'I’m nowhere near' - Peter Wright makes honest admission despite Masters win over Krzysztof Ratajski

Ratajski launched a valiant fightback from 6-0 down to threaten an improbable turnaround, but two-time World Champion Wright kept his cool to progress, hitting ten of his 18 attempts at double.

“I’m happy with the win,” reflected Wright, who will face Bunting in Sunday’s opening quarter-final.

“I wanted to keep Krzysztof at bay, because I knew he wasn’t playing well early on, and I managed to find some good shots when I needed them.

“I’m nowhere near the level I want to be at, but the mindset is there. I feel more determined than ever, and once I get settled, I’ll start playing proper darts.”

Elsewhere, Damon Heta produced another ton-topping average to move through to the quarter-finals, defying a late fightback from 2023 runner-up Rob Cross to win through a high-quality contest.

The Australian established a 9-5 lead before Cross reduced the arrears with three consecutive legs, only for Heta to respond with a superb 11-dart hold to triumph with a 102 average.

In the afternoon’s opener, two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall withstood a late rally from world number seven Danny Noppert to book his place in Sunday’s final day of action.

Chisnall, who averaged 109.26 in his opening round demolition of Martin Schindler, recovered from a 4-2 deficit to deny Noppert, winning seven of the next nine legs on his way to a 10-8 victory.

World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall overcame a struggling Dirk van Duijvenbode to kick off his campaign, converting 125 and 110 combinations to close out a comfortable 10-5 success.

Aspinall's reward is a meeting with Daryl Gurney, who capitalised on his late call-up to dump out 2022 champion Joe Cullen in a gruelling encounter, after Cullen squandered three darts to level at nine apiece.

Sunday’s final stages will see the quarter-finals take place in the afternoon, which will be followed by the semi-finals and final in a bumper evening session.

Photo Credit: Taylor Lanning/PDC