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."

The PDC World Series of Darts event concludes on Sunday evening (7pm) with the semi-finals and final at the Trusts Arena. A limited number of tickets are still available from www.eventfinda.co.nz or via the Trusts Arena Box Office.

Auckland Darts Masters, presented by TAB and Burger King

Saturday June 18

Quarter-Finals

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

Best of 19 legs

Sunday June 19 (7pm)

Semi-Finals

Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld

James Wade v Adrian Lewis

Best of 21 legs

Final

Anderson/van Barneveld v Wade/Lewis

Best of 21 legs

MATCH INFORMATION

Dave Chisnall v Raymond van Barneveld

0-1 - van Barneveld takes out double 16 for a 14-darter to break throw immediately.

0-2 - Both players land 189s before the Dutchman pins double 18 to move two legs up.

1-2 - van Barneveld misses double seven to open up a three-leg lead, and Chisnall hits back on double ten.

1-3 - van Barneveld threatens a nine-darter by opening with two 180s, and after Chisnall lands a maximum in reply the Dutchman is unable to complete a perfect leg before returning to finish 76 for an 11-darter.

2-3 - Chisnall finishes 96 on double eight to cut the gap to one leg.

2-4 - Chisnall fires in another 180, but van Barneveld's third-dart double four sees him respond.

3-4 - Chisnall cuts the gap once more through tops.

3-5 - Double 16 restores van Barneveld's cushion.

4-5 - Chisnall takes out 74 on double 16 to hit back.

4-6 - van Barneveld misses the bull for a maximum 170 checkout, but returns on double eight to hold throw.

4-7 - The 2015 finalist secures the second break of throw in the match by finishing double 12 for a 13-darter.

4-8 - van Barneveld finishes 76 in two darts to extend his lead to four legs.

4-9 - Chisnall is punished for missing three darts at double top, ten and five as van Barneveld takes out 64 on double four to move a leg away from the win.

5-9 - Chisnall wins his first leg in five with a 12-darter, hitting three 140s before finishing 81 on double 16 to break throw.

5-10 - van Barneveld opens with a 180, and when Chisnall misses tops to take out 101, the Dutchman finishes 96 on double eight to move into the last four, averaging 101 in the process.

Gary Anderson v Peter Wright

1-0 - The World Champion lands a 180 as he claims the opening leg with a fine 11-darter.

1-1 - Anderson misses double eight and four to move two legs up, and Wright finishes 86 in two darts on double 16 to level in 14 darts.

1-2 - Three misses from Anderson allow Wright in on double five to move ahead.

2-2 - Anderson finishes 122 on the bull to hit back and level with a 12-darter.

2-3 - Wright finishes 76 as he edges back in front.

3-3 - Anderson opens with two 180s, and though he is unable to complete the perfect leg he returns to land double ten to square the game.

4-3 - Anderson breaks throw by landing tops to regain the lead.

5-3 - Anderson fires in a 180 and double ten to win a third successive leg.

6-3 - Wright fires in his first maximum to leave 40, but misses three darts at tops to allow Anderson in to finish 72 on double 12 to extend his advantage.

7-3 - Anderson finishes 92 on the bull to move four legs clear.

7-4 - Wright hits back by winning his first leg in six in brilliant fashion, taking out 156 for a 12-darter.

7-5 - Double ten sees Wright claim a second successive leg.

7-6 - Wright's revival continues with a third straight leg as he finishes 62 on double 16.

8-6 - The pair trade 180s before Anderson finishes 121 on double 14 to halt his rival's fightback.

9-6 - Anderson takes out 96 on double 18 to move a leg away from the win with an 11-dart finish.

10-6 - Double top sees Anderson seal an impressive win, averaging 104 as he sets up a semi-final against Raymond van Barneveld.

Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis

0-1 - The game kicks off in sensational fashion, with Lewis's 140 followed by a 177 from Taylor before the pair trade 180s - with Taylor missing out on a possible nine-darter on the eighth dart before Lewis returns to finish 81 for an 11-darter to claim the opener.

1-1 - Taylor lands another 180, with Lewis missing the bull to finish 126 before Taylor steps in to finish 122 on the middle double to level.

1-2 - The pair trade 180s before Lewis lands a third-dart double eight to edge back in front.

2-2 - The maximums continue to fly in as both hit further 180s, with Taylor also scoring 140 and 165 before hitting double eight for a brilliant ten-dart finish.

2-3 - Lewis opens with yet another 180 before finishing on tops to edge back in front.

2-4 - Lewis breaks throw with a superb 103 checkout to open up a two-leg cushion.

2-5 - Lewis misses tops for a 120 finish, but returns to land double ten as he wins a third straight leg.

3-5 - Taylor kicks off with a 180 before landing double eight - at the fourth attempt - to hit back.

3-6 - Lewis holds his nerve to take out 94 on double six to regain a three-leg lead.

4-6 - Taylor finishes 22 as he wins a fourth leg.

4-7 - Lewis opens with 140 and 177 before hitting double ten to edge away.

5-7 - Taylor lands another 177 as he responds.

6-7 - Taylor breaks throw by finishing 102 on double 16.

6-8 - Both players land 180s once again, with Taylor missing double 16 to finish 106 and level before Lewis takes out 124 on the bull to move two legs away from the semis.

6-9 - Double top from Lewis puts him to the brink of victory.

7-9 - Taylor fires in a 180, his eighth, before hitting double 16 for a 13-darter to stay in the hunt.

8-9 - Taylor breaks throw on double 16 to land another 13-dart finish, maintaining the pressure on his rival.

9-9 - Taylor takes the game into a decider, hitting a 180 and taking out 130 on double eight for a 12-dart leg.

9-10 - Lewis is first to a finish before missing a dart at tops, with Taylor unable to take out 167 to allow the reigning champion back in to finally land tops at the fourth time of asking to move into the last four.

Michael van Gerwen v James Wade

0-1 - The pair trade 180s before van Gerwen misses double 18 for a 116 finish, allowing Wade in on double ten to break throw immediately.

0-2 - van Gerwen opens with another 180, but Wade takes out 130 on the bull to move two legs up.

1-2 - van Gerwen finishes 110 on double 16 to get off the mark.

1-3 - van Gerwen lands his third 180, but Wade finishes 84 to regain his cushion.

1-4 - Wade breaks throw for a second time by finishing 78 on tops to move three legs clear.

2-4 - van Gerwen produces a stunning ten-dart leg which included one bounce-out, scoring 180, 120 and 177 before landing double 12.

2-5 - Wade hits a superb 168 score to leave tops as he restores his cushion.

3-5 - van Gerwen hits a second ten-dart finish of the game as double 18 sees him respond.

4-5 - The pair open with 180s before van Gerwen takes out 128 on double ten for a 12-darter to cut the gap to one leg.

4-6 - Wade denies his rival a chance to level by opening with another maximum and then taking out 98 for an 11-darter.

5-6 - van Gerwen lands two 180s in the leg as double 18 again sees the gap cut to one.

5-7 - Both players hit maximums once again, as Wade fires in another 11-darter to edge away from his rival.

5-8 - Wade defies an opening 180 from van Gerwen with a maximum of his own before taking out 81 to move three legs clear.

5-9 - Double seven moves Wade a leg away from victory with his third in a row.

6-9 - van Gerwen lands double 16 to keep his hopes alive.

6-10 - Five missed doubles from the Dutchman are punished as Wade seals victory with a third-dart double ten, with both players averaging over 107 and van Gerwen hitting ten 180s in defeat, seeing the victor land six maximums and 62 percent of his darts at a double.

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