Clayton Thrashes Bunting To Set Up Wade Semi-final

Fifth seed Jonny Clayton group up a World Matchplay semi-final against erstwhile champion James Wade pinch a crushing triumph complete Stephen Bunting.

The Welshman raced into a 5-0 lead and ne'er looked backmost arsenic he went to complete a 16-7 triumph successful Blackpool.

He will now look Wade for a spot successful nan last aft nan 2007 victor saw disconnected Dutchman Gian van Veen 16-13 to scope nan past 4 for nan ninth time.

Clayton, 50, was successful ultimate shape early connected against an out-of-sorts Bunting, averaging 110 successful nan first session.

But while his level dipped for a spell aft that, 4th seed Bunting was incapable to capitalise arsenic his struggles continued and vexation grew.

'The Ferret' rediscovered his shape and reeled disconnected 5 legs successful a statement to clinch nan success, finishing pinch an mean of 98.13 and 50% occurrence complaint connected nan outer ring.

"I played each correct there," Clayton told Sky Sports. "Total respect to Stephen, he didn't play his champion crippled but I kept him nether unit astatine times. I played well."

Earlier successful nan evening, Wade recovered himself 4-1 down to Van Veen, contempt dominating almost each limb arsenic mediocre finishing costs him.

But nan Englishman came retired pinch renewed determination aft nan break and won nan adjacent 8 legs connected nan rotation to return control.

Although Van Veen closed nan spread and vanished nan lucifer pinch nan amended mean - 99.24 to 96.35 - and a amended checkout percentage, Wade did capable to spot it through.

"I thought I'd thrown it away," nan 42-year-old told Sky Sports. "Towards nan end, he was coming backmost and it was God's gift to me, not my expertise [that secured nan win].

"I had a very stern connection pinch myself [after nan first session], I was disgusted. You do what you request to do.

"I'm fortunate he didn't make nan astir of his opportunities. But past if I'd made nan astir of mine, I'd person been 5-0 aliases 10-0 up. I'm due buzzing."

The 3rd and 4th quarter-finals return spot astatine Winter Gardens connected Friday evening pinch world champion Luke Littler facing Andrew Gilding, while Wales' Gerwyn Price takes connected Josh Rock of Northern Ireland.