WORLD number two James Wade was dumped from the stanjames.com World Matchplay by a brilliant Ronnie Baxter display in Blackpool.
Wade has reached the final at the Winter Gardens for the past three years, winning in 2007, but was blitzed by the local-born favourite.
Baxter produced a clinical display to pull away from eight-all to win eight of the next ten legs for a 16-10 victory.
Wade made a fine start to win the opening two legs and secure a 2-0 lead, but was left waiting on a finish in the next after the duo traded 180s, with Baxter taking out double ten to break back.
A two-dart 78 finish saw Baxter level, and he produced a 14-darter to square matters again after Wade took the fifth leg in 13 darts.
Baxter then took the lead for the first time with a brilliant 132 checkout as Wade waited on 40, and he then punished a missed double top from the 2007 champion with double eight to lead 5-3.
The pair traded double top finishes before Baxter took out 102 to move three legs clear at 7-4 - but he hit two 180s in the next and failed to get a shot at a double as Wade followed up an earlier maximum with an 82 checkout.
He also hit 180s in the next two, and a sensational 153 finish saw him pull level once more.
Another pair of double top finishes took the scores to eight-all, but Wade began to feel the pressure as missed doubles in the next two legs allowed Baxter to edge in front.
They traded the next two before Wade produced a 13-darter to reduce the gap to one leg at 11-10 - but that would prove as close as he would get.
He hit an eight maximum of the game in the next leg, but missed three darts at a double as Baxter took out double top.
Four further misses in the next and one in the 24th leg allowed Baxter into a 14-10 lead, and he then landed a 177 and double top to move a leg away from victory.
Four successive visits to the oche for Wade without hitting a ton gave Baxter the advantage, and he landed double top to book a first Blackpool semi-final since 2005.
"James isn't number two in the world for nothing but it was my night," said Baxter. "It was all about hitting my doubles and I have a great chance now in this event.
"James missed a few doubles and that let me in. I'm enjoying myself and my form is coming back.
"I haven't done the business for a lot of years but I'm in the semis and have a great chance now.
"The tight matches I had in the early rounds teach you things and prepare you for if they happen again in the later stages."
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