Grand Slam action hotting up

Scott Waites, Terry Jenkins and Robert Thornton all won through deciding leg battles to reach the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts.

The trio and Australian Simon Whitlock completed the final eight line-up at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall in last night's dramatic action.

Waites came from 9-7 down to defeat Gary Anderson in a thriller, defying 11 maximums, a ten-dart finish and three 11-darters from the Scot to win the final three legs. The Yorkshireman admitted afterwards: "It was an unbelievable game. Gary had a few loose darts later on, and I managed to creep back into the match."

Waites now meets Whitlock in tonight's quarter-finals, after the Australian stormed past Steve Beaton 10-1 in their second round game.

Last year's runner-up Jenkins and Thornton, though, both went to deciding legs in their clashes against James Wade and Darin Young.

Jenkins took out a 121 checkout to win the final leg of his brilliant clash with left-hander Wade, while Thornton produced a 116 checkout to take victory over American star Young.

Today's other quarter-finals see reigning champion Phil Taylor take on BDO number one Tony O'Shea, while Raymond van Barneveld comes up against Kevin Painter.