partypoker.com World Grand Prix Semis

TAYLOR & CHISNALL WIN THROUGH TO CLASH IN DUBLIN FINAL
 

PHIL TAYLOR and Dave Chisnall will compete in the partypoker.com World Grand Prix final on Sunday night, following their semi-final victories over James Wade and Justin Pipe at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin.

Taylor continued his bid for an 11th World Grand Prix victory with an imperious 5-1 defeat of two-time champion James Wade in their last four contest.

The World Champion took the game's first two sets before Wade hit back in the third, but the fourth proved crucial as Taylor punished his opponent for a string of missed starting doubles by taking the set without reply to move 3-1 up.

Taylor then took the next six legs without reply, hitting finishes of 110 and 100 as he sealed his place in the final with an impressive 96.55 average.

"To be in the final is a dream come true," said Taylor. "It would be my 11th title if I can win this and I'm there in the final.

"I feel good and it was a steady performance. I didn't think James came out of the blocks as well as he could have. He showed patches of what he can do but he didn't click."

Chisnall, meanwhile, won through to his first major PDC final with a 5-2 comeback win over Justin Pipe.

Pipe started the better in their semi-final clash by taking the opening set 3-1, with Chisnall levelling by winning the second in the same manner only for the Taunton ace to take the third by the same scoreline.

Chisnall, though, punished missed doubles from Pipe as he took set four 3-1, and he then swept through the fifth without reply to lead for the first time.

Chisnall then took the sixth set 3-1 as he took his tally of 180s for the game to nine, and he added a tenth in the seventh set as he took the first two legs before landing double four to seal a fine comeback and his place in the final.

"I'm over the moon to win that because it was a tough game," said Chisnall. "From the start I wasn't getting off with my starting doubles and I couldn't get a rhythm.

"When I found a rhythm, I started hitting the 180s and that kept me in the game - my doubles were terrible and that's what I'll be practising on tomorrow!

"I've beaten Phil before and I know what I have to do, but it's a different story in a double-start tournament. It's a little bit harder, and I'll work on my game in the practice room on Sunday afternoon.

"It would be wonderful to win this title but I've got another game yet."

Chisnall won both the German Darts Championship European Tour event and a Players Championship in September and reached the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay in his rise to seventh in the world following a slow first half to the year.

"Dave's a cracking player and a lovely lad, and his dedication is unbelievable," added Taylor. "Fair play to him because he's put the effort in, done everything right and he's in the final.

"Since he slipped a little bit, he's worked harder. He's put the effort in and that's why he's reaping the rewards.

"It will be a different type of game in the final because Dave's like another Gary Anderson - if you get him at his best, stay at home! He's exceptional."

A former Lakeside Championship finalist, Chisnall has won eight PDC ProTour titles since joining the PDC circuit in 2011, and admitted that he is happy with his progression into the world's top eight this year.

"My first year was one of my best years and last year was quite good, but I had a bit of a slow start this year," he said.

"I've been practising a bit more ahead of this tournament, I had Wes Newton down for a couple of days and he's a good player and we built from each other. I've pulled through and I'm in the World Grand Prix final now, so I'm happy."

Sunday's partypoker.com World Grand Prix is preceded by the decider of the island's leading domestic event as Connie Finnan plays Colin McGarry in the Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay final.

The winner of the tournament will qualify for the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship in December, with Finnan - who reached the second round of the World Grand Prix earlier this week - looking to repeat his 2011 success in the event.

Tickets are available from the Citywest Hotel by calling 01 401 0500 or in person from 6pm on Sunday.

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Tickets
Tickets for the partypoker.com World Grand Prix are still available by calling the Citywest Hotel on 01 401 0500, or from 6pm on each evening on the door.

partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Semi-Finals
Dave Chisnall 5-2 Justin Pipe - Chisnall Video
Phil Taylor 5-1 James Wade - Taylor Video
Best of nine sets, best of five legs per set, double-start.

Final
Sunday, 7pm
Phil Taylor v Dave Chisnall

Match Information
Dave Chisnall v Justin Pipe
First Set - 1-3 Pipe
Chisnall took the first leg on tops after Pipe missed the bull, but the Taunton ace replied to level on double five and then broke throw by finishing 92 on the bull in leg three. Pipe then hit a 180 in leg four, before landing double ten to take the set.
Second Set - 3-1 Chisnall
Pipe takes advantage of Chisnall's misses to hit double six and win the opening leg, before the St Helens ace took out 101 to level. Chisnall then opened the third leg with 160 and added a 180, and when Pipe miscounted on 129, he finished tops to move 2-1 up before landing another 180 and double 16 to take the set and level.
Third Set - 1-3 Pipe
Pipe hits a 180 and double 16 to win the opening leg, before finishing 84 on the bull to double his advantage. Chisnall replies on double ten, but Pipe lands another maximum and double four to claim the set.
Fourth Set - 3-1 Chisnall
Chisnall struggles to open the first leg, but hits two 180s and capitalises on three misses at double 16 from Pipe by hitting double 12 to win the opener, before the roles are reversed in the second as Pipe lands a 180 and punishes missed doubles from his opponent by hitting ouble eight. Chisnall takes a pivotal third leg by finishing 83 with an improvised single three, double top, double top combination, and then seals the set by landing a 180 and tops.
Fifth Set - 3-0 Chisnall
Chisnall's surge continues as he wins the fifth set without reply, hitting double ten in the opening leg, finishing 80 on tops in the second and capitalising on a Pipe miss at double 16 by winning the third on double ten to move ahead for the first time.
Sixth Set - 3-1 Chisnall
The momentum remains with Chisnall as he hits a 180 and double 16 to win each of the first two legs, although Pipe edges the third after the St Helens man misses three darts to take the set. Chisnall, though, is first to a finish in the fourth and lands double 16 to take a two-set lead.
Seventh Set - 3-0 Chisnall
Chisnall lands double five to win the opening leg, and recovers from missing seven opening doubles in the second by hitting a 180 before punishing three misses from Pipe to land double 18 to move a leg away from the win, which he seals by taking out 68 on double four to reach his first major PDC final.
Click here for Dave Chisnall Video Interview

Match Stats

Phil Taylor v James Wade
First Set - 3-0 Taylor
Taylor makes a strong start by hitting a 180 and double eight to win the first leg, before edging a bizarre second, missing the bull for a 122 finish only to see his treble 18 fall out of the bed, but when Wade misses his chance to level, the World Champion returns to win the leg on double six. The third leg sees Wade hit two 180s and Taylor land a maximum of his own in consecutive visits, but when Wade misses five doubles to hit back, Taylor seals the set on double two.
Second Set - 3-1 Taylor
Wade wins his first leg of the game in the second set's opener as he takes out 121 on the bull, but Taylor opens the second with a 160 score to level, before hitting double five to move 2-1 up and double 16 to take the set.
Third Set - 1-3 Wade
Wade posts double ten to win the third set's opener with a break of throw, before defying Taylor's start to the second of 160 and 140 by finishing 84 on double 12 to take a 2-0 cushion. The pair traded 180s in the third as Taylor hit back on double 12, but Wade added another maximum to leave 20 in the fourth, and when his opponent was unable to finish 126 he steps in to land double ten with his third dart to claim the set.
Fourth Set - 3-1 Taylor
Taylor hits a 180 but is paid for a miss at tops as Wade steps in on double five to win the opening leg, but Taylor levels with a 14-darter before punishing his opponent for struggling with his starting doubles in the next two legs by hitting tops twice to take the set and restore his two-set cushion.
Fifth Set - 3-0 Taylor
Taylor wins the opening leg on double 16, and takes the second in style with a 171 score and a 110 finish of single 20, bullseye and tops, and when Wade misses two darts to take the third leg, the World Champion hits double 16 to win the set and move closer to victory.
Sixth Set - 3-1 Taylor
Taylor finishes double three to win the opening leg and follows a fifth 180 with double six to take the second, with Wade hitting his fifth maximum of the game in leg three only to see Taylor take out 100 to claim the victory.
Click here for Phil Taylor Video Interview

Match Stats