Speedy Services UK Open Quarter-Finals

TAYLOR ENDS VAN GERWEN'S SPEEDY SERVICES UK OPEN HOPES AS BARNEY, HAMILTON & WRIGHT REACH SEMIS

PHIL TAYLOR produced a thrilling performance to knock Michael van Gerwen out of the Speedy Services UK Open on Sunday afternoon, as Raymond van Barneveld, Andy Hamilton and Peter Wright enjoyed quarter-final victories in Bolton.

Taylor gained revenge for last month's loss to the Dutch ace in the McCoy's Premier League Darts final with a sensational performance in a high-quality contest with the world number two.

The four-time UK Open champion averaged 106.56 and hit two 11-dart finishes, with van Gerwen initially coming from 3-1 down to level at five-all before Taylor dominated the game's latter stages.

Taylor produced a key 125 checkout to move 9-6 up, and though van Gerwen briefly threatened a comeback he sealed victory to move into the semi-finals, where he now plays Peter Wright.

"It was a great game and it was one of those games where both of us knew we couldn't afford to miss," said Taylor. "Michael's brilliant and every time you make a mistake he jumps on you, and that's always in the back of your head.

"He's a tough cookie but the only way to beat him is to get out there and play, but maybe he's beginning to think a little bit about the game, which shows the pressure of where is is now.

"The 125 finish was important but I still couldn't shake him off after that. Just to be through is brilliant and I'm in the semis now, and looking forward to tonight."

Van Gerwen said: "I wasn't good enough and Phil deserved to win. I'm devastated.

"I had chances to win but I didn't make it happen. I let myself down, especially at the end of the match when I didn't take advantage of Phil. I needed to step in when Phil loosened up, but I didn't do that and I blame myself for it.

"The 125 gave him a massive boost and it made it very hard for me after that."

Lowestoft's Wright won through to his first major semi-final by continuing his brilliant weekend with a fine 10-6 win over world number three Adrian Lewis.

Wright won seven successive legs as he took an 8-1 lead against the double World Champion, and he also moved 9-2 up, with Lewis taking four legs in a row to threaten a comeback before the Scottish World Cup representative sealed an impressive win.

"I'm really happy to be in the semi-finals," said Wright. "It was a good win but I slipped up a bit after the first legs and lost my concentration a bit.

"Maybe I was thinking about possibly beating a double World Champion 10-2, and I had to get my focus back and not panic, so it's good to get the job done."

He added: "I lost to Michael van Gerwen in the World Championship last year and it taught me a lot. I knew I had to change things because I want to be winning things and getting up into the top four, instead of being happy with being 20-odd in the world.

"I want to be up there with the rest of the guys and I've put a lot of work in to get here. To win this now would be great, but I'll take one leg at a time tonight!"

Van Barneveld, the 2006 and 2007 UK Open champion, showed his class with a battling performance as he defeated Ronnie Baxter 10-9 in an epic quarter-final.

Baxter came from 3-0 down to win five successive legs as he took the lead, and finished 121 as he moved 7-4 up, but van Barneveld - aided by a trio of 180s - clawed his way back into the game to lead 9-8.

Baxter - who hit eight 180s - forced a deciding leg, but missed one dart for the match to allow van Barneveld to edge into the semis.

"I'm delighted to win such a great game," said van Barneveld. "Ronnie was awesome, he played some fantastic darts and it was probably one of the best performances of his career.

"Things were going well early on when I was 3-0 up, but I kept missing doubles and found myself 5-3 down. But Ronnie let me back in and I managed to take my chance - and I never gave up."

Van Barneveld now faces Andy Hamilton in the semis, after the Stoke ace enjoyed a superb 10-8 win over two-time UK Open champion James Wade.

Hamilton trailed 3-1 early in the game, but hit four ton-plus checkouts and a key 84 bullseye finish as he moved into his first UK Open semi-final.

"It was a superb game and it came down to who hit their finishes in the end," said Hamilton. "We were pretty even with scoring but the ton-plus finishes benefitted me - although it was an 84 finish, on the bull, to go 9-8 up which won me the match.

"I'll stay relaxed and do everything right to get myself ready for the semi-finals, and I'm ready for anything!"

Sunday evening's semi-finals will be followed by the final of the £200,000 event, with a £40,000 first prize on offer to the champion.

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Speedy Services UK Open
Sunday Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 10-9 Ronnie Baxter
Andy Hamilton 10-8 James Wade
Phil Taylor 10-7 Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright 10-6 Adrian Lewis
Best of 19 legs

Semi-Finals (7.30pm)
Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor v Peter Wright

Match Information
Raymond van Barneveld v Ronnie Baxter
0-0 - van Barnveld wins the bull and throws first
1-0 - The Dutchman lands an 80 finish with his opponent waiting on double eight to hold throw.
2-0 - Baxter kicks-off with a 180 only for van Barneveld to reply with a maximum of his own. Baxter is off-target with two attempts at double 16 and van Barneveld hits double four to break.
3-0 - van Barneveld hits double two to move further ahead of Baxter.
3-1 - Baxter hits scores of 140, 180 and 145 before landing double nine to complete an clinical 11-dart finish.
3-2 - Baxter hits a 174 to forge ahead but misses six darts at doubles. However, van Barneveld is off-target with two darts at double top and Baxter lands double one to break back.
3-3 - van Barneveld domintates the sixth leg with a trio of 140 scores but five missed darts at doubles sees Baxter land double 16 to level.
3-4 - van Barneveld's woes on the doubles continue as two missed darts at double 18 allows Baxter to win a fourth leg in a row.
3-5 - The Blackpool ace lands double eight to continue the winning run of legs.
4-5 - Baxter fires in a 180 but van Barneveld wins the leg in just 13-darts to stop the rot.
4-6 - Baxter records an 11-dart finish for the second time in the match to restore his two leg advantage.
4-7 - Baxter converts a 121 checkout on double 14 to complete a 12-dart finish.
5-7 - van Barneveld wins the 12th leg against the darts thanks to a 76 finish.
6-7 - The Dutchman lands back-to-back 180s before hitting double top to reduce the deficit to one leg.
6-8 - van Barneveld hits the wire of double 16 for a 132 checkout and Baxter lands a crucial 93 finish to move two legs clear.
7-8 - The tension grows as Baxter lets four chances at doubles slip away and van Barneveld lands double four to keep in the hunt.
8-8 - van Barneveld shows his class as he lands double eight to complete an excellent 13-darter to level.
9-8 - van Barneveld defies scores of 180 and 177 from Baxter as he hits double top to go a leg away from victory.
9-9 - van Barneveld misses one dart at double 16 to win the match and Baxter lands double one to set up a last leg decider.
10-9 - Baxter leaves 70 after 12-darts thrown but one dart at double 16 fails to hit the target and the Dutchman hits double eight to win a nail-biting contest.

Match Stats

Andy Hamilton v James Wade
0-0 - Hamilton wins the bull and throws first
1-0 - Hamilton starts the match confidently by taking the first leg with a clinical 111 checkout.
1-1 - Wade replies with a 104 finish to level the game.
1-2 - Two missed darts at double top from Hamilton sees Wade land his favourite double ten to secure the first break of throw.
1-3 - Wade records an excellent 13-dart finish on tops to move two legs clear of his opponent.
2-3 - Hamilton hits double 16 at the first time of asking to win the fifth leg in just 14-darts.
3-3 - The Stoke ace converts an excellent 118 checkout to square the game at three apiece.
4-3 - Hamilton hits a third ton-plus checkout of the contest as he takes out 100 to win a third leg in a row.
5-3 - Hamilton takes out 52 in two-darts on double 16 to keep the winning run of legs going.
5-4 - Both players hit 180s before Wade lands double ten to break after Hamilton misses two chances to win a fifth leg in a row.
5-5 - Wade hits double top thanks to an accurate third dart to level the game at five all.
6-5 - Hamilton excellent finishing continues as he takes out 112 with his opponent waiting on a two-darter to edge ahead.
6-6 - Wade holds throw with a clinical two-dart 81 finish.
7-6 - Hamilton kicks-off with scores of 180 and 140 before going on to claim the leg in just 12-darts.
7-7 - The world number four lets six chances to win the leg slip away before landing double one with a pressure third dart.
8-7 - Hamilton hits double 16 to complete an impressive 14-dart finish.
8-8 - Wade hits a fifth maximum of the game before landing double five to set up a tense finale.
9-8 - One missed dart at tops from Wade proves costly as Hamilton hits the bullseye to take out a crucial 84 finish.
10-8 - Wade's two attempts at double top land above the target and the Stoke star lands double ten with his third dart to reach the UK Open semi-finals for the first time.

Match Stats

Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen
0-0 - van Gerwen wins the bull and throws first
0-1 - van Gerwen hits a brace of 140 scores in a 13-dart finish to take an early lead.
1-1 - Taylor hits the first 180 of the match and lands double 16 at the first time of asking for a fabulous 11-darter.
2-1 - Taylor strikes the first blow as he lands double 16 with his third dart to convert a 92 finish and break throw.
3-1 - One missed dart at double top from the Dutchman proves costly as Taylor takes out 72 to establish a two leg advantage.
3-2 - The Dutch superstar lands double five thanks to an accuarte third dart with Taylor waiting on a two-darter.
4-2 - The superb standard continues as Taylor hits a 13-dart finish to regain his two leg lead.
4-3 - Both stars kick-off with maximums before van Gerwen adds another. The Dutchman misses two darts at doubles to win the leg only for Taylor to do the same and van Gerwen nicks the leg on double four.
5-3 - Taylor hits a clinical two-dart 84 finish to complete a fabulous 11-darter.
5-4 - van Gerwen keeps up with relentless from pace his opponent as he kicks-off with scores of 180 and 140 before winning the leg in just 14-darts.
5-5 - The Dutch superstar hits a brace of 140 scores to leave 24 after just 12-darts thrown. Taylor's succumbs to the pressure as he misses one dart at double 16 and van Gerwen hits double 12 at the first attempt.
6-5 - Taylor puts the disappointment of the previous leg behind him as he hits a trio of 140 scores followed a two-dart 81 finish for a superb 11-dart finish.
6-6 - Taylor fails with three attempts at double 11 and van Gerwen lands double nine to break back immediately.
7-6 - Taylor hits a 177 to leave 53 which he takes out thanks to an accurate third dart at tops.
8-6 - The world number one hits double top for a second leg running to edge further ahead of his opponent.
9-6 - Taylor records a 125 checkout to break van Gerwen's throw for a fourth time and go a leg away from a semi-final spot.
9-7 - van Gerwen continues to fight and hits double top for a 13-dart finish and break Taylor's throw.
10-7 - The Dutch ace dominates the leg with scores of 140, 140 and 125 but three missed darts at double 18 prove expensive as Taylor lands double four with his third dart to end van Gerwen's hopes of a first UK Open title.

Match Stats

Peter Wright v Adrian Lewis
0-0 - Peter Wright wins the bull and throws first
1-0 - Wright starts confidently as he lands double top at the first attempt to hold throw.
1-1 - Lewis defies a 180 from Wright to level the game by hitting double 18 for a 14-dart finish.
2-1 - Wright converts an 89 finish thanks to an accurate third dart at double 19.
3-1 - Wright records a 124 checkout to break Lewis' throw in style.
4-1 - Both players miss three opportunties to win the fifth leg before Wright claims it double one to continue his excellent start.
5-1 - Wright hits scores of 180 and 177 and two missed darts at doubles from Lewis allows the Scotsman to hit double ten and move four legs ahead.
6-1 - Wright fires in a second maximum in as many legs before converting a clinical 90 finish.
7-1 - Lewis dominates the leg with scores of 180 and 171 but six missed darts at doubles are costly as Wright lands double four to break his opponent's throw for a third time.
8-1 - Lewis leaves 40 after 12-darts thrown but Wright hits a 96 finish to continue his fabulous form.
8-2 - Lewis hits a fifth 180 and goes on to land double ten to stop Wright's winning run.
9-2 - Wright moves a leg away from victory as he hits double 16 at the first time of asking for a 13-darter.
9-3 - Both players hit maximums before Lewis wins the leg in just 14-darts.
9-4 - Lewis takes out 76 in two-darts after Wright was just off-target with a dart at bullseye for the match.
9-5 - The two-time World Champion wins a third leg in a row as he lands a 62 finish with Wright waiting on a two-darter.
9-6 - Lewis breaks throw again as he lands double ten after Wright is off-target with two more chances to win the match.
10-6 - Lewis' attempt at tops for a 114 checkout falls below the target and Wright steps up to hit the same bed to claim a famous win.

Match Stats