 Phil Taylor celebrates his victory over Kevin Painter |
Phil Taylor was involved in a heated row with opponent Kevin Painter after powering his way into the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes World Championship. The 11-time world champion hit the bullseye to seal a comfortable 5-1 win, but strong words were exchanged as the pair left the stage.
The argument reportedly continued backstage and both players left the Circus Tavern without commenting.
Taylor will now play Bob Anderson, who beat qualifier Andy Hamilton 5-1.
It was reported that Painter, beaten 7-6 by Taylor in last year's final, had been angered by the antics of the crowd.
 |  The crowd paid little or no respect to every player out there tonight |
The fans certainly upset Anderson, the 1988 world champion.
"I am delighted to have got through but the crowd paid little or no respect to every player out there tonight," said the 57-year-old 'Limestone Cowboy'.
"Something must be done about it. I have got the experience to deal with it but I am sure it affected Andy.
"To be given such a lack of respect borders on disgusting and I am not happy about it.
"I find it irritating when players have worked so hard to get into a tournament of such magnitude and then they are not given the best of order.
"At the start of each leg the referee says `game on' and that should mean silence, but it didn't tonight."
In other matches, Wayne Mardle staged a stunning comeback to book his place in the semi-finals.
Mardle, nicknamed "Hawaii 501", had been 4-1 down against number one seed Colin Lloyd before winning a sudden-death last leg.
"I rode my luck a bit, just as I did in my first two matches," said the 31-year-old Mardle.
| I felt flat and there was no edge to my game |
"I deserved to win, even at 4-1 down. I should never have been so far behind but once it got to 4-4 it was my game."
Mardle will now take on Mark Dudbridge, who wasted seven match darts before sealing a 5-3 win over Denis Ovens.
"I was an absolute mile off my game and so was Denis," said Dudbridge.
"I didn't feel right and the mistakes crept in but I managed to battle through.
"I felt flat and there was no edge to my game. I knew I wouldn't hit those doubles I missed - it was like there was a big barrier around them."
MMIX
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