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LEWIS and TAYLOR THRILL EDINBURGH CROWD WITH CORAL MASTERS WINS

ADRIAN LEWIS and Phil Taylor turned on the style with sensational performances in The Coral Masters on Saturday night, as they were joined in the semi-finals by comeback kings James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld in Edinburgh.

Lewis followed up Friday's thrilling first round victory over Kim Huybrechts with another sensational performance, as he averaged 107.93 in an 8-2 win over Robert Thornton, whose defeat ended Scottish hopes at the Royal Highland Centre.
Lewis opened their contest in style with a 14-darter and a 136 checkout for a 12-dart leg, and traded 180s with Thornton before taking out 80 on the bull to lead 3-0. Thornton replied with a 14-dart finish, but Lewis took out 96 for an 11-darter and then finished 82 and 80 as he moved 6-1 up, before hitting double ten to move to the brink of victory. The Scot replied by finishing 70, but Lewis landed double 18 to seal a brilliant performance, as he continues to defy the effects of a draining bout of 'flu to remain in the hunt for the inaugural 50,000 pound title.

"It was a tough game and Robert didn't do a lot wrong, but I hit the right shots at the right times and am happy to get over the line," said Lewis. "I had to go up there and attack the game, and my finishing was great. I'm still not feeling great but my form's brilliant and the hard work I've been doing in practice is paying off. Hopefully tomorrow I can have another good day and go all the way, but I've got to focus on the semi-finals first."

World Champion Taylor was also in unstoppable form as he won through to the semi-finals with an 8-2 victory of his own, as he averaged 109.28 in a fine display against Wes Newton.
Although Newton shared the first two legs, he was punished for missed doubles as Taylor established a 4-1 cushion, before a pair of double ten finishes saw the Stoke ace move into a five-leg lead. Double eight saw Newton hit back, but Taylor posted a 180 in a 14-darter to respond before tops saw him complete a sensational display.

"Adrian came off stage and told me he'd averaged 107, and said 'Beat that', so I did!" joked Taylor. "It was a good game and I don't think the score reflected the game. Wes missed some doubles early on and let me off, but he's very consistent and it could have been a lot closer than it was. He's predictable and you know what you'll get against him, and I think he's got a big future. It will be really tough again against James in the semi-finals but I'm looking forward to it."

Taylor now plays seven-time major winner James Wade in the last four, after the left-hander showed his class with a gutsy comeback from 7-4 down to defeat Simon Whitlock 8-7.
Whitlock hit seven 180s in the contest, but paid the price for missing match darts in two of the final four legs as Wade clawed back level before taking out 91 on the bullseye to complete a brilliant fightback.

"It means a lot to me to be in the semi-finals," said Wade. "It was a big game and I'm trying to prove a point in terms of the rankings because I've dropped out of the top four this year. I don't think that I should be ranked number six in the world and it's starting to become a bit of a challenge because I know that I've got to play good darts. I'm starting to throw straight darts again and I'm feeling very good."

Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld also hit back from behind as he won the all-Dutch clash with Michael van Gerwen 8-6.
Van Gerwen established an early 4-1 lead, taking out a superb 110 finish to break throw in leg four, and though van Barneveld finished 120 and 105 to pull back the next two, double 16 put the Premier League champion 5-3 up. Van Barneveld, though, took his tally of 180s in the game to six as he won the next four legs without reply to turn the game on its head by moving 7-5 up, and though van Gerwen rallied briefly by finishing tops, his rival took out 82 on double eight to seal his last four place.

"I'm a really happy man," said van Barneveld. "Michael's one of the toughest opponents in the game and to beat him is great. At 4-1 I didn't think I'd done too much wrong but Michael played some awesome darts. I felt comfortable and in the break I just told myself to relax and enjoy the game, and if I got chances I knew I needed to take them. I'm a winner and I want to win every single week, and I know that if I play my game like I did tonight, then I can beat anyone. I know I can do it, I played well today; my doubles were good, my finishes were good and my triples were good, so why can't I go all the way?"

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