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BIG-FINISHING TAYLOR AND BARNEY ENJOY WOLVERHAMPTON WINS

PHIL TAYLOR and Raymond van Barneveld will clash in the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals on Sunday following their victories over Robert Thornton and Mark Webster in Wolverhampton.

Taylor produced a staggering display of finishing as he swept aside Thornton 16-7 in a repeat of the 2013 Wolves Civic final. The 55-year-old hit 16 doubles from 21 attempts and landed five ton-plus checkouts during a dominant performance to see off the Scot, who shared the opening six legs before seeing Taylor pull clear. Taylor had already taken out 121 and 126 before a ten-dart finish in the seventh leg sparked a run which saw him take seven legs out of nine to move 10-5 up. Thornton hit back to win a sixth leg, but Taylor finished 167 and 120 before sealing his semi-final spot with a 101 checkout.


"It's brilliant to be in the semis," said Taylor. "My finishing was great but it had to be tonight, and the 167 was a massive shot at a crucial time. I had to put Robert under pressure but he never gives up and he's a cracking player and he was still coming back at me at the end."

Taylor now faces his great rival van Barneveld in the semi-finals on Sunday afternoon, after the 2012 Grand Slam of Darts champion landed four ton-plus checkouts in his 16-12 defeat of Mark Webster.
Van Barneveld produced a classy performance to see off Webster, who had knocked out World Champion Gary Anderson in the second round but was unable to repeat his deadly finishing as punished a string of missed doubles in mid-game to create a lead he would never lose.

Van Barneveld finished 121 and 161 as he opened up a 10-4 lead over Webster, who hit a 110 checkout in reply as he halved the gap. Van Barneveld then took out 146 as he moved 13-8 up, with Webster hitting back to 13-12 but crucially being unable to level as the Dutch star hit tops for some breathing space, a 124 finish and an 11-darter to seal victory.

"I'm really happy," said van Barneveld. "I worked hard for this and I was very focused but I could never relax. Mark's a fantastic player and he kept coming back all the time and I was worried in the last five or six legs, but the 124 finish was a mental break-point I think. He hit ten 180s but you prefer to hit doubles and mine went in big-time tonight. It was my night tonight and maybe it's my week because I feel comfortable and I'm happy with the way I'm playing. I was so tired at the end but I'm not used to playing long games like this in the quarter-finals at the moment! I'll get plenty of rest on Saturday and prepare for Sunday now."

Taylor added: "I wish it was the final against Barney because it will be an absolute belter and I hope it's a good game. Raymond's a winner and he pulls it out when he has to. He's going to go up there and play well and I'll have to be on my game."

Van Barneveld's compatriot Michael van Gerwen is bidding for revenge against Kim Huybrechts for last year's quarter-final loss to the Belgian when the pair clash at the same stage on Saturday. Huybrechts hit a nine-dart finish as he knocked out the world number one a year ago, but van Gerwen averaged 109 in his second round win over Steve Beaton and said: "I feel comfortable and I want to keep these performances going because I feel I can win this tournament. It's going to be a fantastic game against Kim. Last year I lost to him but I only have one goal this week and that's to win this tournament. When I play like I did on Thursday I feel unbeatable, but loads of other players can play that well too. I've lost with a 111 average recently so nothing is guaranteed."

The other quarter-final sees former World Youth Champion Michael Smith up against two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis, who is bidding to reach his third Wolverhampton semi-final.

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