Michael van Gerwen put on a masterclass in Wolverhampton by blitzing Kim Huybrechts 16-4 to book a Grand Slam of Darts semi-final with Adrian Lewis's conqueror Michael Smith.
The Dutchman produced a majestic 111.05 three-dart average to thump his Belgian counterpart and move within two more wins of adding the Grand Slam to his collection of major titles.
With less than five minutes gone, Van Gerwen was already 3-0 up following a rip-roaring start which included an 11-dart leg and two ton-plus finishes as Huybrechts looked powerless.
Huybrechts stemmed the tide with a 141 checkout, before both held throw to leave the scoreline at 4-2 shortly after the first break.
However, Van Gerwen then flashed his title credentials by winning nine successive legs en route to a 13-2 lead, and it was easy from there as he finished up with 12 180s in total.
Next up for the world number one is Smith, who proved that he has the talent and appetite for an upset after edging out two-time world champion Lewis 16-11 earlier in the evening.
Spurred on by a demoralising 16-3 defeat to Phil Taylor in last year's quarter-final, Smith looked hungry for redemption early on as he led 3-1, and later 7-2 as Lewis's finishing undermined him.
Lewis swiftly found form and ultimately reduced the arrears to 9-8, but Smith, a former world youth champion, pulled out an impressive 126 to break straight back and move 10-8 ahead.
From there, Lewis's checkout woes resurfaced as Smith capitalised on four missed darts at double 20 in different legs to move 14-8 ahead en route to a first semi-final of a major.
Shane Callaghan
