VAN GERWEN EDGES ALL-DUTCH THRILLER IN UNIBET MASTERS
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN showed his World Champion qualities to win a final-leg thriller against Raymond van Barneveld in The Unibet Masters on Saturday night, as Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor and James Wade delighted the Scottish crowd at the Royal Highland Centre.
Van Gerwen travelled to Edinburgh having won the World Grand Prix and European Championship titles in the past month, but looked set to crash out in the first round against his Dutch rival when van Barneveld took leads of 5-2 and 9-7.
The world number one took out a 13-darter and double top to level the game at nine-all, and then scored an outstanding 134, 180 and 171 in the decider to leave 16 after nine darts.
Van Barneveld had replied to his opponent's 180 with a maximum of his own and left 42 after nine darts, but could only watch on as van Gerwen finished double eight with his third dart as he edged to victory.
Both players ended the contest with averages above 100, with van Barneveld hitting eight 180s in defeat to his rival, with van Gerwen admitting: "It was a great game and it's a big relief to win.
"Raymond put me under pressure throughout the game and I never felt comfortable. I was a bit nervous today and I missed too many doubles, and I made it hard work today.
"I wasn't great today but I'm through to tomorrow and it's another day."
Reigning champion Taylor, meanwhile, posted the highest average of the first round of 110.05 as he defeated Wes Newton 10-4 with an ominous display.
The 54-year-old had, though, travelled to Edinburgh without packing his shoes, but after borrowing a pair from a PDC official went on to produce a heavy-scoring performance.
Taylor landed three early 13-darters as he took a 3-1 advantage, and also finished 127 and a two-dart 81 checkout on his way to a 6-3 lead.
Newton hit back with his fifth 180 of the game and double four, but Taylor took the next four legs without reply to seal victory in emphatic style.
"I've not had the best preparation recently so I'm just happy to get the win," said Taylor. "My mum's been in hospital and darts has come second, but she's back home now and it's a huge relief.
"It's been an eye-opener for me and my family comes first, but I've been able to concentrate on my darts today and to play so well was great for me. Maybe the borrowed shoes were a lucky omen - I'll have to keep them on Sunday!"
Scottish ace Gary Anderson progressed to face Taylor in a tasty quarter-final match-up on Sunday afternoon as he averaged 104.49 in his 10-7 defeat of Andy Hamilton.
Anderson hit five 180s and a 114 finish as he moved into an 8-5 lead over Hamilton, who replied with two 11-darters only to see the former Premier League champion secure victory in style with a ten-dart finish.
With Robert Thornton and Peter Wright being knocked out earlier on Saturday, Anderson is the sole Scot left flying the flag at the Edinburgh event in the last eight.
"After Robert and Peter went out the pressure was on me, so I'm relieved and happy to get through!" admitted Anderson.
"Andy was scoring well but there was one leg where he missed five darts at a double to level at five-all and that gave me some breathing space and I managed to get the job done.
"I'm enjoying my darts again and looking forward to Sunday. It will be nice to play Phil Taylor up in Scotland for the first time."
James Wade was the evening session's other winner with a 10-5 defeat of Brendan Dolan, for whom a 141 finish was not enough as the left-hander took five of the game's final six legs to seal victory, taking out 107 and 101 in the process of a clinical display.
"It's a good win for me and I'm very happy," said Wade. "Brendan's a tough player to face and I didn't think that I played as well as I did, so it's very positive.
"Finishing has always been a strong point in my game and I was happy with how I finished in this game. I'm happy at the moment and that's showing in my game."
Earlier, Ayrshire's former UK Open champion Thornton suffered a 10-8 defeat to Dave Chisnall as he saw his hopes of glory on home soil in Scotland dashed.
Thornton held early leads of 4-2 and 5-4, but Chisnall followed an earlier 121 checkout by finishing 140 to level and took out 114 to move into a lead he would never relinquish.
The St Helens thrower ended the game with a high-quality average of just under 100 after hitting 26 scores of 140 or more in the contest as he moved through to the quarter-finals.
"I'm delighted with the win," said Chisnall, who now faces van Gerwen. "The big checkouts were great and it was good to see them go in today because sometimes my doubles can let me down.
"I've had games before where I've hit loads of 180s and lost, but if you can keep hitting 140s and take out your finishes it makes the difference and I took my chances when Robert gave me them."
Lothian-born world number four Wright, meanwhile, went down 10-7 to Justin Pipe as the Taunton thrower dominated their clash.
An 86 finish on the bull from Pipe set the tone as he won the first five legs without reply, with Wright hitting back to 6-4 and 7-5 at one stage.
However, the World Championship finalist was punished for missed doubles in two of the next three legs as Pipe pulled clear at 9-5 before holding off a brief rally to seal the win with a 100.40 average.
"I'm really happy with that," said Pipe. "It's fantastic to beat Peter - he's the number four in the world and tough to beat at the best of times but even more so in Scotland.
"I should have wrapped it up before I did, but he kept coming back at me and did well to come back from 5-0 down.
"It was a great game to start off with and to average 100 is really good - hopefully I can keep it up on Sunday. We're all looking to hit 100 averages and to maintain it on the big stage, so I'm quite pleased with that.
"People write me off a little bit on the big stage but you can't play as well as I do in the floor tournaments without it coming through on stage eventually, and when it does I'll be up there."
Wright had also suffered a first round defeat in The Masters last year, and admitted: "Being 5-0 down didn't help and I was chasing Justin all the time.
"I couldn't find the pitch for the first ten legs or so, and I changed my darts halfway through the game to try and fix it, but Justin deserved to win - he was hitting everything and I wasn't.
"The crowd made an amazing atmosphere and the hairs were standing up on the back of my neck and my arms were tingling. I thank them for their support because they were great and they nearly got me there, but not quite.
"I'll put this behind me and it's done and dusted, and I'll have to focus now on the Grand Slam of Darts next weekend."
Two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis kicked off his match with Kim Huybrechts with a ten-dart leg which featured seven perfect darts and two 180s before he booked his quarter-final place with a 10-4 victory,
Huybrechts hit back strongly from a 2-0 deficit to lead 3-2, but Lewis won the next three legs to hit the front and then took six legs in a row as he powered through.
"I started the game brilliantly but Kim punished me and moved himself ahead," said Lewis, who meets Wade on Sunday afternoon. "I got on a roll in the second half of the game but it was hard today.
"He's a very difficult player to beat, a very good scorer and finisher and he has a good pace but it wasn't his day. My practice is going well and I think I've got the form to do well this weekend.
"The crowd were supporting me today and it was a great atmosphere - they were cheering me!"
Huybrechts later revealed that he had pledged to compete in the event despite his mother undergoing cancer surgery in Belgium on Friday, and said: "I gave it my all but it was hard because my mum is in intensive care and I was thinking of her.
"The doctors said it was a good operation but her blood pressure was low so they had to keep her in intensive care for two nights.
"Everyone wants to win, but this means nothing right now. I don't want to use it as an excuse and I practiced well, but my mind wasn't here."
Mervyn King was the afternoon session's other winner, as he saw off Simon Whitlock 10-7 to move through to a quarter-final against Pipe.
Whitlock came from 2-1 down early on to lead 4-2, only to see King take the next five legs to swing the game back in his favour.
The Australian cut the game to 8-6 and 9-7, but was unable to continue his fightback as King posted double top to move through to the last eight.
"I'm really pleased with that win," said King. "Once I got my nose in front, there was no turning back.
"It's always hard against Simon. He's a great player who isn't number five in the world for no reason, but he had a bad day and I got away with it. I'm not at the top of my form, but I'm managing to get the results."
The £160,000, ITV4-televised tournament concludes on Sunday, with the quarter-finals being held in the afternoon session and the semi-finals and final taking place in the evening session.
Van Gerwen is now the 6/4 favourite to lift the title on Sunday night with sponsors Unibet, who make Taylor the 11/4 second favourite, Wade 17/2 to claim victory and both Lewis and Anderson at 9/1.
Chisnall is an 18/1 shot to take victory, with King and Pipe the 22/1 outsiders. Odds courtesy unibet.co.uk and subject to fluctuation.
Relive all the action below with our Interactive Live Blog, plus match information.
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The Unibet Masters
Saturday November 1
Afternoon Session
First Round
Peter Wright 7-10 Justin Pipe
Dave Chisnall 10-8 Robert Thornton
Simon Whitlock 7-10 Mervyn King
Adrian Lewis 10-4 Kim Huybrechts
Evening Session
First Round
James Wade 10-5 Brendan Dolan
Phil Taylor 10-4 Wes Newton
Michael van Gerwen 10-9 Raymond van Barneveld
Gary Anderson 10-7 Andy Hamilton
Sunday November 2
Afternoon Session (12.45pm-5pm)
Quarter-Finals
Mervyn King v Justin Pipe
James Wade v Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
Best of 19 legs
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Semi-Finals
Taylor/Anderson v Wade/Lewis
van Gerwen/Chisnall v King/Pipe
Best of 21 legs
Final
Best of 21 legs
MATCH INFORMATION
Peter Wright v Justin Pipe
0-1 - Pipe wins the opening leg by finishing 86 on the bullseye.
0-2 - Wright fires in a 180 before Pipe lands a 177 to leave 24, with the Taunton ace given a reprieve for three missed doubles when Wright fails to land the bull, allowing him back on double three to break throw.
0-3 - Double 16 gives Pipe a third successive leg.
0-4 - Pipe breaks throw again, finishing 82 on tops.
0-5 - Pipe opens up a five-leg lead, trading 180s with Wright before finishing double 16.
1-5 - Wright misses two darts at tops, but Pipe fails to give himself a dart at a double when needing 75 as he allows the Scot to return on double 15.
1-6 - Pipe opens with 140 and 180 to pull clear before finishing a third-dart double nine to restore his lead.
2-6 - Wright kicks off the leg with a 174 score, and when Pipe is unable to take out 139, the World Championship finalist takes out 70 on tops to win his second leg.
3-6 - Wright brings the Scottish crowd to its feet with a superb 140 checkout.
4-6 - The duo trade 180s before Pipe misses two darts at double 16, allowing Wright to finish double four to win a third successive leg.
4-7 - Double 16 sees Pipe edge back into a three-leg lead.
5-7 - Wright hits back, initially missing three doubles to win the leg before returning on double three.
5-8 - Wright posts a 180, but Pipe finishes double 16 to move a leg away from the win.
5-9 - For the second time in the game, Pipe lands a 177 to leave 24, and when Wright misses one dart at tops, he pounces on double 12 to move to the brink of victory.
6-9 - Pipe fires in his fourth 180, but misses match darts at double 18 and nine on a 96 finish, allowing Wright back in following a missed bullseye to finish double 16.
7-9 - Pipe lands another maximum, but Wright finishes double four as he continues his fightback.
7-10 - Wright opens with a 180, but misses tops for a 86 finish to allow Pipe in to take out 56 on double 18 for the win.
Dave Chisnall v Robert Thornton
1-0 - Thornton misses two early doubles, and Chisnall steps in to finish 86 on double eight.
1-1 - Thornton takes out 68 on double two to level.
2-1 - Chisnall finishes 121 on the bull to break throw once more.
2-2 - Chisnall this time misses two darts at doubles, and Thornton finishes 76 on double eight to level.
2-3 - Thornton holds throw for the first time in the game, landing tops to edge 3-2 up.
2-4 - Thornton lands his second 180 of the game, and punishes further missed doubles from Chisnall by landing double three.
3-4 - Chisnall breaks back with a 13-dart leg, finishing double 18.
4-4 - Chisnall finishes 64 on double four to level.
4-5 - Thornton produces a superb 11-darter to regain the lead, scoring 140, 180 and 140 before landing tops.
5-5 - Chisnall levels the game in style with a brilliant 140 finish, with both players now averaging over 100.
6-5 - Thornton scores 171 to leave 92, but misses double eight to complete the combination, and Chisnall steps in to take out 114 for a third ton-plus checkout.
7-5 - Thornton misses double six for a 126 finish, and Chisnall lands double 18 to move two legs clear.
7-6 - Chisnall lands his first 180 of the game, but misses double eight and four to allow Thornton in on double 16.
8-6 - Thornton misses three darts to level as Chisnall returns on tops.
8-7 - Thornton hits back by finishing 86 on double 16.
9-7 - Double eight moves Chisnall a leg away from the win.
9-8 - Thornton keeps the match alive by finishing 65 on tops.
10-8 - Chisnall lands a 171 score to be first to a finish before pinning double eight to seal a strong win.
Simon Whitlock v Mervyn King
0-1 - King makes a fine start, finishing a 13-darter on tops to lead.
1-1 - Whitlock is first to a finish, and lands double four to level.
1-2 - King takes out 73 on tops to hold throw once again, with Whitlock waiting on 32.
2-2 - King misses double 16 to break throw, and Whitlock finishes double four once again.
3-2 - Whitlock breaks for the first time in the game, finishing double 16 to move ahead.
4-2 - King lands the game's first 180 but pays for missed doubles as Whitlock finishes double 16 again to move two legs clear.
4-3 - King hits back with a 102 finish.
4-4 - King again lands a 180 before this time finishing double ten as he levels matters.
4-5 - King wins a third successive leg as he takes out 65 on double six to move back ahead.
4-6 - King misses three darts at double 12, but Whitlock is unable to capitalise as the Norfolk thrower returns to hit the double and take a two-leg cushion.
4-7 - Whitlock misses tops for a 120 finish, and King hits the same bed to win his fifth successive leg.
5-7 - Whitlock claims his first leg in six by posting double 16.
5-8 - King fires in a third 180 of the game, and returns from two initial missed doubles to post double 12 as he regains a three-leg lead.
6-8 - Whitlock returns to pin double 16, after King is unable to finish 78 on tops.
6-9 - Whitlock misses double 16 for a 112 finish, and King hits the same bed to move a leg away from the win.
7-9 - The Australian finishes 80 on tops to begin his fightback.
7-10 - Whitlock is unable to break throw, and King lands tops to seal his place in the quarter-finals against Justin Pipe.
Adrian Lewis v Kim Huybrechts
1-0 - Lewis makes a stunning start, kicking off the game with two 180s and adding a seventh treble 20, and though he misses out on a nine-darter, he returns to claim the leg in ten darts.
2-0 - Double ten sees Lewis double his advantage.
2-1 - Huybrechts fires in a 180 before posting double 16 to get off the mark.
2-2 - The Belgian takes out 81 to level the game with a break of throw.
2-3 - Huybrechts posts a second 180 before finishing 60 on double ten to win a third successive leg and move ahead.
3-3 - Tops sees Lewis level the contest.
4-3 - Lewis misses double 18 for a 113 finish, but Huybrechts is unable to take out 130 as the Stoke ace returns to break throw and move ahead.
5-3 - Lewis moves two legs clear again in a dramatic finish to the leg, initially missing the bull and two darts at double eight only to return and hit double eight after Huybrechts - needing 112 - bursts his score by hitting two treble 20s, as his second dart - aimed at single 20 - deflects into the treble bed.
5-4 - Double 16 sees Huybrechts respond.
6-4 - Lewis finishes 48 on tops to regain his cushion.
7-4 - Lewis takes out 68 to move three legs clear.
8-4 - The world number three finishes 71 as he wins his third successive leg.
9-4 - Lewis moves to the brink of victory with double 18, after Huybrechts misses tops for a 114 checkout.
10-4 - Double ten sees Lewis wrap up a fine victory.
James Wade v Brendan Dolan
1-0 - Dolan misses four darts at doubles to win the opening leg, and Wade steps in on double ten.
1-1 - Dolan opens the leg with a 180 before finishing 61 on double 18 to level.
2-1 - The pair trade 180s before Wade takes out 82 on tops to move back ahead.
2-2 - Dolan takes out 141 as he squares the match.
3-2 - Wade finishes 82 once again, this time on double 12, as he holds throw to edge back in front.
4-2 - Wade takes out 96 to move two legs clear.
5-2 - Dolan opens with a 180, but Wade finishes double ten for a 14-darter to win a third successive leg.
5-3 - Dolan finishes 44 on double 16 as he hits back.
6-3 - Wade posts tops to regain his three-leg lead.
6-4 - Wade is this time unable to hit tops - for a 120 finish - and Dolan takes out 56 on the same double as he replies.
7-4 - The left-hander regains his range on tops as he takes leg 11.
8-4 - Wade finishes 107 on double 18 as he takes four-leg lead with a second break of throw.
9-4 - Wade's opening 174 score is followed later by a 177 from Dolan, but the world number six lands double five to move to the brink of victory.
9-5 - Double eight sees Dolan keep his hopes alive.
10-5 - Wade takes out 101 to seal victory in style.
Phil Taylor v Wes Newton
1-0 - Taylor lands a 180 before taking out tops to win the opening leg in 13 darts.
1-1 - Newton levels the game by finishing 120.
2-1 - Taylor opens with 140 and 180 before finishing double 16 for another 13-darter.
3-1 - Taylor breaks for the first time, pinning double eight for a 13-darter.
3-2 - Newton misses tops to finish 62, and Newton capialises - in a roundabout way - by taking out 12 with single ten and double one.
4-2 - Newton fires in a 180, but is left waiting on 40 as Taylor takes out 127 on the bull to regain his cushion.
4-3 - Newton lands a third maximum of the game, and when Taylor misses three darts at doubles the Fleetwood ace steps in on double ten.
5-3 - The pair trade 180s, and double eight sees Taylor edge away once more.
6-3 - Taylor finishes 81 on double 12 to open up a three-leg lead.
6-4 - Newton htis back, landing his fifth 180 and double four.
7-4 - Another double 12 finish sees Taylor move clear once more.
8-4 - Taylor lands a fourth 180 of the game before finishing double eight to extend his lead to four legs.
9-4 - Tops sees Taylor - maintaining a 109 average - move to the brink of victory.
10-4 - Taylor lands double 16 as he wins a fourth successive leg and seals his quarter-final place.
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
1-0 - van Gerwen finishes 98 on double 12 to make a confident start.
1-1 - van Barneveld takes out 107 on double 16 to level.
1-2 - The World Champion misses tops, and van Barneveld finishes double five to break throw.
1-3 - van Barneveld follows a 180 with an 89 finish to move two legs clear.
2-3 - van Gerwen takes out 54 on tops to hit back.
2-4 - van Barneveld lands a third 180 of the game, and is given a reprieve following two missed doubles when van Gerwen misses the bull for a 170 finish and two further doubles, allowing the five-time World Champion back in on double nine.
2-5 - Another maximum pushes van Barneveld clear before he lands double 12 to move three legs clear.
3-5 - van Gerwen opens with his first 180 of the game, before finishing 100 with a crowd-pleasing two double tops as he hits back.
4-5 - The world number one reduces the gap to one leg, scoring 159 to leave 24 and returning to finish double 12.
4-6 - Double four sees van Barneveld deny his rival the chance to level.
5-6 - van Gerwen lands his second maximum of the game before hitting tops to hit back.
6-6 - van Gerwen levels, punishing van Barneveld for a miss at tops for a 113 finish by landing double eight for a 14-darter.
6-7 - van Barneveld breaks back by taking out 56 on double 18.
7-7 - The World Champion levels again, defying another 180 from van Barneveld by taking out 81 on double 12.
7-8 - van Barneveld opens with his seventh 180 of the game, with van Gerwen missing four darts at double 18 to allow his rival back in on double ten to break.
7-9 - van Gerwen posts his third maximum, but pays the price for missing the single 18 to leave double 16 when on a 110 finish, and van Barneveld steps in to take out tops to move a leg away from victory.
8-9 - van Gerwen lands double five for a 13-darter to hit back - but has to break throw in the next leg to send the match into a decider.
9-9 - van Gerwen breaks throw by finishing 60 on tops to level, sending the game into a one-leg shoot-out.
10-9 - The final leg sees both players produce stunning darts, with van Gerwen scoring 134, 180 and 171 to leave 16 after nine darts, as van Barneveld scores 180, 140 and 139 to leave 42 only to see the World Champion claim victory on double eight.
Gary Anderson v Andy Hamilton
0-1 - Hamilton finishes 87 to win the opening leg against the throw.
0-2 - Hamilton returns from initially missing double 16 to return and land double eight.
1-2 - Anderson fires up his challenge with a crowd-pleasing 114 finish.
2-2 - The Scottish favourite lands the game's first 180 before taking out 95 with a treble 19, double 19 combination.
3-2 - Anderson hits the front by winning a third successive leg courtesy of double top.
3-3 - Double eight sees Hamilton level the game.
4-3 - Anderson steals the leg on double five to move back ahead.
4-4 - Hamilton levels once more by finishing double 16.
5-4 - Anderson takes out 76 on double eight to regain the edge.
6-4 - Anderson fires in a second 180, before punishing Hamilton's missed doubles across two visits by posting double top.
7-4 - Anderson lands another 180 and takes out 84 for an 11-darter to move three legs up.
7-5 - Hamilton replies in the same fashion by finishing 84 for an 11-dart leg - despite Anderson kicking off with two 180s and leaving 36 after nine darts when his bid for a perfect leg was ended.
8-5 - Tops moves Anderson two legs away from the quarter-finals.
8-6 - Hamilton lands his second 11-darter in three legs, including a 180 and double 16, as he hits back.
9-6 - Double four moves Anderson to the brink of victory.
9-7 - Anderson misses two match darts at tops, and Hamilton finishes double 16 to keep his hopes alive.
10-7 - Anderson opens with his sixth 180 of the game before posting double 18 for a ten-darter to move through to the last eight, where he faces Phil Taylor on Sunday afternoon.
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