Mardle, known as the `Mouth of the South', will meet John `Boy' Walton on Saturday afternoon for a place in the final - and on the form the duo are showing it should be a match to savour.

If the semi-final lives up to the standard of Mardle's 5-3 victory over 1999 and 2000 runner-up Baxter then the Frimley Green supporters will be in for a real treat.

World number nine Mardle, from Dagenham, had tipped himself to go all the way after he had put out fifth seed Co Stompe in the second round - and the way he started Thursday's match suggested his confidence was not misplaced.

Baxter, nicknamed `The Rocket', failed to take off and Mardle raced to a 3-1 lead, looking as if he would complete a quickfire win.

But the 27-year-old Essex man missed darts to go 4-1 up and Baxter seized on the opportunity, reducing his deficit to 3-2 and then levelling the match with Mardle visibly shaken by the turnaround in fortunes.

Baxter had the momentum but Mardle quickly pulled himself together and went away again to win the next two sets, clinching his success with a brilliant 124 checkout finishing on the bullseye.

In the the first women's World Championship final, world number one Trina Gulliver beat another English player, Mandy Solomons, 2-1.