PHIL TAYLOR enjoyed a successful return to his old style of darts as he booked a Betfair World Matchplay semi-final place on Friday night, and he was joined in the last four by James Wade following the left-hander's win over Michael van Gerwen.
Taylor had defeated both Mervyn King and Ian White earlier in the tournament using a new design of dart, but after producing a below-par display against the latter on Thursday night opted to return to his previous style darts.
Despite initially going 2-0 down, Taylor produced his best performance of the event so far this year as he overcame the World Championship finalist, who hit 12 180s but was unable to match the world number one.
Taylor produced key early finishes of 126 and 127 in successive legs, and after taking a 7-6 lead he then won six of the next eight legs in setting up the win, which was sealed with a 170 checkout and earns him a semi-final against Ronnie Baxter on Saturday.
Friday night's other winner was 2007 World Matchplay champion James Wade, who held off a spirited comeback from Michael van Gerwen to set up a semi-final against two-time finalist Terry Jenkins.
Wade made the early running as he took five successive legs in moving 6-2 up, and he also led 11-5 before van Gerwen remarkably pulled back to within a leg after winning six legs from seven.
However, the world number three won a key 24th leg to deny van Gerwen the chance to break, and he went on to seal his victory with legs of 11, 13 and 14 darts.
Earlier in the day, Blackpool favourite Baxter - the 1998 finalist - defeated rising start Justin Pipe 16-11 and Jenkins overcame World Champion Adrian Lewis 16-12 in a thrilling encounter.
Jenkins and Wade will clash in Saturday's first semi-final at 7pm, before Taylor and Baxter take to the stage for their best-of-33 leg contest.
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Betfair World Matchplay
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session
Justin Pipe 11-16 Ronnie Baxter - Ronnie Baxter Video
Adrian Lewis 12-16 Terry Jenkins - Terry Jenkins Video
Evening Session
Phil Taylor 16-11 Andy Hamilton
Michael van Gerwen 13-16 James Wade
Semi-Finals
Saturday July 28
7.10pm Terry Jenkins v James Wade
9.00pm Phil Taylor v Ronnie Baxter
Click here for Quarter-Final Photo Gallery
MATCH INFORMATION
AFTERNOON SESSION
RONNIE BAXTER 16-11 JUSTIN PIPE
RONNIE BAXTER won through to his first major semi-final for three years at the Betfair World Matchplay with a 16-11 victory over Justin Pipe at the Winter Gardens on Friday.
The Blackpool ace continued his love affair with the tournament with a thrilling performance as he reached the last four for the sixth time since making his debut in 1998 by seeing off rising star Pipe.
The Taunton ace shared 16 180s with Baxter in a heavy-scoring game, but it was the local favourite who produced the stronger finishing to progress to play either Phil Taylor or Andy Hamilton on Saturday night.
"It's great to be back in the semi-finals," said Baxter. "I've dropped from sixth down to 20 and it's been a hard slog for the last 18 months but my form's getting back there.
"My finishing was good and I stayed focused on my game. I began to miss a few doubles but I held on for that one good leg and I got there in the end."
Baxter hit a 180 in the opening leg of the game as he took the lead on tops, with Pipe levelling before the 1998 runner-up finished double ten to move 2-1 up - only for the Taunton man to win the next three without reply.
The pair traded 180s in the fourth leg as Pipe levelled, before Baxter landed further maximums in the next two only to miss darts at double 16 in both legs as Pipe moved 4-2 up.
Baxter finished double 16 to hit back, and then won the next three legs - finishing tops in all three, once for a 107 finish and twice to punish misses from Pipe - as he regained the lead at 6-4.
He then took out 150 to win a fifth straight leg before Pipe reignited his challenge with a superb 11-darter.
The pair again traded maximums as Baxter fired in a 14-darter to lead 8-5, and after the pair traded the next two it was the home favourite who produced another five-leg burst to take command.
Baxter began the run with legs of 13 and 14 darts, and landed double six, double two and tops to take a 14-7 lead and move within touching distance of the semis.
Pipe punished two missed doubles to land tops and stop that run, and he also hit the same bed to win a ninth leg and a 180 and double ten to pull back to 14-10.
However, he missed one dart at double 18 to continue the fightback as Baxter finished double 16, and although Pipe hit a 13-darter to stay in the game his respite was short-lived as Baxter sealed victory in the same manner on double eight.
Baxter has been battling a shoulder problem in recent times, and having played in the final second round game on the previous night he admitted to some tiredness in his throwing arm.
"I get a little bit of a rub-down and that seems to relax me," he added. "It was a little hectic from last night with only having six hours sleep, and I thought that might have been a bit too much for me but it seems ok."
Pipe had won through to his first major televised quarter-finals with his wins over Joe Cullen and Wes Newton, but admitted he was disappointed not to progress further.
"It wasn't my day and Ronnie played well," said Pipe. "We probably both had a bad night's sleep after our games last night and you've got to get up early to prepare again, but it was the same for both of us and there's no complaints from me.
"I was practising well but I didn't get going and even eight 180s wasn't enough.
"There are some massive positives from reaching my first major quarter-final though, and I've got to keep doing what I'm doing and I hope to progress a stage further in each TV event."
Click here to see a post-match interview with Ronnie Baxter
Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Baxter hits a 180 and finishes tops at the first time of asking to open the game with a 13-darter.
1-1 - Baxter lands another maximum, but Pipe replies in kind to leave 76 and returns to land double eight with his third dart after the home favourite misses one dart at tops.
1-2 - Baxter is again first to a finish, and takes out double ten to regain the edge.
2-2 - The players again trade 180s, with Pipe leaving 60 after nine darts and having enough cushion to miss two darts at tops and one at double ten before hitting the bed to level.
3-2 - Baxter fires in his fourth 180 of the game, but misses two darts at double 16 and Pipe finishes 76 on double 18 to break.
4-2 - Baxter hits a 180 and follows that with 139, but misses three darts to break back, and Pipe takes out tops to move two legs clear.
4-3 - Baxter overcomes his troubles on double 16 to hit back.
4-4 - Pipe misses three darts to win the leg, and Baxter steps in to finish 75 on tops to break back and level.
4-5 - Pipe hits a 180 to leave 130, but misses the bull to take out the finish and Baxter checks out 107 to regain the lead.
4-6 - Baxter breaks by landing tops for a third successive leg to move two clear.
4-7 - Baxter finishes a brilliant 150 checkout on double 15.
5-7 - Pipe opens with 140 and 180 before finishing double 16 for an 11-darter.
5-8 - Both players hit 180s, and Baxter lands double nine to win his eighth leg of the game, taking him half-way to victory.
6-8 - Baxter posts his seventh 180, but Pipe takes out double 16 to hit back.
6-9 - Baxter moves back into a three-leg lead by finishing double ten.
7-9 - Pipe lands his sixth 180 of the game and finishes double nine to hit back.
7-10 - Baxter finishes double 16 to win his tenth leg of the contest.
7-11 - Baxter lands tops to break throw again.
7-12 - Double six sees Baxter pull clear of Pipe.
7-13 - Pipe posts another 180, but misses eight darts at doubles to win the leg and Baxter finishes double two to take another leg.
7-14 - Baxter hits his eighth 180 of the game and posts double 16 to move two legs away from the win.
8-14 - Baxter misses darts at double top and ten to move a leg away from victory and Pipe lands tops to hit back.
9-14 - Baxter misses two further darts at tops, and Pipe hits the bed to complete an 80 combination and break throw.
10-14 - Pipe opens with 140 and 180 and finishes double ten to continue his revival.
10-15 - Baxter misses the single ten to leave 40 on a 104 finish, but Pipe misses double 18 for a 76 finish to allow the 1998 runner-up to take out double 16 and move a leg away from the semis.
11-15 - Pipe finishes double 12 for a superb 13-darter to remain in the hunt.
11-16 - Baxter wins the game in style with a 13-darter, posting double eight to move into his first major semi-final for three years.
Match Stats
|
Justin Pipe |
11-16 |
Ronnie Baxter |
|
32 |
100+ |
31 |
|
21 |
140+ |
23 |
|
8 |
180 |
8 |
|
30.49 |
Ave1 |
32.35 |
|
91.47 |
Ave3 |
97.05 |
|
80 |
High Finish |
150,107 |
|
2 |
Breaks of Throw |
4 |
|
11/35 - 31% |
Finishing % |
16/39 - 41% |
TERRY JENKINS 16-12 ADRIAN LEWIS
TERRY JENKINS won through to the Betfair World Matchplay semi-finals with a brilliant 16-12 victory over World Champion Adrian Lewis at the Winter Gardens on Friday afternoon.
The 2007 and 2009 runner-up won through to his third Blackpool semi-final by emerging from a see-saw battle with Lewis, who played his part in a thriller.
The pair landed 19 maximums during the game, with Jenkins hitting ten to Lewis' nine but also landing a pair of 121 checkouts - and although the Stoke ace came from 10-6 down to level at 11-all, it was the number ten seed who finished the game the stronger.
The game began at a frantic pace, with Jenkins opening the match with a 180 and taking the first leg in 13 darts before adding another maximum in the second, which Lewis took on double four with a 76 finish.
The pair then traded maximums in leg three, with Jenkins finshing 91 for an 11-darter, only for Lewis to level in 12 darts by following his second 180 with a 11 checkout.
Lewis also posted a maximum in leg five, but missed the bull to break on a 119 finish to let Jenkins in for a 78 checkout.
Jenkins then finished 56 to secure the game's first break before landing tops to win his third straight leg and move 5-2 up.
Jenkins then kicked off leg eight with a 180 but was punished for three missed doubles as Lewis finished 80 with two double tops before hitting a 180 and an 83 finish for a 14-darter before trading maximum and finishing double ten to level.
The next two were shared to leave the scores tied at six-all before Jenkins won two key legs in the same manner - hitting a 180 and taking out 121 on the bull in successive legs with Lewis waiting on a finish to move 8-6 up.
He then punished missed doubles from the World Champion to take the next two legs and move four clear, only to miss three darts at tops in the 17th as Lewis finished the same bed to hit back.
Lewis added a 180, his eighth of the game, in a 14-darter as he pulled back to 10-8, only to see his chances of reducing the gap further dented in a dramatic next leg, as he missed seven darts at doubles to allow Jenkins off the hook from his own misses to land double two for an 11-8 lead.
Double ten from Lewis saw him regain his range, before he took out 84 to break with a 14-darter and double 16 to level the contest - only for Jenkins to again edge away.
The seven-time major finalist firstly took out double eight to move 12-11 up, before breaking on double ten with Lewis waiting on tops, and a 14-darter moved Jenkins two legs away from the semis.
Lewis hit tops with his third dart to pull back to 14-12, but Lewis landed back-to-back maximums in a 12-darter and then secured victory by landing tops.
"I got off to a good start and then went to sleep a little bit, but it was a good match," said Jenkins.
"The two 121s gave me a bit of confidence and I think thet changed the match a bit because they made Adrian think a bit and made him realise I was up for it.
"It made him try a little bit harder in the second half, and he's a tough player to beat so I'm really pleased to win that."
Jenkins had stared defeat in the face in his first round game against Kim Huybrechts before overcoming Raymond van Barneveld, but he is now looking to push on and claim his first major title.
"If you look back, most players who have gone on and won a tournament have, somewhere along the line, had a chance to be knocked out, so maybe it's my year.
"I'll just knuckle down and treat every player the same. I've been in the final a couple of times but it would mean quite a lot just to win one TV tournament - I think I deserve one."
Lewis admitted: "It was a great game for the audience. It was a good game and I enjoyed it, but it's disappointing to lose.
"I tried to keep digging in at him but there were a few times when I left a double and he took out a big finish - he hit some big shots at the right time and was the better player today.
"I've put a lot of work in for this but I'll start preparing now for the European Championship and the other big events later this year.
"It's in the back of my mind that, with the quality of player I am sometimes, that I should be playing better. A 94 average isn't good enough against the quality of players nowadays, and I'll go away and try to put that right, and hopefully it will come together."
Lewis entered the event knowing that he could succeed Phil Taylor as the number one in the PDC Order of Merit should he progress further than his Stoke rival in the World Matchplay.
"I had the world number one on the back of my mind, which doesn't help really," he admitted. "This is the first tournament where I've had a chance to be world number one, and if Phil doesn't win later on in the quarter-finals I'll be world number one anyway.
"But if Phil's number one at the end of the tournament, he deserves it. If I can win the World Grand Prix or European Championship then it's good for me, and I'll have a good go for it now."
Click here to see a post-match interview with Terry Jenkins
Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Jenkins opens the game with a 180 and takes out tops for a 13-darter to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Jenkins kicks off a second successive leg with a maximum, but Lewis finishes 76 on double four to level.
1-2 - Both players land maximums, and Jenkins finishes 91 on tops to edge back in front.
2-2 - Lewis fires in his second maximum and takes out 11 on tops for a 12-darter.
2-3 - Lewis opens with a 180 - the sixth of the game so far - but misses the bull to take out 119 and Jenkins finishes 78 to hold throw going into the break.
2-4 - Jenkins maintains his flawless record on the doubles by taking out 56 to break.
2-5 - Jenkins again lands tops, with Lewis waiting on 80, to win a fifth leg.
3-5 - Jenkins opens the leg with his fourth maximum of the game and adds a 140, but misses the bull and two darts at double four to allow Lewis to take out 80 with two double tops.
4-5 - Lewis breaks for the first time, hitting a 180 and finishing 83 in two darts.
5-5 - The pair trade their fifth 180s of the game, with Jenkins missing tops for a 116 finish to break and allow Lewis in on double ten to level with a third successive leg.
5-6 - Double eight from Jenkins edges him back in front.
6-6 - Lewis initially misses a dart at tops - in single one - but returns to finish double 16 to level.
6-7 - Jenkins lands another 180 to leave 121, and takes out the combination on the bull.
6-8 - Both players hit 180s, and when Lewis is unable to take out 96, Jenkins lands the bull to finish 121 for a second successive leg.
6-9 - Jenkins is first to a finish but initially fails to set up a double and then misses two darts at double two, but Lewis is unable to convert tops and he returns to finish double two.
6-10 - Lewis hits a 180, but misses double top and ten to allow Jenkins back in to finish double two.
7-10 - Jenkins lands a 180 but returns the favour with three misses at tops, allowing Lewis in to finish 56 on the same bed.
8-10 - Lewis opens with a 180 - his eighth and the game's 16th - before landing double ten to reduce the gap to two legs.
8-11 - Jenkins wins a dramatic leg - initially missing six darts to take the leg only for Lewis to miss seven doubles of his own and allow him in to land double two.
9-11 - Lewis finishes 56 on double ten to pull back another leg.
10-11 - Lewis adds the pressure with his ninth 180 of the game, and Jenkins misses a dart at tops to allow the World Champion back in to finish 84 to break throw.
11-11 - Lewis levels the contest by winning a third successive leg, finishing double 16.
11-12 - Double eight from Jenkins sees him regain the lead.
11-13 - Jenkins takes advantage as Lewis initially fails to leave a finish, and lands double ten to break throw and move three legs away from the win.
11-14 - The breathless pace continues as Jenkins finishes tops for a 14-darter to edge closer to the semis.
12-14 - Lewis lands tops with his third dart to stay in touch with Jenkins.
12-15 - Jenkins moves a leg away from the match with a fantastic 12-darter, hitting back-to-back 180s to leave 82, which he finishes on tops.
12-16 - Jenkins finishes tops to complete a brilliant win and move into his third Betfair World Matchplay semi-final.
Match Stats
|
Adrian Lewis |
12-16 |
Terry Jenkins |
|
38 |
100+ |
44 |
|
14 |
140+ |
19 |
|
9 |
180 |
10 |
|
31.11 |
Ave1 |
32.31 |
|
93.34 |
Ave3 |
96.94 |
|
111 |
High Finish |
121 x2 |
|
3 |
Breaks of Throw |
5 |
|
12/33 - 36% |
Finishing % |
16/38 - 42% |
EVENING SESSION
PHIL TAYLOR 16-11 ANDY HAMILTON
PHIL TAYLOR bounced back to top form in the Betfair World Matchplay to win a semi-final place with a superb - win over Stoke rival Andy Hamilton on Friday night - with a change of darts keeping the reigning champion on course for a record-equalling fifth straight Blackpool win.
Taylor had defeated both Mervyn King and Ian White earlier in the tournament using a new design of dart, but after producing a below-par display against the latter on Thursday night opted to return to his previous style darts.
Despite initially going 2-0 down, Taylor produced his best performance of the event so far this year as he overcame the World Championship finalist, who hit 12 180s but was unable to match the world number one.
Taylor produced key early finishes of 126 and 127 in successive legs, and after taking a 7-6 lead he then won six of the next eight legs in setting up the win, which he sealed with 1 70 finish and earns him a semi-final against Ronnie Baxter on Saturday.
Hamilton began the game in brilliant fashion by opening with a 180 in a 14-darter and then doubling his lead in 12 darts by starting the second leg with a 177 and finishing it with a 110 checkout.
He also kicked off leg three with a maximum, but a missed bullseye allowed Taylor in to hit the same bed in completing a 126 finish as he got off the mark.
Hamilton hit a 171 to leave 132 in the fourth, but Taylor this time landed the bull for a 127 checkout in levelling, before matching a 180 from the World Championship finalist and htiting tops to lead for the first time at 3-2.
Taylor then fired in another 180 and double 16 to lead 4-2, putting any doubt over his switch of darts firmly out of his mind as he hit top gear.
Hamilton replied well to win the next two legs and level, posting a 180 and double eight before landing double ten with his third dart, but a key 68 finish from Taylor gave him the ninth as he regained a lead he would never lose.
Taylor hit another 180 in a 12-darter to win the tenth leg, and tops in the next saw him move into a 7-4 advantage.
Hamilton replied with maximums in the next two to punish Taylor with a brace of double 16 finishes as he cut the gap to one leg, but a miss at double ten from the number eight seed allowed the reigning champion to hit the same bed and wi his eighth leg.
Double eight from Hamilton won him the next, but Taylor hit a 174 and double 16 to lead 9-7 and added a 180 to set up an 84 finish as he moved into double figures.
Hamilton posted another maximum and a 124 bullseye finish to pull back to 10-8, and added a 180 and double nine in reducing the gap to one leg.
The heavy-scoring ace powered in his tenth 180 of the game in leg 20 as he sought to level, but Taylor crucially landed double 16 to avert the chance to move 11-9 up.
Taylor then landed further 180s of his own in superb legs of 14 and 11 darts, and he then punished two misses from Hamilton to land double 16 for a 14-9 cushion as he moved towards the finishing line.
Hamilton hit his 12th maximum of the game and took out 108 - with Taylor on 32 - to win his tenth leg, but missed double 16 as Taylor landed double 12 to move a leg away from the win.
A miss at double 16 from Taylor for the match in the next allowed Hamilton to land the same bed and stay alive, but Taylor sealed the win in magnificent style with a 170 checkout.
"I decided to change back to my old darts this morning - in my living room I was unbeatable but it wasn't working on stage and I had to go back to my old darts," said Taylor.
"I needed to do that against Andy because he hit buckets of 180s and his concentration levels are unbelievable. He doesn't know when he's beaten, and I hope he pushes forward now.
"I've got nothing but admiration for him and he could be World Champion or world number one in the future - he battled hard and played some great darts there, and I could never shake him off.
"I'm glad the 170 went in at the end and I know I'll be in for another battle on Saturday now against Ronnie. The tournament's getting better and better and I'll be doing everything I can to win this title again now."
Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Hamilton begins the game with a 180, and finishes tops for a 14-darter to lead.
0-2 - Hamilton opens with a 177, and then takes out 110 on double 16 for a 12-darter to break throw.
1-2 - Hamilton commences a third successive leg with a 'maximum' score, landing a 180, but he misses the bull for a 91 finish only to see Taylor hit the same bed to complete a 126 combination.
2-2 - Hamilton lands a 171 to leave 132, but Taylor betters his 126 finish by taking out 127 on the bull to level.
3-2 - Taylor lands a 180 and is followed in that by Hamilton - who hits a 170+ score for the fifth successive leg but is left on 12 as Taylor takes out 82 on tops.
4-2 - Taylor returns with a 180 and finishes double 16 to maintain his flawless start on doubles.
4-3 - Hamilton hits a 180 and double eight to hit back with his first leg in four.
4-4 - Hamilton breaks to level by landing double ten with his third dart.
5-4 - Taylor finishes 68 on double four to edge back ahead with a break.
6-4 - Taylor kicks off the leg with 180 and 140 and finishes 84 for a 12-darter to move two legs clear again.
7-4 - Taylor finishes tops to move three legs ahead of his local rivals.
7-5 - Hamilton opens with a 180 and steps in after Taylor misses double top, ten and five to land double 16 and break throw.
7-6 - Hamilton leaves 44 by hitting his sixth 180 of the game, and when Taylor fails to finish 132 he returns to finish double 16.
8-6 - Taylor avoids a potential break, opening with a 171 but missing tops for a 67 finish only for Hamilton to miss double ten and allow him back to hit the same bed.
8-7 - Hamilton reduces the gap to one leg, punishing an opening 41 from Taylor by landing his seventh maximum of the game and double eight to win the leg.
9-7 - Taylor opens with a 174 and adds a 131 before finishing double 16.
10-7 - Taylor hits a 180 to leave 84, and finishes the combination on double eight to regain his three-leg cushion with a break of throw.
10-8 - Hamilton posts his eighth 180 of the game, and takes out 124 on the bull to break back.
10-9 - Hamilton fires in another maximum, and returns from three missed doubles to land double nine.
11-9 - Hamilton kicks off the leg with his tenth 180 of the game, but Taylor finishes double 16 to win a key leg and regain his advantage.
12-9 - Taylor opens with a 180 and leaves 16 with a 165 score, before returning to finish double four for a 14-darter.
13-9 - Taylor adds his sixth 180 of the leg, and takes out 86 on double 16 for an 11-dart finish.
14-9 - Hamilton lands another 180, but misses double 16 and eight to hit back and Taylor returns from an earlier miss at double 16 to hit the same bed to move two legs away from the win.
14-10 - Hamilton fires in his 12th 180 of the game to leave 108, and finishes the combination on double 16 to break throw.
15-10 - Hamilton misses double 16 for a 92 finish, and Taylor lands double 12 to move a leg away from the win - and breaks out into a broad grin on stage as he celebrates the dart.
15-11 - Hamilton misses the bull to finish 164, but returns to land double 16 and keep the game alive after Taylor misses the same bed for victory.
16-11 - Taylor seals the victory with a brilliant 170 checkout!
Match Stats
|
Phil Taylor |
16-11 |
Andy Hamilton |
|
38 |
100+ |
19 |
|
17 |
140+ |
13 |
|
6 |
180 |
12 |
|
35.01 |
Ave1 |
33.24 |
|
105.05 |
Ave3 |
99.72 |
|
170,127,126 |
High Finish |
124,110,108 |
|
8 |
Breaks of Throw |
6 |
|
16/27 - 59% |
Finishing % |
11/25 - 44% |
JAMES WADE 16-13 MICHAEL VAN GERWEN
JAMES WADE held off a spirited comeback from Michael van Gerwen to set up a semi-final against two-time finalist Terry Jenkins with a 16-13 win over the Dutchman on Friday night.
Wade made the early running as he took five successive legs in moving 6-2 up, and he also led 11-5 before van Gerwen remarkably pulled back to within a leg after winning six legs from seven.
However, the world number three won a key 24th leg to deny van Gerwen the chance to level in moving himself 13-11 up, and he went on to seal his victory by landing his trusted double ten.
"I'm delighted to be in the semis again but I'm really having to work hard in this event!" said Wade. "I was playing well in patches but then I'd have a bad leg and Michael never gave in, no matter what I threw at him.
"Maybe I was lucky to get away with it but I've been putting the hard work in and it's showing in patches.
"A few years ago I used to really love the bite of the player coming back at me, and I want to get that back. It could happen again on Saturday because I know Terry's playing well and we've had some good games in the past."
Wade made a fine start by hitting double ten to win the opening leg, and he then hit a 180 and took out 116 to break throw and lead 2-0.
He also missed two chances to win the third before van Gerwen got off the mark on double five and finished a 14-darter on tops to level.
Wade won the fifth, and then broke on 68, finished two 14-darters and broke with a superb 11-dart leg to win five in a row and take charge at 7-2, before a 13-darter from van Gerwen saw him stem the tide.
Wade finished 146 and then double ten for a 14-darter as he moved 9-3 up, and after the Dutch youngster took out double eight he landed the bull for a 122 checkout to lead by six legs at 11-5.
Van Gerwen again rallied, winning four successive legs, including a 13-dart break of throw, to cut the gap to two legs only for Wade to hit a 177 in setting up double six to move 12-9 ahead.
The Dutchman continued his revival by hitting double 16 and then taking out 88 on the bull to pull back to a leg behind - only to see a dramatic 22nd leg slip from his grasp when he failed to finish 65, landing the bull instead of 25 and then missing double six to allow Wade to finish a key 72 on tops.
After the number three seed landed an 11-dart finish, the pair the traded 13-darters as Wade moved a leg away from the win, and after van Gerwen hit tops to stay alive the left-hander finished 71 on double ten to secure his sixth semi-final appearance in seven years.
"There's a lot of disappointment for me because I can play a lot better, but James played well," said van Gerwen. "He hit some very good finishes and deserved to win.
"If I'd made it 12-all then anything could have happened but I hit the bullseye instead of the 25, and he went 13-11 and threw a very good leg after that."
Van Gerwen hit a superb nine-dart finish during his second round win over Steve Beaton, and ended with a tournament average over 100 as he continued his return to form in 2012.
"I hope I can do well again in the remaining tournaments this year and I'll work hard on my game. The whole match against Steve Beaton was superb for me, not just the nine-darter, and I played well this week.
"I'm back in the top 32 but I know I can still do better and I've not got much money to defend in the rest of the year so I think I can move up the rankings. I'm going to practice hard and try to do well in the TV tournaments, and I hope I can have a good rest of the year."
Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Double ten from Wade sees him take the opener.
0-2 - Wade breaks, hitting a 180 and a 116 checkout.
1-2 - van Gerwen punishes two misses from Wade to break back on double five.
2-2 - Tops sees the Dutch youngster level the game.
2-3 - Wade hits back to regain the lead by finishing 40.
2-4 - Wade breaks by finishing 68 on double ten.
2-5 - Another double ten finish sees Wade move three legs clear.
2-6 - van Gerwen misses double 11 to finish 124 and Wade follows an earlier 180 by landing tops to break again.
2-7 - Wade finishes double ten for a 14-darter.
3-7 - van Gerwen posts his first 180 of the game and finishes tops to hit back.
3-8 - Wade averts a potential break by firing in a 146 checkout.
3-9 - van Gerwen hits a 180 to leave 66, but misses tops to allow Wade in to hit double ten and break.
4-9 - The Dutchman punishes misses at double eight and four from Wade to break by hitting double 18.
4-10 - van Gerwen hits a 180 to leave 103, but misses tops to finish the combination and three further darts to win the leg as Wade steps in on double ten to break back.
5-10 - van Gerwen posts double eight to break and win his fifth leg of the game.
5-11 - van Gerwen opens with a maximum but Wade finishes 122 on the bull to win his 11th leg.
6-11 - Double six from van Gerwen sees him break back.
7-11 - van Gerwen punishes a missed double top from Wade by hitting the same bed to finish 65 - and shows his emotion at cutting the gap further.
8-11 - The Dutchman wins a third successive leg, hitting a 180 and punishing a miss at double 16 from Wade to hit the same bed for another break.
9-11 - van Gerwen continues his revival with a fine leg, leaving 40 after 12 darts and returning after Wade fires in a 177 to leave 24 to hit double five with his third dart.
9-12 - Wade wins his first leg in five, hitting another 177 to leave 24 before hitting double six.
10-12 - van Gerwen posts double 16 to hold throw and pull back to within touching distance.
11-12 - Wade opens with his seventh 180 of the game, but misses three darts at double ten and van Gerwen finishes 88 on the bull to break again.
11-13 - van Gerwen gives himself a chance to break on 65, but hits the bull instead of 25 with his first dart and then misses double six, allowing Wade to finish 72 on tops for a key leg.
11-14 - Wade opens with a 180 and finishes 86 confidently on double 16 to move two legs away from the match.
12-14 - van Gerwen kicks off the leg with 140 and 180 and lands double top for a 13-darter.
12-15 - Wade replies with a 13-darter of his own to move a leg away from the victory, hitting a 180 and finishing double five.
13-15 - van Gerwen keeps his hopes alive with tops to hold throw - but must break Wade to stay in the game.
13-16 - Wade finishes 71 in two darts to seal his place in the semi-finals.
Match Stats
|
Michael van Gerwen |
13-16 |
James Wade |
|
42 |
100+ |
39 |
|
16 |
140+ |
25 |
|
6 |
180 |
9 |
|
33.44 |
Ave1 |
34.18 |
|
100.31 |
Ave3 |
102.54 |
|
88 |
High Finish |
146,122,116 |
|
6 |
Breaks of Throw |
7 |
|
13/35 - 37% |
Finishing % |
16/40 - 40% |
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