Nathan Aspinall is through to a second successive Quarter-Final at the
World Matchplay after denying James Wade at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
A prolific latter stage surge saw him claim an 11-9 win and deny the 2007 champion as the resurgence of 'The Asp' who previously nearly had a career threatening injury continues.
Aspinall reeled off three consecutive legs from 2-0 down to lead Wade 3-2 and claim the early impetus but after ‘The Asp’ got his nose in front, Wade kept on his coattails with a 105 checkout to make it 4-3.
Before turning the match on its head by taking out a 118 checkout at 5-5 and it went to four legs on the spin as ‘The Machine’ raced into a 7-5 lead.
Aspinall missed a 94 checkout to break back but returned with Wade unable to make it 8-5 with a 148 checkout and parity was there with a 68 checkout as ‘The Machine’s lead was eroded.
Wade halted Aspinall though pinning double 12 for 8-7. Aspinall pinned double 20 for parity again at 8-8 and pinned an 82 checkout to go 9-8 up and break again. A 52 checkout from there moved him to the brink at 10-8. Double four saw Wade remain on his coattails at 10-9. But Aspinall threw for the match and sealed it with an 81 checkout.