Unfancied duo battle into semis

Phil Nixon will meet fellow outsider Niels de Ruiter tomorrow for a place in the Lakeside World Championship final after both men edged through 5-4 in tense battles tonight.

De Ruiter kept alive Dutch hopes of winning a second world title in two weeks with a thrilling quarter-final triumph over Gary Robson.

Then qualifier Nixon, another man unconsidered as a possible champion at the outset of the tournament, held his nerve after Paul Hanvidge had fought back from 4-1 down to level at 4-4.

Nixon, a 50-year-old house-husband from Durham, came through three separate qualifying competitions at county, national and international level to secure his Lakeside debut.

His lack of experience on the Frimley Green stage has not been evident, however, and Nixon looked to be cruising into the semi-finals when he led 4-1 against the Scot.

But six match darts for a 5-1 win went begging and Hanvidge gleaned encouragement, working his way back into it as Nixon clearly became edgy with the winning post in sight.

He regrouped in the deciding set though and despite having struggled on double top earlier in the contest, Nixon finally hit it to complete a 105 checkout that sent him into the last four.

'I'm elated,' said Nixon. 'I just had to keep telling myself not to muck it up - just hit the double and enjoy it.

'I want to keep winning now. I'll go to bed early tonight, have a good rest, get up early in the morning and think positive.'

De Ruiter, 23, beaten in the first round on his debut in this event last year, was the only one of the seven-strong contingent from the Netherlands to reach the last eight.

He recovered from 2-0 and 4-2 down against Robson, who had ousted his compatriot, 17-year-old pre-tournament favourite Michael van Gerwen, in his opening match.

De Ruiter, nicknamed 'The Excellent Dude', looked to be heading for defeat when, after levelling the match at 2-2, he lost the deciding leg of the fifth set despite hitting two 180s.

Robson took that leg with a superb 121 checkout and also won the next set to put himself on the brink of victory.

But back came the 11th seed and, after reducing his arrears to 4-3, he restored parity again after a 160 finish to take the contest all the way.

Both players struggled to hold their throw, Robson hitting 93 on the bullseye to save the match, before De Ruiter finally made the breakthrough and pegged double 18 with his sixth match dart.

'I was proud of myself that I kept fighting,' said De Ruiter, a business student who also works part time for a letting agency. 'When I was 2-0 down I still believed in myself.

'It would be fair to say it's surprising that I am the only Dutchman left in the competition but it has been a surprising tournament.'