ST HELENS thrower Dave Chisnall bids to reach the semi finals of The Unibet Masters at the Royal Highland Centre this afternoon

Ayrshire's former UK Open champion Robert Thornton suffered a 10-8 defeat to Chisnall.

Thornton held early leads of 4-2 and 5-4, but Chisnall followed an earlier 121 checkout by finishing 140 to level and took out 114 to move into a lead he would never relinquish.

Chisnall ended the game with a high-quality average of just under 100 after hitting 26 scores of 140 or more in the contest as he moved through to the quarter-finals.

"I'm delighted with the win," said Chisnall. "The big checkouts were great and it was good to see them go in today because sometimes my doubles can let me down.

"I've had games before where I've hit loads of 180s and lost, but if you can keep hitting 140s and take out your finishes it makes the difference and I took my chances when Robert gave me them."

MATCH INFORMATION

Dave Chisnall v Robert Thornton

1-0 - Thornton misses two early doubles, and Chisnall steps in to finish 86 on double eight.

1-1 - Thornton takes out 68 on double two to level.

2-1 - Chisnall finishes 121 on the bull to break throw once more.

2-2 - Chisnall this time misses two darts at doubles, and Thornton finishes 76 on double eight to level.

2-3 - Thornton holds throw for the first time in the game, landing tops to edge 3-2 up.

2-4 - Thornton lands his second 180 of the game, and punishes further missed doubles from Chisnall by landing double three.

3-4 - Chisnall breaks back with a 13-dart leg, finishing double 18.

4-4 - Chisnall finishes 64 on double four to level.

4-5 - Thornton produces a superb 11-darter to regain the lead, scoring 140, 180 and 140 before landing tops.

5-5 - Chisnall levels the game in style with a brilliant 140 finish, with both players now averaging over 100.

6-5 - Thornton scores 171 to leave 92, but misses double eight to complete the combination, and Chisnall steps in to take out 114 for a third ton-plus checkout.

7-5 - Thornton misses double six for a 126 finish, and Chisnall lands double 18 to move two legs clear.

7-6 - Chisnall lands his first 180 of the game, but misses double eight and four to allow Thornton in on double 16.

8-6 - Thornton misses three darts to level as Chisnall returns on tops.

8-7 - Thornton hits back by finishing 86 on double 16.

9-7 - Double eight moves Chisnall a leg away from the win.

9-8 - Thornton keeps the match alive by finishing 65 on tops.

10-8 - Chisnall lands a 171 score to be first to a finish before pinning double eight to seal a strong win.

First Round results:

Peter Wright 7-10 Justin Pipe

Dave Chisnall 10-8 Robert Thornton

Simon Whitlock 7-10 Mervyn King

Adrian Lewis 10-4 Kim Huybrechts

James Wade 10-5 Brendan Dolan

Phil Taylor 10-4 Wes Newton

Michael van Gerwen 10-9 Raymond van Barneveld

Gary Anderson 10-7 Andy Hamilton

Quarter finals fixtures, 12.45pm-5pm

Mervyn King v Justin Pipe

James Wade v Adrian Lewis

Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson

Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall

Best of 19 legs

Evening Session (7pm-11pm, Semi-Finals)

Taylor/Anderson v Wade/Lewis

van Gerwen/Chisnall v King/Pipe

Best of 21 legs