ANDERSON WINS ALL-AUSTRALIAN BATTLE AS TAYLOR HITS TOP GEAR IN SYDNEY
KYLE ANDERSON produced the biggest win of his career as he powered past Simon Whitlock 8-3 in the TAB.com.au Sydney Darts Masters, while Phil Taylor hit top gear at the Hordern Pavilion and Stephen Bunting and James Wade joined them in the semi-finals.
New Australian superstar Anderson followed up Thursday's superb first round comeback win over Raymond van Barneveld by knocking out his country's most successful darts player, Whitlock, with another thrilling performance.
Anderson punished missed doubles from Whitlock to win the game's first two legs before taking out 112 for a 3-0 lead as he delighted the capacity Hordern Pavilion crowd.
Anderson also finished 108 as Whitlock found his way into the game by winning three of the next four legs to close the gap to 4-3 - but crucially missed his chance to level in the eighth leg.
The sport's first indigenous professional, Anderson pounced on double seven to lead 5-3, traded 180s with Whitlock before pegging double 16 in the next and then took out double top in successive legs as he completed the greatest night of his career to date.
"It feels brilliant," said Anderson. "It's the most significant win of my career so far.
"I knew that I had to start well tonight because Simon's a great player, but he missed a few doubles in the opening couple of legs and I took mine, and I just ran with it from there.
"Once I got the first couple of legs I didn't want to let him back in. He got a couple of legs but I kept it going and went all the way."
Anderson now faces the sport's greatest ever player, reigning Sydney Darts Masters champion Phil Taylor, in Saturday's semi-finals and is relishing the chance to take on the world number two a year on from their meeting in the first round of this event.
"I'm here to win, and let's hope that I can go all the way tomorrow night, but it will be very special regardless of the result," added the 26-year-old. "I played Phil last year but I didn't play well enough, but this is another night.
"Phil's on fire, so I've got to step my game up. He's a great player and I've just got to take my shots when they come.
"Now I'm in the semi-finals against Phil Taylor, anything could happen!"
Taylor produced the tournament's most outstanding display so far as he averaged 110 in a stunning 8-2 win over Dave Chisnall, who hit four 180s and averaged 101 in reply.
However, missed doubles in two of the first three legs from Chisnall were punished as Taylor opened with a 121 finish and back-to-back 12-dart legs, before trading 180s with his opponent in leg three.
An 83 finish gave reigning champion Taylor a 3-0 lead and he extended that to four legs on double ten, before Chisnall posted a maximum in a 13-darter as he got off the mark.
The pair traded double eight finishes in the next two legs, before Taylor hit the same bed once more as he opened up a 6-2 cushion - and he sealed victory in clinical style with back-to-back 128 checkouts for 12-dart legs.
Taylor's end average was 110.36, while he also hit eight doubles from ten attempts in a superb performance.
"I'm delighted to get through that game," said Taylor. "Dave kept fighting back and you can't afford to let him off the hook, and I was trying my socks off tonight.
"I'm here to win the tournament and somebody's going to have to play very well to beat me. It's a new day tomorrow and I can't wait for it."
Taylor was given another rapturous reception by the packed Sydney crowd, and he added: "I love Sydney but this was special - I never thought I'd come to Australia and see crowds like this. It's the biggest fancy dress party I've ever been to!"
James Wade followed up Thursday's 6-1 win over Shane Tichowitsch with another strong display of finishing as he overcame Warren Parry 8-2, with the New Zealand number one unable to repeat the heroics of his first round comeback against Michael van Gerwen.
Wade won the game's first five legs, with four double top finishes accompanied by a bullseye checkout before Parry was given a dart at a double, as he took out tops to get off the mark.
Wade finished double ten and tops to move 7-1 up before Parry took out 120 to stay in the hunt, but the world number six was in no mood to allow another comeback as double six sealed his semi-final spot against Bunting.
"It was a steady performance," said Wade, who finished 44% of his chances at a double. "I knew what I needed to do to win and I did that tonight, and I was fortunate enough that Warren didn't take all his opportunities.
"I haven't been pushed yet, but I've not played any players yet that can push me and that possibly could be a little bit of a disadvantage on Saturday.
"However, the way I'm playing at the moment - even though I've lost twice to Michael van Gerwen in the last two weeks - I think there's only one player who's better than me in the world of darts, and that's Phil Taylor.
"I'm not really worried about anyone else. I know I can get into a gallop where nobody can beat me, and I've got a lot of self-belief at the moment, but you've got to play how you can.
"My first target is getting past Stephen, though. We played a lot of times when we were younger and it was quite even, and it should be a good game in the semis."
Bunting, meanwhile, continued his fine debut in the PDC's World Series of Darts with an 8-6 win over Peter Wright in a tight tussle.
Although Wright hit an 11-dart leg as he led 2-1 early on, Bunting took three legs in a row to lead 4-2, and though his opponent hit back twice to level a series of key missed doubles cost the world number five dearly.
Wright missed double eight in two successive legs as Bunting moved 7-5 up, and though he posted double 18 to hit back in the next, the St Helens ace finished the same checkout as he sealed his semi-final spot.
"I finished the better and that was the telling factor in the end," said Bunting. "I was nervous again because it was a massive crowd but they gave us both great support.
"It's about trying to keep your composure up there, but I know I've got the game to come through any situation. If I play my game I believe I can go on and win this tournament."
The TAB.com.au Sydney Darts Masters concludes on Saturday with the semi-finals and final in one decisive session at the Hordern Pavilion.
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TAB.com.au Sydney Darts Masters
Friday August 29 (8pm local time)
Quarter-Finals
Peter Wright 6-8 Stephen Bunting
Warren Parry 2-8 James Wade
Phil Taylor 8-2 Dave Chisnall
Simon Whitlock 3-8 Kyle Anderson
Best of 15 legs
Tickets: 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
Saturday August 30 (8pm local time)
Semi-Finals
James Wade v Stephen Bunting
Phil Taylor v Kyle Anderson
Best of 19 legs
Final
Wade/Bunting v Taylor/Anderson
Best of 21 legs
Tickets: 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au