PHIL TAYLOR'S reign as PartyPoker.net European Champion was ended on Sunday afternoon as he slumped to a 10-6 defeat to Brendan Dolan in Germany, as Kim Huybrechts knocked Raymond van Barneveld out of the event with the performance of his life.
Taylor has won all four previous European Championship titles and had been the favourite to take the £50,000 first prize in Muelheim this weekend.
However, after producing below-par displays in wins over Magnus Caris and Jerry Hendriks the 15-time World Champion averaged only 89.88 as he went down 10-6 to Northern Ireland's Dolan.
"I've got no excuses, Brendan was the better player and deserved to win," said Taylor. "My form wasn't good enough in my first two games as well as the quarter-final, but my preparation wasn't good enough.
"I'm not happy with my form at all and I've got to up my game for the World Grand Prix in a couple of weeks."
The win was Dolan's first in 14 attempts against Taylor, but last year's World Grand Prix runner-up is now targeting his first major title on Sunday night, starting with his semi-final against room-mate Wes Newton.
"I've never beaten Phil before and it's obviously brilliant to beat him," said Dolan. "It's been a dream of mine and I've fulfilled that now, but I want to go on now and win this.
"That wasn't Phil at his best but I grasped every opportunity he gave me."
Newton, the 2011 UK Open finalist, won through to the last four with a a hard-fought 10-7 defeat of Andy Hamilton, sealing victory with a classy 129 checkout.
"It was a battle and I had to dig deep," said Newton. "I found another gear at the right time, and got over the finishing line.
"I found the pace hard but it's something that I've got to deal with, but I'm beating good players and hopefully I can take the next step tonight and go and win this."
Emerging Belgian Kim Huybrechts, meanwhile, produced a sensational performance to defeat five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld 10-8.
Huybrechts had found himself 6-4 down, but landed seven 180s and two 177s in the match as he reached his first major televised semi-final.
"I can't believe it," admitted Huybrechts, who will move into the PDC's top 32 following the tournament. "Raymond is an icon and one of the best players in the world, so to beat him in the European Championship quarter-finals is just amazing for me.
"I've just beaten a big name and I've got another big name in the semi-finals, but I'll be very confident and I know I can beat anyone after this win."
Australian Simon Whitlock completed the quarter-final line-up with his 10-7 win over Colin Lloyd, who hit a 167 finish but paid the price for a key miss when he had the chance to level in the 16th leg.
Whitlock pounced on double top to move 9-7 up and hit the same bed to seal the victory and set up a semi-final with Huybrechts.
"I could have made it easier for myself, but Colin hung in there and took out some great shots," said Whitlock, whose win ensured a semi-final line-up of four players who have yet to win a major title.
"I'm feeling fantastic - I've come off a great weekend in Barnsley where I reached a quarter-final and then won a Players Championship and I feel really good. Confidence is a massive thing in darts and I'm full of confidence at the moment."
The semi-finals will be followed on Sunday night by the final, with all games over the best of 21 legs as the players seek to claim the £50,000 first prize.
Sunday evening's final stages will be screened live on ESPN UK, with coverage also live through LIVEPDC.TV, Sport1 in Germany, RTL7 in Holland and Fox Sports in Australia.
PartyPoker.net European Championship
Sunday September 23
Quarter-Finals
Andy Hamilton 7-10 Wes Newton
Phil Taylor 6-10 Brendan Dolan
Kim Huybrechts 10-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Simon Whitlock 10-7 Colin Lloyd
Match Information
Andy Hamilton v Wes Newton
0-0 - Andy Hamilton wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - Hamilton misses double 16 to take out 104, but Newton is unable to punish him as he misses double top and ten to allow the World Championship finalist back on double eight.
1-1 - Newton levels by posting double five to win his first leg.
1-2 - Hamilton hits a 180 to leave 24, but can only watch as Newton takes out 115 on double 19.
2-2 - Both players land maximums, and Hamilton finishes double top to break throw in reply and level.
3-2 - Hamilton wins his second successive leg to edge back ahead.
3-3 - Newton posts his second maximum and finishes double eight to square the contest.
4-3 - Newton is unable to finish 117 to break, and Hamilton steps in to take out tops.
4-4 - Hamilton posts a 180 to leave 82 after nine darts, but misses four darts to break across three visits as Newton recovers to finish double ten.
5-4 - Double 12 for Hamilton sees him hold throw with Newton again waiting on a finish.
5-5 - Newton levels again by finishing tops to take out 80.
5-6 - Newton fires in a 180, and when Hamilton misses the bull he breaks throw with double nine.
5-7 - Newton finishes double eight to move two legs clear.
6-7 - Hamilton hits back by taking out 32.
6-8 - Newton inches towards victory with double 16.
7-8 - Hamilton roars home double 12 to pull back to within a leg.
7-9 - Newton hits a 180 to leave 44, with Hamilton missing tops to finish 114 to allow the Fleetwood ace in on double 13 to move a leg away from the win.
7-10 - Newton lands a 177 to leave 129, and when Hamilton is unable to take out 140 he steps up to take out the 129 combination on the bull for victory and a semi-final place.
Wes Newton: "It was a battle and I had to dig deep. I found another gear at the right time, and got over the finishing line. I found the pace hard but it's something that I've got to deal with. That's Andy's rhythm and he wasn't deliberately trying to slow me down, and you have to be adaptable. Back in the 1990s, Phil Taylor had to do that with Dennis Priestley when they had their great rivalry, and it's something I have to do because I'm so keen when I get up on stage to play at pace. the last two games have been a battle for me but I'm beating good players and hopefully I can take the next step tonight and go and win this."
Match Stats
|
Andy Hamilton |
7-10 |
Wes Newton |
|
20 |
100+ |
23 |
|
9 |
140+ |
7 |
|
0 |
170+ |
1 |
|
3 |
180 |
4 |
|
90.33 |
Average |
92.03 |
|
78 |
High Finish |
129 |
|
1 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
7/19 - 37% |
Finishing % |
10/22 - 45% |
Phil Taylor v Brendan Dolan
0-0
0-1 - Dolan takes out 106 on double 16 to win the opener.
1-1 - Taylor misses double top to finish 112, but returns to win the leg at the second time of asking.
1-2 - Dolan lands double eight with his third dart to take leg three.
2-2 - Taylor levels again with a 12-darter, hitting three 140s and take out 81 on double 16.
2-3 - Dolan leaves 40 after 12 darts, and hits tops to edge back in front.
2-4 - Taylor misses two darts at double eight to finish 70, and Dolan lands the bull to break throw.
2-5 - Dolan lands tops to move three legs clear.
3-5 - Taylor posts a 177, and takes out 93 in two darts to hit back and win his first leg in four.
4-5 - Taylor hits a 180 but initially misses two darts to break, only for Dolan to be off-target twice at double 16 to allow the reigning champion back in to hit double five and cut the gap to one leg.
4-6 - Taylor misses a dart at tops to level, and Dolan finishes 80 by hitting the same bed to regain a two-leg lead.
4-7 - Dolan hits a 180 to leave 81 after nine darts, and recovers from two initial misses at double 12 to post double six to regain his three-leg cushion.
5-7 - Taylor opens with a maximum and lands double 12 to hit back.
5-8 - Dolan posts his second 180 of the game, and lands double 18 to move two legs away from the win.
6-8 - Taylor misses tops to finish 114, but when Dolan is unable to take out 141 he returns to cut the deficit.
6-9 - Taylor is unable to finish 104, and Dolan takes out 82 with a bullseye, double 16 combination.
6-10 - Dolan misses double 16 for a 106 checkout to take victory, but Taylor misses the same bed to take out 95 and Dolan lands double eight to end Taylor's reign.
Brendan Dolan: "I've never beaten Phil before and it's obviously brilliant to beat him. It's been a dream of mine and I've fulfilled that now, but I want to go on now and win this. That wasn't Phil at his best but I grasped every opportunity he gave me. Hopefully I'll play a bit better in the semi-final against Wes Newton and it should be a good game because we know each other so well - we're rooming together and we'll go up on stage relaxed, concentrate on our own games and go at it hammer and tongs."
Match Stats
|
Phil Taylor |
6-10 |
Brendan Dolan |
|
15 |
100+ |
20 |
|
7 |
140+ |
12 |
|
1 |
170+ |
1 |
|
2 |
180 |
2 |
|
89.88 |
Average |
89.90 |
|
93 |
High Finish |
106 |
|
1 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
6/16 - 38% |
Finishing % |
10/22 - 45% |
Kim Huybrechts v Raymond van Barneveld
0-0 - Kim Huybrechts wins the bull and throws first
1-0 - Huybrechts makes a confident start, hitting a 180 and double 12.
1-1 - The Belgian adds a second 180 but misses two darts at tops to break throw, and van Barneveld finishes double 16 to level.
2-1 - van Barneveld misses darts at double ten and five, and Huybrechts posts double 16 to avert a potential break.
3-1 - Huybrechts lands his third 180 of the game, but misses the bull and two darts at double eight - only to return to punish four misses at tops from van Barneveld by hitting double four to break.
3-2 - van Barneveld misses double top to finish 157, but Huybrechts is off-target on the same bed and the Dutchman returns to finish double ten to break back.
3-3 - van Barneveld opens with a 177 and finishes double 18 to level the game.
3-4 - The Dutchman hits the front for the first time by posting tops.
3-5 - van Barneveld lands his first 180 and takes out 61 on double eight to move two legs clear.
4-5 - Huybrechts hits back by finishing 74 to avoid another break.
4-6 - Huybrechts misses the bull for a 126 checkout to level, and van Barneveld posts double two to win his fifth leg out of six.
5-6 - Huybrechts lands a 177 and has enough breathing space to recover from initial misses by landing double one.
6-6 - Huybrechts hits 180 and 177 to leave 44 after nine darts, and finishes double 16 for a 12-darter.
7-6 - The Belgian's burst of heavy scoring continues with another maximum, and when van Barneveld misses the bull for a 161 checkout he steps in on tops to regain the lead.
8-6 - Huybrechts adds another 180, his sixth of the game, but misses three darts at double 11 across two visits, only for van Barneveld to miss double 16 and three darts at double eight to allow the Belgian in to win his fourth successive leg on double four.
8-7 - Huybrechts lands a 180 for the fourth successive leg, but misses four darts to win the leg and van Barneveld takes out 120 to break throw.
8-8 - van Barneveld levels with a cool 113 checkout.
9-8 - Huybrechts takes out 74 on double 16 to edge back in front and move a leg away from the win.
10-8 - van Barneveld is unable to finish 106, and Huybrechts holds his nerve to finish double 16 with his third dart to take the biggest victory of his career.
Kim Huybrechts: "I can't believe it. Raymond is an icon and one of the best players in the world, so to beat him in the European Championship quarter-finals is just amazing for me. I've just beaten a big name and I've got another big name in the semi-finals, but I'll be very confident and I know I can beat anyone after this win."
Match Stats
|
Kim |
10-8 |
Raymond |
|
24 |
100+ |
26 |
|
6 |
140+ |
14 |
|
2 |
170+ |
1 |
|
7 |
180 |
1 |
|
92.50 |
Average |
94.81 |
|
74 |
High Finish |
120 |
|
4 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
10/33 - 30% |
Finishing % |
8/25 - 32% |
Simon Whitlock v Colin Lloyd
0-0 - Simon Whitlock wins the bull and throws first
1-0 - Whitlock fires in double 16 to take the opening leg.
2-0 - Whitlock finishes 94 on double six to break throw and move two legs up.
3-0 - Whitlock's sensational start continues as he takes out 121 on double eight to win a third leg.
3-1 - The Australian misses double top twice to secure another break, and Lloyd hits the same bed to get off the mark.
3-2 - Lloyd fires in a 180 as he breaks for the first time to cut the gap to one leg.
3-3 - Lloyd produces a brilliant 164 checkout to level the contest.
4-3 - Whitlock lands a 180 and takes out double 16 to regain the lead.
4-4 - Double 18 from Lloyd sees him square the game again.
5-4 - Whitlock hits his second 180 of the game and finishes tops with his third dart to edge back in front.
5-5 - Lloyd lands a 180 to leave 16, but is given a let-off from three misses to take the leg as Whitlock misses five darts to break, allowing the Essex ace to post double four.
6-5 - The former World Matchplay champion produces another 180, but misses the bull to take out 90 and break, and Whitlock lands double 19 to regain the lead.
7-5 - Whitlock misses tops for a 148 finish and then sees three more darts for the leg go astray - but Lloyd misses four darts of his own on the top wire of double five, and Whitlock breaks on double ten.
8-5 - Whitlock finishes tops to move two legs away from the win.
8-6 - Whitlock lands a 180 but misses the bullseye and Lloyd fires in double 16 to hit back.
8-7 - Lloyd misses tops to break throw, but Whitlock is off-target with three darts at tops and double ten to allow him back in to reduce the gap to one leg.
9-7 - Whitlock wins a potentially pivotal leg - with Lloyd needing 92 only to hit 25 and then miss the single 7 to leave tops, allowing the Australian to follow a 180 with tops for a 64 finish to move a leg away from the semis.
10-7 - Whitlock opens a second successive leg with a maximum, his fifth of the game, and hits double top at the third time of asking to win through to the last four.
Simon Whitlock: "I had so many opportunities to get ahead of Colin that I didn't take and I could have made it easier for myself, but Colin hung in there and took out some great shots. I'm feeling fantastic - I've come off a great weekend in Barnsley where I reached a quarter-final and then won a Players Championship and I feel really good. Confidence is a massive thing in darts and I'm full of confidence at the moment. Kim's a tough player and we've had some really good games before, and I'll be giving it my best shot."
Colin Lloyd: "It's always disappointing to get beaten but I let Simon in a bit there and he punished me. It's the first quarter-final of a major I've got to for a while so I'm happy with that, I've loved the weekend."
Match Stats
|
Simon Whitlock |
10-7 |
Colin Lloyd |
|
18 |
100+ |
21 |
|
12 |
140+ |
18 |
|
1 |
170+ |
0 |
|
5 |
180 |
3 |
|
93.01 |
Average |
89.64 |
|
121 |
High Finish |
164 |
|
3 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
|
10/30 - 33% |
Finishing % |
7/18 - 39% |
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