Simon Whitlock remains on course to win his first PDC major title, after defeating Colin Lloyd 10-7 in the quarter-finals of the European Darts Championship in Germany.
‘The Wizard’ hit five maximums in a high quality tussle with the former world number one, and will now face Kim Huybrechts this evening. 
“It was a very tough game,” admitted Whitlock, who is bidding to reach his third televised final of 2012.
“Colin played very well and I’m expecting the same from Kim tonight but I’m feeling good for this. I’m playing well and I believe I can go all the way.”
Whitlock won the opening leg with a neat 64 checkout and he quickly doubled his lead, following up a 171 with another tidy finish, this time 94.
The Australian ace continued his sharp finishing as he checked out 121 for a third leg on the spin.
Lloyd got off the mark by hitting double top, before a 105 checkout reduced Whitlock’s lead to a solitary leg.
‘Jaws’ levelled up with a brilliant 164 checkout, which ‘The Wizard’ responded to by hitting his first 180, before cleaning up 52 to edge back in front.
Lloyd took the eighth leg before Whitlock made the perfect start to the ninth, hitting a second maximum on the way to taking a 5-4 lead.
The pair went into the second break all square though, after Lloyd posted double four to hold his throw once more.
‘The Wizard’ retook the lead by hitting a 114 checkout with his opponent waiting on 25 to break.
The Australian then just missed double top for a 148 finish, before eventually finding the double ten bed to grab a break of his own.
And he increased his advantage to 8-5 by hitting tops, before Lloyd held despite a third 180 from ‘The Wizard’.
‘Jaws’ hit double top to reduce Whitlock’s lead to 8-7 but another maximum helped the Premier League finalist break straight back, to move within a leg of victory.
‘The Wizard’ kicked off the 17th leg with his fifth 180, before posting double top again, to book his place in the last four.
By Chris Murphy
Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC