BRENDAN DOLAN suffered a disappointing defeat on Day 5 of the World Matchplay Darts in Blackpool.
The Fermanagh native was well beaten 11-1 by Damon Heta as the Australian advanced to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
14th seed Heta had already beaten another Irish hopeful, Antrim’s Josh Rock, 10-5, to set up his encounter with the 49-year-old from Enniskillen.
Dolan had been previously bolstered by a shock 10-7 win over defending champion Michael van Gerwen on Sunday.
But he was ultimately overwhelmed as the Australian, whose passage was secured with the help of a 150 checkout in the seventh leg, cruised to victory.
DOLAN DEMOLISHED!!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 19, 2023
What a performance from Damon Heta as he stuns Brendan Dolan 11-1 to storm through to the Quarter-Finals of the Betfred World Matchplay...
📺 https://t.co/DTtJ9feFOI | #WMDarts R2 pic.twitter.com/we82kXdrQl
Elsewhere, Ryan Searle was left looking for a new hotel after dumping Peter Wright out of the Betfred World Matchplay.
The Englishman was only booked into his accommodation in Blackpool until Friday, but now needs to find somewhere to stay after beating world number two Wright 11-8 to set up a quarter-final with Wales’ Jonny Clayton that night.
Searle told Sky Sports: “I’m going to have to try to book a hotel now because I’m meant to be leaving on Friday. I have to try to find somewhere to stay.”
The first five legs went with the darts, but it was Searle who landed the first break to lead the twice world champion 4-2, and as an out-of-sorts Wright struggled to find his best form, it was an advantage he never relinquished.
He took four legs on the trot, culminating in a 107 checkout and although missed doubles cost him the next two and gave the Scot hope, he eventually saw out the win with a 112 finish to claim a place in the last eight for the first time.
Searle said: “That’s unbelievable, really. That was such a scrappy game compared to Monday. We both gave each other chances and in the end, I was lucky enough to take mine.
“I didn’t expect an easy game, obviously. He’s not been in the best form, but you never know when he’s going to just turn a switch and turn it around. It was quite nervy at the end there, but I’m just happy to get over the line.”
Clayton produced a finishing masterclass as he eased past Belgium’s former Matchplay champion Dimitri Van den Bergh.
Clayton hit checkouts of 170, 156 and 126 as he surged from 4-4 to win four successive legs before eventually securing an 11-6 victory.
Speaking afterwards, he told Sky Sports: “I knew I had to play well here tonight. Thank God, my darts went good.
“Dimitri gave me a few chances and a few shots, but listen, the ton-pluses always look good and they always feel good, so I’m glad to get over that line.”
Luke Humphries will face Heta in the quarter-finals after seeing off Dirk van Duijvenbode in sudden death.
The Dutchman raced into a 3-0 lead, but found himself level at 5-5 as both players scored heavily, but missed doubles.
Humphries had to scrap his way back once again and produced an 11-dart leg to reduce the deficit to 9-7, only for his opponent to produce a 10-darter in the next.
However, he held his nerve to level at 10-10 to set up a tense conclusion before going on to win 14-12 in a classic.
