Mardle steams into semis

Wayne Mardle in action in the quarters

An unseeded Embassy World Championship finalist was guaranteed on Thursday when Wayne Mardle sent world number four Ronnie Baxter tumbling out of the tournament in a Lakeside thriller.

Mardle, known as the `Mouth of the South', will meet John `Boy' Walton on Saturday afternoon for a place in the final - and on the form the duo are showing it should be a match to savour.

If the semi-final lives up to the standard of Mardle's 5-3 victory over 1999 and 2000 runner-up Baxter then the Frimley Green supporters will be in for a real treat.

World number nine Mardle, from Dagenham, had tipped himself to go all the way after he had put out fifth seed Co Stompe in the second round - and the way he started Thursday's match suggested his confidence was not misplaced.