England's Waites lost the first six legs of the match against his compatriot McGeeney, one of the circuit's in-form players.

However, Waites managed to turn the contest around despite averaging less than 90 and not registering a maximum score until the second leg of the final set.

Waites will now face Danny Noppert of The Netherlands for a place in the semi-finals after he defeated his compatriot Richard Veenstra 4-0 in the final match of this evening's session.

Noppert was in control of the match throughout as he raced into a two set lead. 

Veenstra showed some signs of a comeback early in the third but failed to sustain enough momentum to effect the scoreboard. 

Eighth seed Dennis Labanauskas of Lithuania joined Waites and Noppert in the quarter-finals after he saw off qualifier Krzysztof Ratajski.

Labanauskas took an early 3-1 lead before the Pole came from behind to level the contest at 3-3.

However, 40-year-old Labanauskas called on all of his experience as he went on to claim three consecutive legs to secure a last eight encounter with top seed Glen Durrant.

In the women's tournament today, favourite Lisa Ashton of England produced a sublime display to see off her compatriot Fallon Sherrock 2-0.

The two time winner lost the first leg of the match but took the next three for the first set, and won the second on double 12 to seal a place in the final four.

England's defending champion Trina Gulliver's bid for an 11th world title came to sudden halt though as third seed Aileen de Graaf of The Netherlands beat her comfortably 2-0.

Casey Gallagher, meanwhile, who shocked number one seed Deta Hedman in the first round of the tournament, was eliminated this evening.

The Englishwoman was beaten in straight sets by Australia's Corrine Hammond.

Elsewhere, Anastasia Dobromyslova claimed the last semi-final spot as she saw off England's Lorraine Winstanley 2-0 this evening.

The Russian started strong, winning the first set with an average of just under 100.

Winstanley failed to gain a foothold in the contest and Dobromyslova went on to secure her place in the next round with ease.

Justin van Tergouw of The Netherlands won the youth title today as he overcame Scotland's Nathan Girvan 3-0 in dominant fashion.