John Lowe's fairytale run of success at the World Championship was finally ended by Berkshire's Dennis Smith at Purfleet yesterday. Lowe, who had beaten Rod Harrington and Keith Deller in order to reach the quarter-finals, could not rediscover his best form and the consistency and accuracy of 29-year-old Smith's darts saw him go through 5-3.

Smith's win earned him a semi-final place for the first time in his career.

The only two non-seeded players left in the tournament got off to a nervy start in a first set littered with missed chances. World number 22 Smith was the first to find form when he took the opening set to the disappointment of Lowe's legion of loyal fans.

But Lowe soon gave his supporters something to shout about as he rattled in checkouts of 95, 156 and an impressive 12-dart third leg to level the match.

Lowe moved ahead after a much closer third set which he won in a deciding leg but there was little to choose between the players at this stage and Smith comfortably won the fourth set 3-0 to leave the match all square.

The game was following a pattern as both players were holding their own throws, although Lowe was forced to checkout on 141 to take the fifth set with Smith ready to pounce.

The sequence was finally broken in the seventh set and it was Smith who took advantage of some profligate finishing by Lowe to win the set against the darts and lead 4-3.

Throwing first in the next set, Smith simply held his own throw to book a place in the semi-finals.