It was workman-like performance from Waites in the battle of the debutants and is likely to see his 8/1 odds further reduced as Holland’s world title hopes are left in tatters.

Van Eijden carried the hopes of the Netherlands after the "orange army" had seen five of their title hopefuls fall.

Waites made the perfect start, coasting to a comfortable 3-1 first leg to lay the foundation for his bid to reach the last eight.

Enjoying the throwing advantage, the Englishman surged through the second unchallenged, clinching the set on double seven.

Van Eijden lost the opening leg of the third set but went on to lead 2-1, Waite hitting his favourite double 18 to level but then missed seven doubles to extend his match lead, the Dutchman himself only hitting the set-winning double with his seventh attempt.

Fortunes fluctuated in the next set as Waites and then van Eijden led, before the man from Halifax blasted in a bull finish to take it into a deciding fifth leg but the Dutchman hit the all-important finish.

Waites trailed the fifth but swept back for a 3-1 success. He then annexed the opening leg of the sixth with the throw and sneaked the next against the throw on double one after both players missed a total of 14 doubles.

The Englishman who was visibly tensing when throwing saw the Dutchman miss two doubles to save the match and responded by clinching the match with a brilliant 107 checkout, finishing on double 16.