ANDERSON BEATS VAN GERWEN TO CLAIM THIRD WORLD SERIES TITLE OF 2016
WORLD CHAMPION Gary Anderson backed up his PDC World Series of Darts wins in Dubai and Auckland by claiming the Zipang Casino Tokyo Darts Masters title with an 8-6 defeat of Michael van Gerwen in Thursday's final.
The triumph was Anderson's third win from four World Series events this year, with the other going to van Gerwen in Shanghai a fortnight ago before the pair progressed to meet in the decider at Tokyo's Yoyogi Olympic Hall.
Anderson and van Gerwen put on a thrilling show for the enthusiastic Japanese crowd, with men averaging over 100 in a match that went with the throw until the 11th leg, including a 161 checkout from the Scot.
That key first break in leg 11 saw Anderson hit tops to move ahead of van Gerwen, and the Scot backed that up with a hold of throw to make the score 7-5.
Van Gerwen, who was looking to make it back-to-back World Series titles, took the score to 7-6 and had two darts at double 16 to take the match to a deciding leg, only to see Anderson take out 108 on tops to claim the victory.
Anderson had begun the evening with a very impressive 8-3 quarter-final win over Raymond van Barneveld, averaging 103 and hitting almost 60 percent of his attempt at a double as he led from the first leg to the last.
He then moved into the final with an 8-5 victory over Adrian Lewis in a repeat of their final in Auckland last month.
World Champion Anderson lost the opening two legs before stringing together a run of six in a row as he put distance between himself and Lewis.
Lewis battled to get back into the match, but Anderson was too strong as he ended the contest with an average of 104.71.
The win sees Anderson continue his fine international form ahead of his return to the UK to take part in the forthcoming BetVictor World Matchplay in Blackpool.
"It's great to win here," said the Scot. "I was really impressed with the Japanese guys this year, they're getting better and better.
"The win gives me confidence, and I'm looking forward to going home to relax and prepare for Blackpool, which should be a cracking tournament."
Van Gerwen had faced a tough test from Dave Chisnall in his quarter-final, but averaged almost 102 to see off a strong challenge from his rival in one of the games of the tournament.
Chisnall hit six doubles from eight attempts and led 6-4, but van Gerwen strung together four legs in a row, with the aid of some heavy scoring, to take the tie away from the Englishman.
Van Gerwen then secured his place in the final with a comfortable 8-3 win over James Wade in their repeat of the Shanghai Darts Masters final, which also saw the Dutchman win by the same margin.
The world number one hit over 60 percent of his double attempts and two 180s as he led from the first leg onwards, but he was unable to repeat the success in the final despite another strong performance.
"I had two chances to break his throw, but well played to Gary who was stronger tonight," said the world number one. "That 108 from Gary at the end was special, but I'll get ready for the World Matchplay now because it's been a long tour for us."
In the evening's other quarter-finals, Lewis overcame Peter Wright with a narrow 8-6 triumph.
The pair traded breaks throughout the match, but a 132 checkout on the bull from Lewis at 6-5 swung the game in his favour, and he admitted: "That was a massive moment. I hit the 25 and didn’t fancy it at all - when the treble 19 went in I fancied it even less but I moved across and in it went!"
Reigning champion Phil Taylor was also knocked out in the quarter-finals, as he and Wade produced a classic on the Tokyo stage, with the left-hander claiming a dramatic 8-7 win despite never leading the match until he sunk the winning double in the deciding leg of a game where both players averaged over 100.
The PDC World Series of Darts continues next month when the players travel to Australia for back-to-back tournaments, with the Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters being held at The Star Casino from August 18-20 before the TABtouch Perth Darts Masters takes place at the PCEC from August 25-27.
Zipang Casino Japan Darts Masters
Quarter-Finals
Gary Anderson 8-3 Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis 8-6 Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen 8-6 Dave Chisnall
James Wade 8-7 Phil Taylor
Semi-Finals
Gary Anderson 8-5 Adrian Lewis
Michael van Gerwen 8-3 James Wade
Final
Gary Anderson 8-6 Michael van Gerwen
MATCH INFORMATION
QUARTER-FINALS
Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld
1-0 - Anderson is straight in to gear, hitting a maximum then taking out 40 on double ten.
2-0 - Another 180 and another 40 checkout on double ten as Anderson breaks.
2-1 - An immediate break back for van Barneveld who hits double eight.
3-1 - van Barneveld misses darts at doubles to level up before Anderson takes out 57 on tops.
3-2 - Back on throw as van Barneveld hits his first maximum followed by 81 on double 12.
4-2 - Another break of throw as Anderson hits tops for a 55 checkout.
5-2 - Anderson holds on tops for a three-leg advantage.
5-3 - A hold for van Barneveld as he closes the gap to two.
6-3 - 76 on tops for Anderson after hitting his third 180.
7-3 - Anderson breaks again and is one leg away from the semi-finals.
8-3 - 103 average for Gary Anderson and a place in the semi-finals as he hits double 12 to seal the win.
Adrian Lewis v Peter Wright
0-1 - A maximum from Wright and double eight gives him an opening leg hold.
1-1 - Lewis hits double one after five misses at doubles to level up.
1-2 - Double 12 for Wright gives him the lead once again.
1-3 - Wright needs double one to give him the break of throw as Lewis misses a dart to level the score.
2-3 - 100 on tops for Lewis to break back.
3-3 - The scores are level as Lewis hits tops again.
4-3 - Lewis leads for the first time taking out 56 on tops. Both players currently averaging 97.
4-4 - Wright hits double four to break back as Lewis misses two darts at double 16.
4-5 - 71 on double 16 for Wright as he regains the lead.
5-5 - Level again as Lewis hits double eight.
6-5 - Wright misses a dart at double 16 for a 104 finish and is punished by Lewis on double 12 to break the throw.
7-5 - Class from Lewis who hits the bull for a 132 finish when it looked as if he had blocked the target.
7-6 - Match darts come and go for Lewis and Wright hits double four to keep his hopes alive.
8-6 - A 12-dart leg on double six for Lewis to claim a place in the semi-final.
Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
0-1 - Chisnall holds in the opening leg to take the lead.
1-1 - van Gerwen misses the bull for a 161 but takes the leg to level.
1-2 - van Gerwen misses tops for the break and Chisnall punishes him on double eight to hold.
2-2 - Another hold for van Gerwen and we're level again.
2-3 - The bull missed again by van Gerwen for a 130 finish. Chisnall then hits double 16 to hold his throw.
3-3 - Still going with throw as van Gerwen takes out 32 on double 16.
3-4 - 44 on double 16 gives Chisnall the lead again. Both players averaging over 100 at this point.
4-4 - The pair trade maximums but it's van Gerwen who takes the leg, hitting double 16 for a 32 finish.
4-5 - Three missed darts from van Gerwen to break before Chisnall moves in to hit tops for the hold.
4-6 - 6/8 on the doubles for Chisnall as he claims the first break of throw, checking out 66 on tops.
5-6 - van Gerwen straight back with the break, taking out 98.
6-6 - An 11 dart leg from van Gerwen levels the tie, as he takes out 100 on tops.
7-6 - Chisnall misses a dart at tops for a 125 finish and is punished by van Gerwen, who takes out 36 on double 18.
8-6 - A 101.91 average from van Gerwen ends a good challenge from Chisnall to move into the last four.
James Wade v Phil Taylor
0-1 - Taylor breaks in the first leg of the match.
0-2 - Taylor's first 180 of the match allows him to land double 16 for a 2-0 lead.
1-2 - Wade gets on the board with 107 on double 18.
1-3 - Another 180 from Taylor, who again takes out 32 on double 16.
2-3 - Double ten for Wade to move within one, Taylor still has the break.
2-4 - Taylor hits a 177 to leave 24, Wade then misses the bull for a 124 checkout before the reigning champion lands double 12 at the third attempt.
3-4 - A superb 141 checkout from Wade again puts the pressure on Taylor.
4-4 - 98 on double 19 from Wade levels the match.
4-5 - Wade is left waiting on 36 as Taylor takes out 123 on the bull.
4-6 - Double 16 for Taylor moves him two legs clear of Wade for a fourth time in the game.
5-6 - Both players miss darts at doubles but it's Wade who lands double three to move back within one.
6-6 - Level again as Wade hits tops.
6-7 - A 180 each, Wade misses double ten for a 140 finish and Taylor breaks on double 16.
7-7 - A superb 120 finish from Wade takes us to a decider.
8-7 - Taylor misses three darts at tops for the match before Wade hits double four to lead for the first time and claim the victory.
SEMI-FINALS
Gary Anderson v Adrian Lewis
0-1 - A nervy start from both players as they miss doubles but it's Lewis who pins double ten to break in the first leg.
0-2 - Lewis hits his first 180 of the night and moves two in front.
1-2 - A maximum from Anderson, who then hits double 16 to get a leg on the board.
2-2 - A 174 from Anderson leaves 36, which he takes out at the first attempt to break back.
3-2 - Double eight gives Anderson his third leg in a row.
4-2 - Four in a row for the World Champion who breaks the Lewis throw.
5-2 - 40 on double five for Anderson to move three clear of Lewis.
6-2 - A 102 average from Anderson who wins his sixth leg in a row.
6-3 - Lewis stops the rot hitting double ten to break the Anderson throw.
6-4 - Lewis back to within two of Anderson as he hits double eight for a 76 finish.
7-4 - Anderson one away from the final taking out 85 on tops.
7-5 - Lewis hits double two, Anderson will now throw for the match.
8-5 - Anderson in to the final averaging 104.71, hitting double five for the win.
Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
1-0 - van Gerwen breaks in the opening leg of the match.
2-0 - The world number one backs up the break by holding his throw for a two leg lead.
2-1 - 51 on double ten gets Wade on the board.
3-1 - 65 on tops for van Gerwen as he moves two clear again.
3-2 - Wade holds on double ten with van Gerwen stranded on 40.
4-2 - A hold of throw for van Gerwen now who restores his two leg lead.
5-2 - Double eight for van Gerwen who takes out 70.
6-2 - Four clear for van Gerwen who takes out 104 on double 14.
6-3 - A hold for Wade who hits his second 180 of the match.
7-3 - Michael van Gerwen one leg away from another final.
8-3 - van Gerwen will face Gary Anderson as he hit double eight for the match.
FINAL
Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen
0-1 - van Gerwen opens up with a 180 before taking out 100 on double ten for the opening leg.
1-1 - 40 on tops for Anderson as he levels the match.
1-2 - A 168 from van Gerwen leaves 36, which he takes out on double nine.
2-2 - Anderson hits tops again to checkout 70.
2-3 - Still with throw as van Gerwen hits double 18.
3-3 - Incredible from Anderson who hits the bull for a 161 finish.
3-4 - 45 on double 16 as van Gerwen goes in to the break 4-3 up.
4-4 - Level again as Anderson holds throw with 88 on double seven.
4-5 - 112 on tops from van Gerwen with Anderson waiting to pounce on 82.
5-5 - Level once more as Anderson hits double four for a 68 finish.
6-5 - 11 legs in and we have our first break. Anderson takes out 100 on tops.
7-5 - van Gerwen misses a dart at double 16 to allow Anderson to hit tops and move one away from the win.
7-6 - van Gerwen puts the pressure on Anderson, hitting double four for 68.
8-6 - Gary Anderson is the Zipang Casino Tokyo Darts Masters champion! Michael van Gerwen misses two darts at double 16, allowing Anderson to move in and take out 108 on tops.