Shanghai Darts Masters Finals Day

VAN GERWEN DENIES WADE TO CLAIM SHANGHAI DARTS MASTERS TITLE
 

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN got back to winning ways on the PDC World Series of Darts circuit with a superb 8-3 victory over James Wade in the final of the Shanghai Darts Masters on Sunday.

The world number one, a winner of four previous international events and last year's World Series of Darts Finals, has missed out in Dubai and Auckland so far in 2016, but produced some of his best form as he claimed the inaugural title at the Pullman Hotel Shanghai South.

After battling past Singapore's Paul Lim in Saturday's first round, van Gerwen overcame fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld 8-4 in the quarter-finals and then came from 4-1 down in his semi-final to defeat Dave Chisnall 8-5.

Chisnall followed up his hard-fought 8-6 quarter-final win over Adrian Lewis with checkouts of 148 and 150 to take the initiative against van Gerwen, who responded with a 145 finish as he turned the game around with a run of four successive legs before claiming victory.

The Dutchman also opened the final with a 138 finish and a pair of tops checkouts gave him a 3-0 lead before Wade took out 116 to respond.

A four-leg burst then moved van Gerwen into a 7-1 lead, and though Wade again finished 116 in claiming back-to-back legs to keep his hopes alive, a missed bullseye in the next allowed the world number one in to post double 16 for a 13-darter to claim the title.

"Every win means a lot to me but this is the first Shanghai Darts Masters so it's very special," said van Gerwen, who ended the final with a 100.54 average. "Everything came together and I'm really glad I won this trophy.

"It's been a very good week in China and it's a pleasure for me to play in tournaments like this. Shanghai's fantastic and to get the win makes it even better.

"James did really well to reach the final but I hit the right shots at the right time and I'm very happy with how I played."

Wade had won through to his second World Series of Darts final, matching his achievement at the Perth Darts Masters last year, by seeing off World Champion Gary Anderson 8-7 in the quarter-finals and Phil Taylor 8-6 in the semi-finals.

Anderson had hit back from 5-1 down to force a deciding leg in their contest, but missed three match darts to complete his comeback as Wade followed a pair of earlier 118 checkouts by landing double five to edge through.

He then saw off Taylor in another tight clash, with the 16-time World Champion finishing 121 on the bull to open up a 4-2 lead before Wade claimed four legs in a row to put himself in command as he closed out the win.

Taylor had earlier produced a sensational comeback from 7-1 down to defeat Peter Wright 8-7 in their quarter-final, and kept up the pressure on Wade with a 138 checkout before the left-hander eventually sealed his place in the final.

"I've beaten two amazing darts players today in Gary and Phil and unfortunately I didn't turn up in the final," said Wade.

"Michael was too strong but it's a step in the right direction because it's a great thing to be involved in a final, and it's obviously the first time over here in China."

ITV4's delayed coverage in the UK will be broadcast at 7.30pm on Sunday evening.

The PDC World Series of Darts continues with the Zipang Casino Tokyo Darts Masters on July 6-7, with the eight PDC stars set to take on eight Japanese qualifiers across two days at the Yoyogi Olympic Hall. For tickets, visit www.pdj.co.jp .

Shanghai Darts Masters
Sunday June 26
Quarter-Finals
James Wade 8-7 Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor 8-7 Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen 8-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Dave Chisnall 8-6 Adrian Lewis

Semi-Finals
James Wade 8-6 Phil Taylor
Michael van Gerwen 8-5 Dave Chisnall

Final
Michael van Gerwen 8-3 James Wade
All games on Sunday are the best of 15 legs and played in draw bracket order as above.

World Series of Darts Rankings
27 Gary Anderson
23 Michael van Gerwen
16 James Wade
14 Adrian Lewis
13 Phil Taylor, Dave Chisnall
11 Raymond van Barneveld
9 Peter Wright
1 Clinton Bridge, Cody Harris, Damon Heta, Stuart Leach, Ken Moir, Warren Parry, Bernie Smith, Rob Szabo, Lihao Wen, Royden Lam, Yanlai Shi, Scott Mackenzie, Yuanjun Liu, Jianhua Shen, Paul Lim, Yunfei Jiang
Following Shanghai Darts Masters

MATCH INFORMATION
QUARTER-FINALS
Gary Anderson v James Wade
0-1 - Wade finishes double top at the first time of asking to break throw immediately.
0-2 - Anderson wires the bull to take out 170 and also misses two darts at double 12 before Wade steps in to land tops and double his advantage.
1-2 - Wade fires in a 171 score to leave 36, but Anderson posts double ten to win his opening leg.
1-3 - Wade's flawless finishing continues as he takes out 118 on tops.
1-4 - The pair trade 180s before Anderson misses more darts at doubles. Wade moves in to punish the World Champion on tops.
1-5 - More quality from Wade who takes out another 118.
2-5 - Anderson finally finds his range on the doubles to reduce the deficit.
3-5 - Wade's turn to miss darts at the double as Anderson moves in to cut the gap to two.
4-5 - Game on as Anderson makes it three in a row on double 18.
4-6 - A third missed dart at the bull for Anderson allows Wade to move in a take out the double six.
5-6 - Both players are starting to find the doubles now as Anderson takes out 88 on double 14.
5-7 - Wade moves one leg away from the semi-finals as he hits tops.
6-7 - Two match darts missed by Wade as Anderson moves to within one of his opponent.
7-7 - We're going to a decider as Anderson pins double two.
7-8 - Both players miss match darts but it's Wade who holds his nerve to take out the winning double and move in to the semi-finals.

Phil Taylor v Peter Wright
0-1 - Early nerves as both miss darts at double but it's Wright who breaks in the first leg.
0-2 - More missed double attempts for Taylor and Wright again punishes him, this time on double eight.
0-3 - It's another break and more missed darts by Taylor. Wright takes out 94 to move three ahead.
1-3 - Eight missed darts at a double for Wright and Taylor gets himself on the scoreboard on double 16.
1-4 - A majestic 147 checkout from Wright gives him a 4-1 lead.
1-5 - Two maximums from Wright allow him to complete an 11-dart leg and move four in front.
1-6 - Superb again from Wright who takes out 130 on double five.
1-7 - The Scot now one leg away from a huge win against Taylor as he nails double ten.
2-7 - Taylor keeps the match alive, hitting double three to reduce the deficit to five.
3-7 - Another leg back for Taylor hitting double 16 at the first attempt.
4-7 - An 11-dart leg for Taylor sees him getting closer.
5-7 - Two missed match darts by Wright and again Taylor moves in to punish the Scot.
6-7 - Three more match darts come and go for Wright and Taylor is now just one behind.
7-7 - Six legs in a row for Taylor and we go to a decider.
8-7 - Taylor survives five match darts and comes back from 7-1 down to make his way in to the semi-finals.

Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
1-0 - Great start for van Gerwen who hits double 14 for a 12-dart leg.
1-1 - Van Barneveld hits straight back with a 61 finish on double four.
1-2 - Van Barneveld lands a 180 before finishing double eight to move ahead.
2-2 - Van Gerwen and van Barneveld trade maximums but it's the world number one who hits double 16 to level the match.
2-3 - A 70 checkout moves van Barneveld 3-2 ahead.
3-3 - Level again as the world number one hits double 12.
4-3 - A superb 138 finish gives van Gerwen the break and moves him 4-3 in front.
5-3 - Van Barneveld misses the bull for a 161 finish before van Gerwen moves in for double eight to complete a 76 finish.
6-3 - Missed darts by van Barneveld punished and it's a three leg gap now.
7-3 - Van Gerwen one away as he takes advantage of more mistakes from van Barneveld, taking out 60 on tops.
7-4 - Van Barneveld finally finds the range on the doubles and reduces the deficit to three with double six.
8-4 - It's van Gerwen who moves in to the semi-final beating fellow Dutchman van Barneveld by four legs.

Adrian Lewis v Dave Chisnall
0-1 - An early break for Chisnall, who takes out 85 on the bull.
1-1 - Lewis immediately breaks back with 16 on double four.
2-1 - A lovely 110 checkout from Lewis puts him in front for the first time.
2-2 - Back to back 180s from Chisnall and he takes out 40 on double ten to level up.
2-3 - Another break for Chisnall who takes out 82 on double 16.
2-4 - A lovely 174 leaves tops for Chisnall, which he takes out at the second attempt.
3-4 - 85 on double eight for Lewis who reduces the gap to one.
4-4 - A 12-darter from Lewis means we are level once again.
5-4 - Three legs in a row for Lewis who hits double eight to lead again.
5-5 - Level again as Chisnall hits tops.
6-5 - Three missed darts at a double for Chisnall to break before Lewis hits double ten to lead again.
6-6 - 80 on tops for Chisnall as he draws level again.
6-7 - Big time to break for Chisnall as he hits tops to move within one of the semi-finals.
6-8 - Double 18 gives Chisnall the win over Lewis, meaning that he faces Michael van Gerwen in the last four.

SEMI-FINALS
James Wade v Phil Taylor
1-0 - Wade hits two maximums and lands tops to break the Taylor throw.
1-1 - Wade misses five darts to move two in front and Taylor punishes him on tops.
1-2 - More misses at tops and tens for Wade and Taylor moves in front for the first time.
2-2 - 101 on tops from Wade to level up.
2-3 - Taylor moves ahead again on double eight.
2-4 - Taylor breaks the throw with a superb 121 on the bull.
3-4 - Wade breaks straight back with 76 on double eight.
4-4 - A hold of throw for Wade, hitting double ten to bring the scores level again.
5-4 - A break for Wade who now leads for the first time since leg one.
6-4 - Four consecutive legs for James Wade as he hits tops.
6-5 - A miscount from Taylor leaves him on double 17 but he takes it out at the third attempt.
7-5 - Wade moves one leg away from the final, hitting tops to move within sight of victory.
7-6 - A superb 138 checkout under pressure from Taylor keeps the match alive.
8-6 - Wade moves into his second World Series final by hitting tops again to knock out Taylor.

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
0-1 - What a start for Chisnall, who takes out 148 in the opening leg.
0-2 - A two-leg lead for Chisnall on double one.
1-2 - Van Gerwen gets on the scoreboard by taking out 56 on tops.
1-3 - Chisnall hits double ten at the first attempt to move two in front.
1-4 - Another huge checkout from Chisnall to break again. He takes out 150 on double 18.
2-4 - A good response from van Gerwen who pins tops to get one leg back.
3-4 - Van Gerwen's turn to hit the big checkout,  with a 145 finish for the world number one.
4-4 - 54 checkout from van Gerwen to level the scores.
5-4 - Double eight for van Gerwen as he moves ahead for the first time.
5-5 - Van Gerwen misses tops and allows Chisnall in to level the match.
6-5 - 100 finish from van Gerwen who leads again.
7-5 - One away for van Gerwen how takes out 25 on double eight after missing the bull for the 170 finish.
8-5 - Double 12 for van Gerwen seals victory and means that he faces James Wade in the final.

Match Stats

FINAL
James Wade v Michael van Gerwen
0-1 - A 138 finish from van Gerwen to start the final in style.
0-2 - A 97 checkout now from van Gerwen, who breaks the Wade throw.
0-3 - A blistering start from the world number one who takes a three leg lead on tops.
1-3 - Wade takes out 116 to get his first leg on the board.
1-4 - Wade misses tops to break back before van Gerwen pins double one to lead by three.
1-5 - Van Gerwen hits double eight this time to break the Wade throw again.
1-6 - The bull missed by van Gerwen for the 170 but he gets another chance and takes the remaining 25 out on double eight.
1-7 - Wade misses tops again to allow van Gerwen to hit double eight to move within one of the title.
2-7 - Two match darts missed by van Gerwen as Wade mops up 20 on double ten to give himself a chance.
3-7 - A 116 on double 18 for Wade keeps his hopes alive.
3-8 - It's Michael van Gerwen's title as he hits double 16 to for a 13-darter to defeat James Wade and win the inaugural Shanghai Darts Masters.

Match Stats