Steve Beaton sensationally ended Phil Taylor's three-year reign as the Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts champion this evening at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
In this close quarter-final encounter the 46-year old former BDO world champion from Coventry came back from 14-11 down to triumph 16-14 and set up a semi-final clash with Scott 'Too Hotty' Waites, who earlier criused past Dutchman Co Stompe 16-10.
In the winning leg, Beaton finally ensured victory with double 16 after missings three darts at double top. In between, Taylor, the 15-time world champion and world number 1 from Stoke, failed to keep the game alive after he fluffed his bullseye checkout.
"I didn't think I would get a second chance because you generally don't when you play Phil," said Beaton."You don't get many chances when you play Phil and you've got to take them, and I did tonight. It's amazing and I'm determined to go on and win the tournament now on Sunday."
Beaton is set to meet either local boy Wayne Jones or James 'The Machine' Wade in the £100,000 final if he can overcome Halifax-based Waites. Watch all the action from 6.30pm on ITV4.
Picture copyright and courtesy of PDC