HOME | Global | Tournaments | Sport | Who is Who | Miscellaneous |

Schedule and Results - Quarterfinals

Dave Chisnall 5:10 Raymond van Barneveld
Gary Anderson 10:6 Peter Wright
Phil Taylor 9:10 Adrian Lewis
Michael van Gerwen 6:10 James Wade

BRILLIANT LEWIS DENIES TAYLOR IN AUCKLAND

ADRIAN LEWIS remains on course to win a second successive title at the Auckland Darts Masters, presented by TAB and Burger King, after claiming a remarkable 10-9 win over Phil Taylor as James Wade, Gary Anderson and Raymond van Barneveld joined the reigning champion in the semi-finals.

Lewis had edged out Taylor in a classic semi-final on his way to the inaugural title in New Zealand last August, and claimed victory in another game of the highest quality as they met at the last eight stage this time around.
The opening to the contest set the tone as Taylor kicked off with 177 and 180 and Lewis also added a maximum in an 11-darter to lead, only to see the 16-time World Champion level with the aid of another 180 and a 122 bull finish. Taylor also hit a ten-darter in the fourth leg, but Lewis won the next three - including a 103 finish to break - as he took a 5-2 advantage.
Taylor cut the gap to 7-6 with a 102 checkout, but crucially missed one dart to level, at double 16, as Lewis fired in a superb 124 bull finish and then landed tops to move 9-6 up and to the brink of victory. Taylor, though, produced legs of 13, 13 and 12 darts, the latter featuring his ninth 180 and a 130 checkout, as he forced a decider, but Lewis held the advantage of throw and landed double top at the fourth time of asking to finally seal a memorable win.

"It was a great game and it's fantastic to win," said Lewis, who had partnered Taylor to victory in the World Cup of Darts a fortnight ago. "It was a brilliant match - Phil seemed to be hitting 180s every time I looked up and it was treble after treble for him. He was firing on all cylinders and it's great to see that because I look up to him and in my eyes he's still the best in the world. But in that last leg I had the throw and started well. It got a little bit nervy so I'm happy to get over the line. I had a few slack darts and let him back in when I got that lead, so I'll want to tighten up on that."

Lewis will now meet Wade in the semi-finals on Sunday night at the Trusts Arena, after the left-hander produced an outstanding performance to defeat world number one Michael van Gerwen 10-6 in a game where both players averaged over 107.
Van Gerwen hit 180s in each of the opening two legs, only to see Wade win both as he landed a maximum and a 130 bullseye finish, with the Dutchman then taking out 110 to get off the mark only to see the left-hander finish 84 and 78 as he moved 4-1 up. Van Gerwen raised his game with two ten-darters in the next three legs, and a 128 checkout for a 12-darter cut the gap to 5-4 - but Wade crucially twice denied the world number one a chance to level by hitting a pair of 11-darters to move 7-5 up.
Wade then traded 180s with van Gerwen as another 11-dart finish was followed by a 14-darter to leave him 9-5 up, and though the Dutchman replied in leg 15, he was unable to halt the former Perth Darts Masters runner-up's charge into the semi-finals.

"I'm really happy to beat the world number one, but I believe I put him in a position where he had no answer," said Wade. "I didn't let him do what he can do. I hit a few finishes at the right times and the 140s and 180s - that's always in the locker but I don't show it often enough. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and I'm sure Adrian knows that he's got a game on his hands. We came through at the same time in darts and we've got a great bond, so it will be 'game on' when we get on stage."

World Champion Gary Anderson turned on the style with a 104 average as he overcame fellow Scot Peter Wright 10-6 to continue his bid to win a second successive World Series of Darts event after last month's Dubai Darts Masters triumph.
Although Wright led 2-1 and 3-2 in the early stages, Anderson followed up an earlier 11-darter and 121 bull finish with a five-leg burst to move 7-3 up, hitting three 14-darters and completing a 12-darter on the bull. Wright hit back brilliantly with a 156 finish as he cut the gap to 7-6, but Anderson clinically took out 121 to halt the fightback before checking out 96 for an 11-darter and tops for a 13-dart leg to complete an impressive win.

"I'm really pleased," said Anderson. "I started off well but went to sleep on the doubles - I was scoring well and the doubles came good at the end. I'm happy with this win - I played well last night and played okay tonight but it's a different day tomorrow and hopefully it comes together. Barney's playing well so I know what I've got to do and I'm looking forward to it."

Van Barneveld, the 2015 runner-up, continued his impressive run in Auckland as he followed up Friday's win over New Zealand number one Cody Harris with a 101 average as he overcame Dave Chisnall 10-5 to set up a semi-final with Anderson. The Dutchman broke in the game's opening leg and pulled clear in mid-game with a four-leg burst to move from 5-4 up to 9-4, with a 12-darter from Chisnall seeing him respond before van Barneveld hit a fourth 180 and a 96 finish as he sealed the win.

"Last year was great getting to the final and I'd love to do even better and win tomorrow, but it will be hard because this is the best players in the world," said van Barneveld. "My darts are going fantastic, the trebles and doubles are going well. It's going well for me so far, I'm feeling confident and energised and I know what I can do."

Statistics

Contact

© Global Darts. All Rights Reserved.

Impressum