BetVictor World Matchplay Night Seven

BIG HITTERS LEWIS & VAN GERWEN REACH BETVICTOR WORLD MATCHPLAY SEMI-FINALS
 

HEAVY-SCORING Adrian Lewis and Michael van Gerwen will clash in the BetVictor World Matchplay semi-finals on Saturday night following brilliant victories against Andy Hamilton and Dave Chisnall at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Recent European Champion Lewis booked his place in a third World Matchplay semi-final with an amazing 19-17 tie-break defeat of Hamilton, edging through the closest of contests.

Hamilton led 13-10 at one stage and hit a 170 finish in the game, but Lewis hit back to level, posted a 161 finish of his own and took his tally of 180s to 13 in the contest before taking the game's final three legs to claim victory.

Van Gerwen, meanwhile, hit 14 maximums and averaged 102.29 in a superb 16-11 win over Dave Chisnall, who landed ten 180s in reply but was unable to prevent the Dutchman reaching his first World Matchplay semi-final.

With reigning champion Phil Taylor and 2007 Winter Gardens winner James Wade due to clash in the other semi-final, the world's top four ranked players will be competing for the right to contest Sunday's semi-final in Blackpool.

Hamilton tried his hardest to prevent that line-up, producing a typically determined display in his all-Stoke battle with Lewis as he maintained his record of appearing in every major ranking quarter-final for 12 months.

He landed four 180s in the game's opening four legs, and came from 4-3 down to lead with checkouts of 170 and 127 in successive legs, only for Lewis to reply with a showpiece 100 checkout which featured two double tops.

Lewis also went on to lead 7-6 after posting his seventh 180 of the game, but Hamilton then took the next four legs to move himself into command.

He would retain that cushion until Lewis, trailing 13-10, found an extra gear to finish 96, break throw with an 11-darter and land double four to take three successive legs and level.

Hamilton stopped that run with a 101 checkout, and Lewis - despite hitting three maximums in as many legs, to take his tally to 13 for the game, and a sensational 161 finish - was unable to secure a break of throw as the match headed into a tie-break with the UK Open finalist holding a slender 17-16 lead.

Lewis, though, finished 53 to level, and seized his chance in the 35th leg when Hamilton missed one dart at double 16 to finish 64, allowing the world number three in to take out 78 in two darts to finally break and move 18-17 up.

He then powered in a 174 score to leave 86, and took out the finish in two darts to seal victory in a remarkable contest.

"It was an amazing game and I'm so happy to have come through it," said Lewis. "I really had to dig in and it was blow for blow all the way through the match - there didn't deserve to be a loser in a game as great as that.

"We always seem to have good games and that's the best. Andy was solid like he always is and you have to be consistent to stay with him.

"His 170 was great and it rocked me for three or four legs after that, and in the same way my 161 was massive for me. When I got level at the end I couldn't seem to break him, but he missed one dart at double 16 and I knew that was my chance on 78 and I took it.

"I still gave myself a scare in the last leg when I needed 86 and I hit the treble 18 because I dropped a dart so I only had one in my hand - luckily the double 16 went in for me!"

Hamilton admitted: "Although I'm really disappointed to lose, I'm happy with how I played. It was a great battle and we put a great show on for the crowd.

"When I took out the 170 it was a big shot and it gave me a great opportunity to win the game, but it was nip and tuck all the way through and Adrian came strong at the end."

World number two van Gerwen, meanwhile, secured his first World Matchplay semi-final place in style by defeating Chisnall 16-11 in the night's final game.

The pair kicked off the match in superb form, as van Gerwen took out 105 and legs of 14 and 13 darts in holding a 3-2 lead before Chisnall took the next three, hitting 180s in legs of 11 and 13 darts as he broke before finishing 112 to move 5-3 up.

However, Chisnall would miss doubles in the next two legs as van Gerwen finished 110 and double eight to level, before taking out 75 to put himself back in front at 6-5.

Chisnall levelled, but van Gerwen took four of the next five legs as he moved into a 10-7 lead in the game, hitting a 12-darter, three more 180s and a 171 score in the run.

Chisnall stemmed the tide before taking out a brilliant 144 checkout as he hit back to 11-9, only for van Gerwen to find an extra gear at the right time - with back-to-back 11-darters pulling him clear and also seeing him set up a possible nine-darter.

Van Gerwen added another 180 in a 12-darter to lead 14-9, and after Chisnall replied with his ninth maximum the Dutchman finished double eight to move a leg away from victory.

Chisnall kept his hopes alive with a superb 11-darter and hit another maximum in the next leg, but crucially missed double top and van Gerwen stepped in to secure his semi-final place on double ten.

"I'm very happy to be in the semi-finals and pleased with my performance," said van Gerwen. "I didn't have a great start to the game and I wasn't as focused as normal, but I came through it well.

"My doubles were great and I hit lots of 180s, but I didn't think I played as well as the stats say, so I want to improve on that in the semi-finals.

"Adrian's a great player and he's won the last two games we've had, but I want to put that right on Saturday. I'm doing very well and I can make it very difficult for him.

"We're both playing well, we like each other's pace and it will be an exciting game. To have the best four players in the world in the semi-finals is brilliant and it promises to be amazing."

Chisnall had won through to his first World Matchplay quarter-final with wins over Paul Nicholson and Jamie Caven, but admitted: "I think I played quite well, but I let Michael in too much.

"I could have gone 7-3 up but I missed doubles and all of a sudden it was five-all, and that starts to play on your mind a bit. I gave him loads of chances and you can't afford to do that.

"I'm happy with reaching the quarter-finals and my last two games were really good. I feel confident, I'm happy with my form and hopefully I can take that into the rest of the year."

Taylor and van Gerwen remain locked as the joint favourites at 11/8 to win the title with sponsors BetVictor, with Lewis 6/1 to win his first World Matchplay title and Wade 9/1 to repeat his 2007 success.

Taylor is 1/5 favourite to win his semi-final against Wade, who is 7/2 to reach a sixth Winter Gardens in eight years, while van Gerwen is 2/7 favourite to take victory against Lewis, who is an 11/4 chance of reaching his first Blackpool final.

BetVictor are also offering odds of 8/15 on a Taylor-van Gerwen final, with 6/4 for either Wade or Lewis to be in the decider.

TV Coverage
The BetVictor World Matchplay will be screened live in the following areas:
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RTL7 in the Netherlands
Sport1 in Germany
OSN across the Middle East
FOX SPORTS Australia
Sky New Zealand
LIVEPDC.TV - live for International Pass Subscribers, highlights for all subscribers

Live Scores
Follow Live Scores from the BetVictor World Matchplay through the PDC Live Scores website at http://live.dartsdata.com/

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Join in the conversation during the BetVictor World Matchplay through the PDC's Social Media channels:
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BetVictor World Matchplay
Quarter-Finals
Friday July 26
Andy Hamilton (6) 17-19 Adrian Lewis (3) - Lewis Video  - Hamilton Video
Michael van Gerwen (2) 16-11 Dave Chisnall (10) - van Gerwen Video - Chisnall Video

Best of 31 legs.
Must be won by two clear legs, with tie-break to maximum of five additional legs before sudden-death leg is played at 18-18.

Match Information
Andy Hamilton v Adrian Lewis
0-0 - Andy Hamilton wins the bull and throws first.
0-1 - Lewis hits a 180 and posts double 12 to break in the opening leg with a 13-darter.
1-1 - Hamilton opens with a maximum and hits double 16 to break back.
1-2 - Lewis posts his second 180 of the game - with Hamilton then landing two, leaving himself with four points, only to see the European Champion finish a 12-darter to break once more.
2-2 - Hamilton opens with a 180 - his third successive maximum - and capitalises on six missed doubles from Lewis across three visits by posting double eight to level.
3-2 - Hamilton finishes double 16 to move ahead, with both players above 100 average.
3-3 - Lewis hits a 180 to leave 83, and when Hamilton misses three darts at doubles he steps in to win the leg on tops.
3-4 - Lewis breaks throw again to put himself back ahead.
4-4 - Lewis fires a 180 and leaves himself on tops - only for Hamilton to level with a sensational 170 checkout.
5-4 - Hamilton finishes 127 on double eight to put himself back into the lead.
5-5 - Lewis takes out 100 with two double tops to level once again.
6-5 - Lewis kicks off with a 180, but Hamilton finishes 76 on double four to edge back ahead.
6-6 - Lewis opens once again with a maximum, before finishing double four to level.
6-7 - Lewis posts his seventh 180 of the game, and when Hamilton is unable to wrap up the leg he breaks on double nine.
7-7 - Hamilton this time lands double nine for a big let-off - with Lewis needing 78 but missing the single 20 to leave tops.
8-7 - Hamilton finishes tops to move back ahead as the lead changes hands for a fifth time in the game!
9-7 - Hamilton takes out 70 to move two legs clear for the first time.
10-7 - The UK Open runner-up finishes double four with his third dart to continue his charge with a fourth successive leg.
10-8 - Lewis kicks off the leg with a maximum and finishes double four to hit back.
11-8 - Lewis yet again opens with a 180 - his ninth of the game - before Hamilton lands a maximum in reply, with the world number three missing the bull for an 87 finish to break as Hamilton holds on double 16.
11-9 - Double top sees Lewis reply.
12-9 - Hamilton finishes double 18 to move four legs away from a semi-final spot.
12-10 - Double eight sees Lewis win his tenth leg of the game.
13-10 - Hamilton lands a 180 and finishes double 16 to regain his cushion/
13-11 - Lewis hits back by taking out 96 in two darts.
13-12 - Lewis fires in a 177 before finishing tops to break throw with a sublime 11-darter.
13-13 - Lewis levels the game in a dramatic leg, initially missing his chance on doubles before Hamilton misses two darts at double 18, allowing the two-time World Champion to finish double four.
14-13 - Hamilton takes out 101 on double 16 for his third ton-plus checkout of the game.
14-14 - Lewis finishes 85 on double eight to level once more.
15-14 - Lewis kicks off the leg with a 180 - his 11th - and 140, but misses a second dart at double top when needing 100, and Hamilton pins double 12 to avoid a break of throw and move a leg away from the win.
15-15 - Lewis sends the game into a tie-break by finishing tops.
16-15 - Lewis hits his 13th maximum, but misses darts at the bull - for a 164 checkout - and two at double 16, and Hamilton finishes 65 on tops to edge back ahead.
16-16 - Lewis takes out a stunning 161 checkout to level once more.
17-16 - Hamilton hits his seventh 180 of the game, and takes out 70 to edge himself back to the brink of victory.
17-17 - Lewis finishes 53 on tops to level the game - could we be heading for our first sudden-death leg of the week?
17-18 - Hamilton misses one dart at double 16 to take out 64, and Lewis takes out 78 in two darts to lead for the first time since the 13th leg - putting himself a leg away from the semis.
17-19 - Lewis hits a brilliant 174 to leave 86, and finishes the combination in two darts to claim an amazing win.
Click here for Adrian Lewis Video Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page
Click here for Andy Hamilton Video Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
0-0 - Michael van Gerwen wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - van Gerwen kicks off the game with a 180, before winning the opening leg on double five.
1-1 - The number two seed adds a second maximum, but Chisnall levels on tops.
2-1 - Chisnall hits his first 180, but misses tops to allow van Gerwen in with a 105 finish.
2-2 - Tops sees Chisnall level in leg four.
3-2 - van Gerwen hits a 180 and double 16 for a 13-darter to edge back ahead.
3-3 - Chisnall hits a 180 and finishes double 16 to square the game.
3-4 - Chisnall repeats the maximum and the winning double as he breaks throw for the first time.
3-5 - Chisnall takes out 112 to move two legs clear.
4-5 - Chisnall misses three darts at doubles to break once more, and van Gerwen takes out 110 on double 18 to hit back.
5-5 - van Gerwen lands a fourth 180 of the game, and when Chisnall misses one dart at double 16 to win the leg, the Dutchman posts double eight to level.
6-5 - van Gerwen finishes 75 on tops to move back ahead.
6-6 - Chisnall finishes 54 on tops to square the game, despite van Gerwen landing a maximum.
7-6 - van Gerwen hits another 180 and takes out 68 on tops to edge back in front.
8-6 - The Dutchman lands a 180 for a third successive leg, and breaks throw by finishing 84 on double six.
8-7 - Chisnall posts double ten to break back.
9-7 - Chisnall lands a 180, but van Gerwen lands a 171 in reply and breaks on double top.
10-7 - The pair trade 180s and van Gerwen lands tops again to move three legs clear.
10-8 - The duo once more trade 180s, with the Dutchman missing tops to allow Chisnall in on double eight.
11-8 - van Gerwen hits another 180 and posts double ten to restore his cushion
11-9 - Chisnall lands a 180 and finishes 144 to complete a fine 12-darter.
12-9 - van Gerwen takes out 96 to regain his cushion.
13-9 - van Gerwen opens with two 180s, with Chisnall replying with a maximum before the Dutch ace recovers from missing out on a nine-darter to win the leg in 11 darts on double nine.
14-9 - van Gerwen piles in another 180 and finishes 76 to pull five legs clear.
14-10 - Chisnall hits his ninth 180 of the game as he hits back.
15-10 - van Gerwen finishes double eight to mve one leg away from victory.
15-11 - van Gerwen hits a 14th maximum of the game, but Chisnall lands an 11-dart finish to stay in the hunt.
16-11 - Chisnall hits a tenth 180, but is unable to hit tops to continue his fightback and van Gerwen hits double ten for a 14-darter to secure his first BetVictor World Matchplay semi-final place.
Click here to see Michael van Gerwen Video Interview at the OfficialPDC YouTube Page
Click here to see Dave Chisnall Video Interview at the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats