Awesome Anderson is the Auckland Master!

Awesome Anderson is the Auckland Master!

GARY ANDERSON won his second successive World Series of Darts title with a thrilling performance as he overcame reigning champion Adrian Lewis 11-7 in the final of the 2016 Auckland Darts Masters, presented by TAB and Burger King.

World Champion Anderson had won last month's Dubai Darts Masters title and claimed his first win in New Zealand in style as he checked out 50 percent of his darts at a double in both the semi-finals on Sunday evening.

The Scot followed up his earlier wins over New Zealand's Bernie Smith and world number five Peter Wright with a stunning 11-7 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld, with his 111.37 average being the second best in World Series history to accompany eight 180s.

He then produced another scintillating display to thrill the Trusts Arena crowd and take the title in the second Auckland DartsMasters, landing another eight 180s as he punished Lewis' missed doubles to take the title.

Lewis held the early advantage as the pair shared the opening six legs, but Anderson stepped in following two misses from his rival in the seventh to finish 68 on double ten to break for the first time.

He also took out tops to open up a two-leg lead, with Lewis finishing 121 on the bull to respond only to see Anderson win the next two - despite two 180s from the reigning champion - to lead 7-4.

Lewis followed a third-dart double nine with a 150 checkout as he cut the gap to one leg, but Anderson crucially took the 14th leg with a brilliant 11-darter, hitting six perfect darts of two 180s, and then finished 70 in the next to move 9-6 up.

Lewis again responded to take the 16th, but a miss at double 12 for a 144 checkout in the next allowed Anderson in to take out 86 on the bull for a 10-7 lead, and his eight 180 of the contest helped to set up double ten as he secured the title.

"I'm absolutely delighted and I enjoyed this week," said Anderson. "Everybody played well and there's been some great darts.

"Barney hit me with everything in the first four legs of the semi-final but I got a leg and when it was 4-3 it was a different game. A few years ago I'd have probably got beaten but now I've got a bit of fight in me.

"Adrian has played brilliantly too. He was great against Phil Taylor and he's a very good friend of mine, and up on stage we try to have some battles - and the 180s and 140s and doubles came together tonight. Adrian missed a few of the big checkouts but that's darts."

Anderson added: "It's been absolutely brilliant and the fans have been fantastic. I loved it in New Zealand last year and again this time."

Lewis had won through to his second successive World Series of Darts final with a heavy-scoring 11-9 victory over James Wade, firing in a dozen maximums before coming from 7-6 down to claim five of the final seven legs.

"I thought it was a great final and I'm proud of myself," said Lewis. "Gary took out a few great finishes on the bull and so on, and deserved to win it - he showed why he's a back-to-back World Champion.

"I tried my best but it wasn't quite enough tonight. I missed a few finishes myself and it could have been a different game if they'd gone in.

"Everybody played well and it was a great tournament, and I think everybody's happy with their performance. Last year I lost in the final in Sydney and then won this one, so I've lost in the final here and hopefully I can take my form to Shanghai."

Wade had performed wonderfully in Saturday's quarter-final win over world number one van Gerwen, but was overpowered by Lewis' 12 maximums in their semi-final as he missed out on reaching a second World Series of Darts final.

Van Barneveld, meanwhile, missed out on reaching the final in Auckland for a second successive year, despite landing six 180s and achieving a 104.85 average in his tie with Anderson.

The high standard of darts throughout the event saw a total of 108 maximums landed during the 15 matches - activating a special offer from sponsors Burger King once the total passed 80 which will see $2 Cheeseburgers and $3 Whoppers available across New Zealand fromMonday June 20-Friday June 24 between specified times.

The PDC World Series of Darts continues next weekend with the inaugural 16-player Shanghai Darts Masters on June 25-26 at the Pullman Hotel Shanghai South.

Auckland Darts Masters, presented by TAB and Burger King
Sunday June 19
Semi-Finals
Gary Anderson 11-7 Raymond van Barneveld
James Wade 9-11 Adrian Lewis
Best of 21 legs

Final
Gary Anderson 11-7 Adrian Lewis
Best of 21 legs

MATCH INFORMATION
SEMI-FINALS
Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld
0-1 - Anderson misses the bull to finish 161, and van Barneveld follows three 140s with an 81 finish on double 12 for an 11-darter to break throw immediately.
0-2 - Double 16 sees van Barneveld move two legs up.
0-3 - Anderson opens with 140 and 180, but van Barneveld replies with a maximum before finishing 121 on double 14 for another break of throw.
0-4 - van Barneveld continues his impeccable finishing by taking out 64 on double eight to win a fourth straight leg.
1-4 - Anderson fires in a 180 before landing double six to win his first leg of the contest with a 13-darter.
2-4 - Anderson scores 140, 180 and 145 before pinning double 18 for a superb ten-darter.
3-4 - A superb leg sees both players trade 180s before van Barneveld leaves 36 after nine darts - only to se Anderson take out 90 on double 15 for an 11-darter.
4-4 - Anderson fires in another maximum before punishing one miss from van Barneveld, at double 16, by taking out tops for a 13-darter to level.
5-4 - Double two sees Anderson win a fifth straight leg to move ahead for the first time in a high-quality contest.
5-5 - van Barneveld lands a 180 before hitting a third-dart double ten to level by winning his first leg in six.
6-5 - van Barneveld's maximum is followed by a 174 score from Anderson, who takes out double 12 to regain the lead.
7-5 - Anderson opens with 180 and 140 before finishing 60 on tops to break throw and move two legs clear.
7-6 - van Barneveld breaks back by finishing 81 on double 13.
8-6 - Both players land 180s before Anderson pins double 12 again for a 13-dart leg.
9-6 - The World Champion opens with yet another 180 before finishing tops for an 11-darter to open up a three-leg lead.
9-7 - van Barneveld's 180 is followed by tops as he hits back.
10-7 - van Barneveld fires in a 177, but can only watch on as Anderson takes out double four to move a leg away from the final.
11-7 - Anderson misses match darts across three visits as the tension rises, but van Barneveld also spurns three opportunities to keep the game alive before the Scot returns on double two to finally book his spot in the final.
Anderson ends the game with a 111.37 average to van Barneveld's 104.85, while the combined 14 180s - eight from Anderson and six from van Barneveld - took the tournament's tally to 82, activating a Burger King special offer across New Zealand once the total passed 80.

James Wade v Adrian Lewis
0-1 - Lewis makes a sensational start, taking out 149 for a break of throw.
0-2 - Lewis wires the bullseye for a 161 finish, but returns to land double eight to move two legs up.
1-2 - Wade initially misses three darts at tops, with Lewis hitting a 180 in vain as he watches his rival return on double ten.
2-2 - Three missed doubles from Lewis allow Wade in on double ten to level the game.
2-3 - Lewis lands double eight to edge back ahead with a break of throw.
2-4 - Wade fires in a 180, but Lewis hits tops to move himself two legs clear.
2-5 - Lewis hits a maximum of his own before scrambling home double three to win a third successive leg.
3-5 - Lewis misses his chance to move four legs clear and gives a reprieve to Wade, who returns on double ten to win his first leg in four.
4-5 - Another double ten finish sees Wade cut the gap to one leg.
5-5 - Wade finishes 71 on tops to level the contest.
6-5 - Wade claims a fourth successive leg, with Lewis landing a 180 but being punished for failing to finish the leg as the left-hander posts tops.
6-6 - Lewis fires in two 180s in a 12-darter as double 12 sees him hit back to level.
7-6 - Lewis posts his seventh 180 to leave 24, but misses double 12, six and three to allow Wade back in on double ten to edge back ahead.
7-7 - Lewis hits another maximum before double 19 sees him square the match once more.
8-7 - Another double ten finish from Wade sees him regain the lead.
8-8 - Lewis' ninth 180 gives him breathing space before he lands double 18 at the fifth time of asking to tie the contest.
8-9 - Lewis fires in his tenth maximum before both players miss doubles in two visits, before the reigning champion finally lands double two to break throw and regain the lead.
8-10 - Lewis produces another 180 - his eighth in as many legs - before finishing 52 on double ten to move a leg away from the final.
9-10 - Lewis misses one match dart, at double 11 for a 124 finish, and Wade holds his nerve with a 118 checkout on double 19 to keep his hopes alive.
9-11 - Lewis completes a dozen 180s as he is first to a finish, but he suffers further jitters on the doubles before three misses from Wade, at double ten, allow him back on double five to seal his spot in the decider.
Lewis ends the tie with 12 maximums and an average of 100.28, despite missing 31 doubles during the contest as he moves into his second successive Auckland Darts Masters final.

FINAL
Gary Anderson v Adrian Lewis
0-1 - Lewis kicks off the final with a 177 score before landing tops to claim the opening leg.
1-1 - Anderson initially misses the bull for a 170 finish and two further doubles to win the leg, with a 162 score from Lewis coming too late as the Scot returns on double three.
1-2 - Anderson fires in a 180, but Lewis takes out 81 on double six for a 12-darter to regain the lead.
2-2 - Anderson misses double 16 to finish 149, but returns to take the leg at the second time of asking.
2-3 - Lewis receives a let-off for three misses at double 18 when Anderson is unable to land double eight and four, allowing his rival back in on double nine.
3-3 - The roles are reversed as Lewis misses double 18 for a 156 finish to break throw, and Anderson steps in on tops to level once again.
4-3 - Anderson lands a maximum, and when Lewis misses two further doubles, at double 12 and six, the World Champion finishes 68 on double ten to break throw and move ahead for the first time.
5-3 - Double top sees Anderson claim a third successive leg as he moves two clear of the reigning champion.
5-4 - The pair trade 180s before Lewis finishes a superb 121 checkout on the bull to cut the gap to one leg.
6-4 - Lewis lands another maximum, only to see Anderson finish 65 on double four to regain his cushion.
7-4 - Lewis hits his third 180 in as many legs, but a miss at tops for a 110 checkout allows Anderson in on double 16 to move three legs clear with a break of throw.
7-5 - Lewis breaks back with a third-dart double nine under pressure, with Anderson having hit a 180 to leave 20.
7-6 - Lewis produces a superb 150 checkout to respond.
8-6 - Anderson kicks off the leg with six perfect darts of two 180s, and though he is unable to complete a nine-darter, the Scot finishes double four for an 11-darter to regain his cushion.
9-6 - Both players land 180s before Anderson takes out 70 on double five to break throw again and move three legs clear once more.
9-7 - The pair each miss doubles in two visits before Lewis' double one sees him respond.
10-7 - Lewis misses double 12 to take out 144, and Anderson finishes 86 on the bull to move a leg away from the title.
11-7 - Anderson hits his eighth 180 of the final before landing double top to secure a second successive World Series of Dartstitle.

2016 World Series of Darts Rankings
24 Gary Anderson
11 Michael van Gerwen, Adrian Lewis
8 Phil Taylor, James Wade, Dave Chisnall, Raymond van Barneveld
6 Peter Wright
1 Clinton Bridge, Cody Harris, Damon Heta, Stuart Leach, Ken Moir, Warren Parry, Bernie Smith, Rob Szabo
Following Auckland Darts Masters

ENDS

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