Brendan Dolan is the first player through to the semi-finals at the 2021
Players Championship Finals after easing past Jose de Sousa to open up proceedings in Minehead.
A 10-4 triumph for 'The History Maker' who makes his first major ranking semi-final since 2012 in a run that has been coming for Dolan showing terrific form on the floor for over the past 18 months.
He took advantage of a poor De Sousa who hit 4/25 on the doubles despite a 94 average and four 180's en route. While for Dolan, it was the same average but sharper on the doubles with 41.67%.
It was the doubles that let down De Sousa from the start as he only got off the mark at 4-1 down and that was a mere consolation as back-to-back legs saw him lead 6-1.
Six darts squandered from De Sousa and Dolan was 7-1 up. A mini revival saw him claim successive legs to make it 7-3 at the interval followed by a sensational 151 but he continued to struggle from there with Dolan seeing out the match.
He will face the winner of Daryl Gurney and Ryan Searle in a real chance for one of the three to reach the final in Minehead.