Jonny Clayton delivered a masterclass performance to defeat Stephen Bunting with a commanding 16-7 victory, advancing to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay. The Welshman, seeded fifth, stormed into a 5-0 lead early in the match and maintained his dominance throughout, showcasing his precision and composure on the oche.

Clayton's early form was nothing short of spectacular, averaging an impressive 110 in the opening session. Although his performance dipped slightly in the middle stages, Bunting, the fourth seed, failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Clayton, known as 'The Ferret', regained his rhythm and closed out the match with five consecutive legs, finishing with an average of 98.13 and a 50% success rate on the outer ring.

In the post-match interview, Clayton expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, "I played all right there. Total respect to Stephen, he didn't play his best game but I kept him under pressure at times. I played well."

On the other side of the draw, James Wade, the 2007 World Matchplay champion, secured his place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought 16-13 victory over Gian van Veen. Despite a slow start that saw him trail 4-1, Wade rallied after the break, winning eight consecutive legs to take control of the match. Although Van Veen closed the gap and finished with a higher average (99.24 to Wade's 96.35), Wade's experience and determination saw him through to the next round.

Reflecting on his performance, Wade admitted, "I thought I'd thrown it away. Towards the end, he was coming back and it was God's gift to me, not my ability [that secured the win]. I had a very stern word with myself [after the first session], I was disgusted. You do what you need to do."

The semi-final clash between Clayton and Wade promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both players in fine form and vying for a spot in the World Matchplay final. The action continues at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, where the remaining quarter-finals will feature Luke Littler against Andrew Gilding and Gerwyn Price taking on Josh Rock.