RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD secured a semi-final clash with old rival Phil Taylor after coming through a titanic struggle with Stephen Bunting to win 5-4 in their classic quarter-final at the William Hill World Darts Championship.

The pair played out another Alexandra Palace epic, with neither able to open up more than a one-set lead before the Dutcham prevailed in a thriller.

Both players had almost identical averages of 98.36 for Bunting and 98.37 for van Barneveld after 35 spellbinding legs of darts, with the Premier League champion landing 13 180s to his rival's six.

Three of the first four sets were won 3-0, with two coming from Bunting as the Lakeside Champion levelled at two-all before he edged a tight fifth set in a decider to move 3-2 up in the game.

Van Barneveld had emerged for set four by returning to wearing glasses on stage - having successfully trialled the glasses during October and November only to play without them in his first three rounds at Alexandra Palace - and he wrested back the lead by taking the sixth and seventh sets.

St Helens man Bunting showed tremendous spirit to pull out a 12-darter to clinch a nerve-jangling fifth leg and send the clash into a decider, but van Barneveld stepped up again with a 124 finish the highlight as he took the final 3-0 to set up another clash with Taylor, this time for a place in Sunday's final.

"I'm so proud to be back in the semi-finals again," said van Barneveld, who lost out to Taylor at the same stage two years ago. "It was so good out there - Stephen played so well and the crowd were amazing.

"Stephen kept on coming at me all the time, and he showed what a great player he is. He's going to be around for a long time and he can only get better.

"Like today, I'll be fighting for my life in the semi-finals. I'm not afraid and I like to play Phil; he's amazing and you know what you have to do to beat him."

Van Barneveld, a diabetic who had been prescribed glasses earlier this year and has worn them in four previous TV events added: "I had to switch to the glasses again.

"At the end of the fourth set the board was looking a bit blurry, and they seemed to work well."

Van Barneveld landed two 180s as he claimed the first set without reply, with Bunting adding two maximums and a 174 score, as well as a brace of 14-darters, as he levelled in the same style.

A break of throw put the St Helens man ahead in the third, only for van Barneveld to take the next three legs - including finishes of 13 and 12 darts - as he claimed the set 3-1 and moved back ahead.

Bunting levelled the tie once more as he hit a pair of 13-darters in taking set four without reply, and though van Barneveld returned for the fifth wearing his glasses it was the reigning Lakeside Champion who came from 2-1 down to finish 110 and 68 for the set and a 3-2 lead.

Van Barneveld responded with an 11-dart leg to break throw at the start set six, before taking two of the next three legs to level the game at three sets apiece.

Bunting then broke with a 52 before van Barneveld hit a 113 finish for a break back and then a 180 and double top for a 13-darter to lead 2-1. Bunting took leg four in 14 darts to force a decider, but the Dutchman finished 107 to claim the set and wrestle back the lead at 4-3.

Bunting showed his fighting spirit in the next as he moved 2-0 up in set eight, but he then missed three set darts as van Barneveld hit back to level, only for the Englishman hit a 180 as part of a 12-darter sealed with an 81 finish to force a deciding set.

A 180 got van Barneveld off the mark and a 66 finish gave him the first leg, but the crucial moment came in the second as Bunting saw a dart at the bull bounce out when needing 92 before he missed double 16, allowing the Dutchman to take out 124 in brilliant fashion on the bull, - and a 180 in the next gave him breathing space to hit tops for a 13-darter and the match.