World Grand Prix - Matchreports 5th Day
TAYLOR EDGES EPIC AS STARS REACH SEMIS
PHIL TAYLOR powered home six straight legs to battle from behind and defeat Gary Anderson 4-3 in a sensational semi-final at the Bodog.com World Grand Prix on Friday night.Taylor produced a sensational display in one of the double-start format's greatest ever matches, missing the bullseye for a nine-dart finish - which would have been the first in this event - before coming from 3-2 down to claim the win. Anderson played his part in a thriller, leading 2-1 and 3-2 only to see Taylor apply a late charge as the Scot lost his range on his trusted starting double top.
Taylor now takes on Adrian Lewis in the semis, after the Stoke ace won through to the last four in Dublin for the first time with a 4-1 win over Wayne Jones. Lewis hit a 161 finish during the contest and sealed victory with a 140 checkout, but will need to defeat Taylor for the first time on television to reach the final.
The other semi-final sees the players ranked second and third in the world, Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade, clash after they saw off Barrie Bates and Andy Hamilton respectively. Van Barneveld took a three-set lead against Welshman Bates, and responded to losing the fourth by taking the next without reply to secure victory and remain on course for a third successive Dublin final. Wade, meanwhile, came from a set down to see off Hamilton 4-1, hitting four ton-plus finishes for a second successive match.
Adrian Lewis 4:1 Wayne Jones
Adrian Lewis won through to his first Bodog.com World Grand Prix semi-final with a 4-1 win over Wayne Jones at the
Citywest Hotel in Dublin.
Lewis, the world number nine, again produced moments of brilliance to see off Jones, including checkouts of 105, 161 and a 140 which sealed victory and a semi-final against Phil Taylor or Gary Anderson. Jones played his part in a thriller, out-scoring Lewis and opening better in the double-start format, but lost three sets in a deciding leg as the Stoke ace produced superbly timed moments of magic.
Lewis kicked off the contest superbly, finishing 105 in the first leg and double ten to break throw in the next for a 2-0 lead. Jones hit back on double seven and hit a 180 in the fourth leg, but escaped when Lewis missed three darts to steal the leg and the Wolverhampton man returned to land double one and level. Lewis, with the advantage of throw, won the deciding leg on double ten to secure the set and the early lead.
Jones took two of the first three legs in set two, before Lewis produced two sensational legs to snatch another set in the decider - firstly posting a 161 checkout to level before hitting a 180 and another bullseye finish, on 70, to move 2-0 up.
Jones won the third comfortably, taking out double 16 to break in the opener and double four to lead 2-0, before landing a 180 and double ten to wrap up the set as Lewis missed 12 starting doubles in the third leg.
Lewis regained his range in the fourth, hitting double eight in the first leg, 95 for the second and a 66 finish, following a 180, to lead 3-1 in the game.
The duo traded the first two legs of set five before Jones missed double 18 to break in the third, allowing Lewis to move a leg away from the win. Jones hit double 16 for the fourth leg, but Lewis kicked off the decider with a 160 and landed a 140 to leave 140 - a shot he took out for a 12-darter to complete the win.
"I'm really pleased to get through but the job's not done and I want to go all the way here," said Lewis. "I didn't start brilliantly but I scored well and finished really well. When I was 2-0 up I felt I let it slip when Wayne won the third set but I should have kept at him. That put me back under pressure but I responded and won the next two. I took out a few massive finishes and if I can do that in the semis I'm in with a shot."
Raymond van Barneveld 4:1 Barrie Bates
Raymond van Barneveld swept into the semi-finals of the Bodog.com World Grand Prix with a 4-1 defeat of Barrie Bates.The five-time World Champion remains on course to reach a third successive final in the double-start tournament after a comprehensive triumph at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin. He won the first three sets with a 3-1 scoreline and held off Bates' fightback to secure the win and set up a semi-final with James Wade.
While Bates landed double 19 to open the match, he missed the bull to snatch the second as van Barneveld opened his account on double one before taking out 103 to lead 2-1. The Dutchman then took the set on double 18 before coming from behind once again in the second to take that set 3-1 and double his advantage.
He landed a maximum to lead in set three, before missing two darts in the second leg as Bates fired in double ten to level, but van Barneveld broke again with a 56 finish and landed a 113 checkout for a 3-0 lead in the match.
Bates responded with a 104 finish to break in the fourth set's opener and doubled his lead on double six before the five-time World Champion kicked in with a 152 to start the third and hit double eight for the leg. The pair traded 180s in the next, but it was Bates who was first to a double and landed tops to grab the set and threaten a comeback.
Double eight settled any nerves from van Barneveld as he broke in the fifth set's opener, before he defied a maximum from the Welsh star to land tops and move a leg away from the win. Another 152 starting shot pushed him clear in leg three, and he had enough breathing space to miss two match darts at double top before returning to post double ten in wrapping up the win.
"I'm very happy to be in the semi-finals," said van Barneveld. "A few people have said I'm not ready because of my back problem but I'm a fighter. The scoreline looks comfortable but I never felt comfortable on stage and my scoring wasn't consistent. I'm not there yet and my stamina isn't good, and it's hard for me in the longer games at the moment. I have to improve for the semi-final because I never felt comfortable with my opening double. I believe in myself and I can do anything if I want. If my mind is clear I can beat anyone, but I have to work hard for it."
James Wade 4:1 Andy Hamilton
James Wade overcame a slow start against Andy Hamilton to win four successive sets in securing a semi-final place at the Bodog.com World Grand Prix.The 2007 champion lost the first set without reply as Hamilton kicked off the match in style, but the world number three hit four ton-plus finishes for the second successive game in powering to the win. Wade will now take on Raymond van Barneveld in Saturday's semi-finals as he looks to claim a fifth major title - but insists he must improve if he is to take the £100,000 first prize.
"I won 4-1 but don't feel like I played anywhere near my best and I can't wait until I catch fire," said Wade. "This game has proven to me that I'm doing the wrong thing in practice by focusing on doubles. My doubles aren't the problem, it's my trebles at the moment. I'll play well in the semis against Barney. He's a world class player and if I don't play well he'll humiliate me but I'll rise to the challenge."
Hamilton kicked off the game by breaking throw on double ten, and finishes of 88 and double 16 saw him take the opening set without Wade having a dart at a finishing double.
The left-hander, though, opened the second set with a 160 score and took out 116 for a 12-darter to get his challenge off to a flying start. Hamilton replied with a 106 finish, which Wade matched with a 101 checkout before landing double ten to take the set 3-1 with a 100 percent finishing ratio.
Wade won the third set in fine fashion by hitting double ten in three successive legs as he edged ahead in the match, and he then won the fourth 3-1 to put daylight between the pair.
Hamilton had took the fourth set's opener with a 68 finish, but Wade opened the next with a 160 start and landed tops to level, before hitting a 180 in breaking in the third and tops for the set.
Hamilton posted a 180 and an 89 finish in opening the fifth set, but Wade replied brilliantly with a 154 checkout and then took out 121 on the bull with his opponent waiting on 40. Hamilton kicked off the fourth leg with a 152 score and finished 64 on double 16 to level, but Wade pulled clear in the next and posted double top to complete the win
Phil Taylor 4:3 Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor powered home six straight legs to battle from behind and defeat Gary Anderson 4-3 in a sensational semi-final
at the Bodog.com World Grand Prix on Friday night.
Taylor produced a sensational display in one of the double-start format's greatest ever matches, missing the bullseye for a nine-dart finish - which would have been the first in this event - before coming from 3-2 down to claim the win. Anderson played his part in a thriller, leading 2-1 and 3-2 only to see Taylor apply a late charge as the Scot lost his range on his trusted starting double top.
"It was a great game to be involved in," said Taylor. "Gary was brilliant and hit some fantastic shots, and he pushed me all the way. This has set me up to hopefully go on and keep this title now because it was a really high standard."
The pair shared the game's opening four legs, before Taylor produced a superb leg to break in the decider, opening with a 160 and also hitting a 180 before finishing 65 on double 16 to lead.
Anderson replied with six flawless darts to finish the second set's opener, hitting a 180 and a 120 finish to retain a 100 percent finishing ratio. The pair traded 180s in the next before Taylor landed tops for the leg, but Anderson kicked off leg three with a 160 score and defied another maximum from Taylor to take out 61 to lead.
He also landed five perfect darts in starting the fourth leg, giving him the breathing space to miss six darts at a double before landing double two to take the set and level.
Anderson kicked off a third successive leg with a maximum 160 and followed that up with scores of 121 and 135 before taking the leg in 14 darts to lead.
He also hit a 180 and double top to lead 2-0 in the set before Taylor powered in a maximum and a 124 checkout to hit back and an 81 finish to level. Taylor began the decider with scores of 160 and 137, but missed four darts for the set as Anderson returned to land tops for a 2-1 lead in the game.
Anderson then moved 2-0 up in the fourth set, opening with an 84 finish and taking out an 11-dart finish on double 18. But finishes of double top and double ten saw Taylor level, before he pushed clear in the deciding leg and landed a double top checkout to square a thrilling match.
Anderson took another 2-0 lead in set five, courtesy of a brace of double top finishes as the pair continued to trade 180s. Anderson hit his third maximum of the set in the third leg, but failed to close out 145 in six darts and Taylor posted double top to hit back. Taylor then set up a potential nine-darter in the fourth, opening with scores of 160 and 180 as well as hitting the treble 20 and treble 18 for a 164 finish - only to miss the bullseye for an historic first perfect leg in the double-start format.
Having hit a single one, he returned to hit double 16 for an 11-darter, and also began the set's deciding leg with a 160, but Anderson kept pace and landed double top, with Taylor waiting on 40, to win the set and move 3-2 up.
The Scot, though, began to lose his range on his favoured starting double top in the sixth set, with Taylor capitalising with a 177 to set up a 120 finish in the opener, double eight to win the second and double ten in the third as he squared the game.
A missed bullseye in the deciding set's opener allowed Anderson in only for him to miss darts at double top and double ten to allow Taylor back for double ten.
Taylor landed double 16 with his third dart in the second leg, and scores of 120, 180 and 177 left him 24 for the match in the next. Three misses allowed Anderson a chance, but he missed one dart at tops to keep the game alive and Taylor pounced on double six to end a remarkable contest.
"I managed to get in front of Phil but in the last two sets I was gone," admitted Anderson. "I lost it on double top and couldn't get in, and you can't give Phil a chance because he will crucify you. I've struggled for a couple of months though with a bad shoulder and I had nothing to lose, and I gave it my best go."