Move from Blackpool doesn't suit darts' biggest names as shocks continue at World Matchplay

The world's top four are all out of the Betfred World Matchplay after Glen Durrant (above) defeated world champion Peter Wright Picture: LAWRENCE LUSTIG / PDC

Whitlock stuns world number one van Gerwen

Glen Durrant was an impressive 11-8 winner over the world number two in Milton Keynes, as the sport's annual summer showpiece moves away from Blackpool's Winter Gardens and behind closed doors for the first time since its launch in 1994.

The 49-year-old saw Durrant recovered from 4-1 down to win all five legs in the second session.

Scot Wright battled back to 8-8 only for Durrant, who had claimed he could beat anyone in the world from that position, to prove his point by taking the next three legs.

“I’ve got so much respect for our world champion and to beat him means the world,” said Durrant, competing in only his second World Matchplay.

Wright followed Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and last year's Blackpool champion Rob Cross in bowing out, meaning that the last eight includes none of the world's top four.

Durrant's quarter-final opponent will be Vincent van der Voort and he added: "Vincent is playing as well as anyone and these conditions suit him more than Blackpool.”

Indeed, van der Voort has made no secret of his dislike for the Winter Gardens and he continued to thrive at the new venue, averaging 103 as he stormed into a 5-0 lead over Daryl Gurney en route to an 11-5 win.

The Dutchman, who last reached the quarters in 2009 and hasn't won in match in Blackpool for nine years, said: “When I am playing one game a day I can beat anybody - things just have to go my way.”

Debutant Dimitri van den Bergh booked his last-eight spot with a scrappy 11-9 win over Joe Cullen.

Cullen led 5-2 only for the Belgian to pull back to 8-8 and break throw for victory. Van den Bergh said: “It is time to start being a bit more arrogant on stage. I have dreams and now it’s time to go out and get them, no more excuses.”

His quarter-final opponent will be two-time world champion Adrian Lewis, who defeated debutant Danny Noppert 11-7.

The match was tied at 6-6 until the 2013 runner-up reeled off four successive legs. Lewis said: “I’m feeling fitter and I’m feeling a lot more positive. I know I can be better but these are good signs."

The first two quarter-finals take place on Thursday night, when Krzysztof Ratajski faces last year's runner-up Michael Smith and Gary Anderson, the only former winner still standing, meets van Gerwen’s conqueror Simon Whitlock.