost. I do not know what happened, I just felt lethargic and Dimitri had everything – he is going to be special. I am happy to win but it has to get better.”

Van den Bergh said: “After being 4-1 down, I kept telling myself, ‘Keep your chin up, keep battling’. But I love Rob to bits and I hope he goes on from this.”

The standard from both players was simply incredible, with Van den Bergh hitting 13 180s while Cross landed 11 maximums.