William Hill Grand Slam Semi-Finals

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD and Michael van Gerwen will meet in the final of the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts on Sunday night following their victories over Andy Hamilton and Dean Winstanley in the semi-finals at the Wolves Civic.

Van Barneveld, the five-time World Champion, booked his place in a first major final in two years with a 16-10 win over Andy Hamilton in their last four contest.

The Dutch star continued his brilliant form with nine 180s and three ton-plus finishes, while a run of nine successive legs in mid-game saw him turn a 6-3 deficit into a 12-6 lead.

He then held off Hamilton's fightback to reach his first Grand Slam of Darts final, and admitted: "I'm absolutely delighted.

"It's been a couple of years since I've been in a final but my form's there again. At 3-0 down I just wanted to win a couple of legs, but to win nine in a row was important.

"Andy's had a great year and he's the comeback kid, so I'm really happy to have finished him  off.

"At the end I was very tired and I'll have a good rest before the final. Michael's brilliant and he's in form at the moment, so it will be a great final, and I think I'll be crying if I'm holding the trophy tonight."

Last month's World Grand Prix winner van Gerwen, meanwhile, booked his place in a second successive major final with a superb 16-8 defeat of Dean Winstanley.

The 23-year-old led 5-0 and 10-1 in a sensational start to the game, and then followed up his two 170 finishes in Saturday's quarter-final defeat of Scott Waites with another maximum checkout as he led 13-4.

Winstanley, the former Lakeside Champion who was appearing in his first televised PDC semi-final, pull back to 15-8, but van Gerwen took out 80 to seal the triumph.

"To reach another big final, the second in a row, is a big moment for me," said van Gerwen. "I'm proud of the way I'm playing, but the job's not done yet.

"Raymond's the second best player ever and he's won so many tournaments, but I'm the man in form and I want to win the tournament tonight now.

"I'll be giving all I have and I know I have to concentrate hard."

The final, also over the best of 31 legs, will commence at 7pm and guarantees that a new name will be on the trophy this evening, with the winner also taking home a £100,000 first prize.

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TV Coverage

The tournament is being screened live on Sky Sports HD.



In addition, the tournament is being shown live on Fox Sports in Australia, OSN across the Middle East and online in the Netherlands through www.rtl7darts.nl/live .



Live Coverage is also available in LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers, with highlights available for all Subscribers on a 24-hour delay.



Tickets

-Tickets for the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts are still available by calling 0870 320 7000, via www.wolvescivic.co.uk or by visiting the Wolves Civic Box Office.



Live Stats

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William Hill Grand Slam of Darts

Semi-Finals

Sunday 18 November (1pm)

Andy Hamilton 10-16 Raymond van Barneveld

Michael van Gerwen 16-8 Dean Winstanley

Best of 31 legs



Final (7pm)

Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld

Best of 31 legs



Match Information

Andy Hamilton v Raymond van Barneveld

1-0 - Hamilton holds throw thanks to accurate attempt at double four with his third dart.

2-0 - van Barneveld misses double 16 for a 131 checkout and Hamilton hits a clinical two-dart 79 to break throw.

3-0 - The Stoke ace continues his fine start to the game by taking out 63 in two-darts.

3-1 - van Barneveld gets a leg on the board thanks to an accomplished 13-dart finish.

3-2 - The Dutchman fires a 15-dart finish to reduce the gap to just one leg.

4-2 - Hamilton hits double top to convert a 72 finish.

5-2 - Hamilton lands tops with his third dart to record a 77 finish after van Barneveld had hit a 180 to leave 61.

5-3 - van Barneveld hits a 180 followed by a 140 to take command of the leg and takes out 82 to complete a 12-darter.

6-3 - Hamilton finds a 12-dart finish of his own with included two maximums.

6-4 - van Barneveld continues the fine standard of the game by hitting another 12-darter as he lands double 16 for a 91 finish.

6-5 - van Barneveld fires a fifth 180 and lands a 76 finish after Hamilton was off-target with an attempt at double 16.

6-6 - The Dutchman levels the match at six apiece by hitting double four.

6-7 - van Barneveld wins a fourth leg in a row by hitting double two to lead the match for the first time.

6-8 - van Barneveld applies further pressure on Hamilton as he takes out 61 to record another 15-dart finish.

6-9 - Double nine gives the five-time World Champion a three-leg advanatage.

6-10 - van Barneveld hits double 20 to win a seventh leg in a row.

6-11 - Hamiton is just off-target with a dart at bullseye and the Dutchman lands an excellent 107 checkout.

6-12 - Three missed darts at doubles from Hamilton prove costly as van Barneveld takes out a two-dart 66 finish.

7-12 - van Barneveld hits a 180 but Hamilton wins his first leg in ten with a 104 finish.

7-13 - van Barneveld hits a 116 checkout to restore his six leg lead and edge closer to victory.

7-14 - Hamilton lets two chances to win the leg slip by and van Barneveld hits double top at the first time of asking for a 13-darter.

7-15 - Both players hit 180s but van Barneveld lands double three with his third dart to go a leg away from triumph.

8-15 - Hamilton hits another 104 finish to keep his slim hopes alive.

9-15 - Hamilton wins the leg against the darts by hitting double top.

10-15 - The Stoke man wins a third leg in a row by landing a pressure double ten.

10-16 - van Barneveld converts a 100 checkout to win the match in style and seal a place in the final.

Raymond van Barneveld: "I knew I held a good record against Andy coming into the match but I knew that I had to play well as he is a very solid player. I fell 3-0 and 6-3 down and I think that was due to tiredness because of the quick turnaround from last night. But I found some good momentum and won nine legs in a row which was very satisfying and ultimately won me the match. This is the first televised final for a couple of years so to reach the final here is very special for me."



Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen v Dean Winstanley

1-0 - Winstanley misses a dart at double 16 and van Gerwen steps in to hit double four.

2-0 - van Gerwen lands a 115 finish to win the second leg against the darts.

3-0 - The Dutchman continues the superb start by hitting a 13-dart finish

4-0 - van Gerwen breaks his opponent's throw for a second consecutive time with the aid of a 180.

5-0 - An 85 finish gives van Gerwen the fifth leg and establish early command on the match.

5-1 - Winstanley gets a leg on the board by hitting double top at the first attempt.

6-1 - Both players hit 180s before van Gerwen goes on to win the leg by landing tops.

7-1 - Winstanley is off-target with three darts at doubles and van Gerwen accepts the opportunity to increase his lead by hitting double eight.

8-1 - The Dutchman hits an effortless 174 and follows that by recording a 134 checkout.

9-1 - van Gerwen continues his astonishing standard by winning tenth with a 'showpiece' 96 finish comprising of single 20, double 18, double 20.

10-1 - van Gerwen records a 14-dart finish to move nine legs clear.

10-2 - Winstanley manages to win his second leg of the game by hitting double two after hitting a 180.

10-3 - The Yorkshireman hits a trio of 140 scores and converts an 81 finish to win the leg in fine style.

10-4 - Double top gives Winstanley his third leg in a row.

11-4 - van Gerwen hits a superb 171 to leave 100 which he duly converts in just two-darts.

12-4 - van Gerwen hits an incredible 170 checkout - his third of the tournament - to move four legs away from victory.

13-4 - The Grand Prix Champion suprisingly misses three darts at doubles but Winstanley is unable to take out 116 and van Gerwen hits double one with his third dart.

13-5 - Winstanley hits double ten to capitalise on a missed dart at double from his opponent.

13-6 - Winstanley fires in a fifth 180 and manages to hit double ten after van Gerwen misses three chances to win the leg.

13-7 - Both players register maximums before Winstanley converts a 103 finish to win a third leg in a row.

14-7 - van Gerwen stops Winstanley's mini-revival by hitting a 14-dart finish.

14-8 - Winstanley continues to fight and wins the leg with a 116 checkout.

15-8 - van Gerwen takes out 70 in two-darts to go a leg away from a place in the final.

16-8 - Both players fire maximums but three missed darts at doubles from Winstanley sees van Gerwen take out 80 to close out the game.

Michael van Gerwen: "I had a wonderful start to the match and managed to apply pressure early. I went 9-1 ahead and hitting another 170 checkout was a real highlight. To reach another major final is a big moment for me. I'm proud of the way I am playing but the job is not done yet. Tonight's game against Raymond is going to be a big one for me and I want to win the tournament."



Match Stats