The Englishman, looking to become only the second player after Eric Bristow to win three titles in a row, looked to be cruising against compatriot Scott Baker.

Durrant, seeded second, raced into a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven second round clash at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green in England.

But unseeded Baker roared back to level the match before Durrant held his nerve to advance 4-3.

Elsewhere, ten-time women's champion Trina Gulliver was knocked out after falling to a 2-0 defeat to top seed Lorraine Winstanley.

In the all English battle it was Winstanley who came out on top, meaning she advances to the semi-finals.

Though the 43-year old is the top seed this year, Winstanley has never won the BDO world title before.

She last reached the semis in 2012.

Also in the women's event, Japan's Mikuru Suzuki continued her strong form with a 2-0 win over seventh seed Sharon Prins from The Netherlands.

Having knocked out three-time world champion Lisa Ashton on the first day of competition, Suzuki’s win today sees her enter the semi-finals as well.

Maria O'Brien also gained a spot in the last four - where she will play Suzuki - for the first time with a 2-0 win of her own over the pre-tournament favourite, England's Fallon Sherrock.

Elsewhere in men's second round action England's former winner Scott Mitchell saw off Polish qualifier Krzysztof Kciuk 4-0 to advance into the quarter-finals.

He will now face the number two seed Jim Williams from Wales in the next round, who beat his compatriot Dean Reynolds 4-0 yesterday.

Later in the day Northern Ireland's Kyle McKinstry beat Canada's David Cameron in a thriller 4-3.

Having initially been 2-0 up, the Irishman lost his lead at 3-2 before rallying once again to take the match 4-3.