Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters Day Two

BRILLIANT TAYLOR ROUTS ANDERSON IN LADBROKES SYDNEY DARTS MASTERS

PHIL TAYLOR achieved a World Series record average of 112.41 in a brilliant 10-2 defeat of Gary Anderson to continue his defence of the Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters title on Friday, with Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall joining him in the semi-finals at The Star.

Taylor's bid to win a fourth successive Sydney Darts Masters title continued as he followed up his first round defeat of Australian youngster Corey Cadby with a sensational display against the World Champion.

Although Anderson shared the opening two legs, he could only watch on as the 16-time World Champion pulled clear in stunning fashion to claim the next eight legs without reply.

A pair of 11-darters moved Taylor 3-1 up before he recovered from five misses in the next - which proved to be his only off-target doubles in the game - to land double 16, and checkouts of 129, 115 and 127 followed as he stormed into a 9-1 lead.

Double ten from Anderson saw him hit back before he landed a 180 in leg 12, only to see Taylor respond with two maximums of his own in another 11-darter to seal victory.

The win extended Taylor's unbeaten run in Australia to 22 matches since 2013 - having won three titles in Sydney and two at the Perth Darts Masters - and moved him through to Saturday's decisive finals night.

"To get through was satisfying - I thought it was going to be closer but I had to make sure I kept the pressure on and finished Gary off," admitted Taylor.

"The checking out was some of the best I've ever done in my whole career. I just seemed to be very relaxed and didn't feel the pressure at all, and I felt lovely and comfortable.

"Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don't, but they went in tonight and I felt a bit for Gary because I didn't give him a chance. I've been doing everything possible to win this."

Taylor now plays Dave Chisnall, who claimed his third World Series victory of the year against Adrian Lewis as he landed seven maximums in a 10-5 defeat of the two-time World Champion.

Chisnall did the damage in a five-leg mid-match burst as he moved out from 4-3 to 9-3, and though Lewis landed three 180s and an 11-darter as he responded, the St Helens man held out to seal victory with a match-high 86 checkout

"I'm really pleased with that," said Chisnall. "I found it a little bit hard but when Adrian isn't on his game and I'm on mine then I know what I can do.

"Adrian didn't play as well as he can but I was playing well, hitting lots of 180s and my doubles. When I got to 9-3 I was in a good position - he started to come back a little bit, but I'm just glad that 86 went in."

World number one Michael van Gerwen defied two 160 checkouts from Kyle Anderson as he ended Australian hopes in the event with a 10-6 triumph in a thrilling contest.

Van Gerwen opened the match with a 180 and took the first three legs without reply, only for Anderson to take out his first 160 checkout in a run which saw him level.

Double eight edged van Gerwen ahead before Anderson raised the roof again at The Star with another 160 finish, while the pair also shared the next two to remain locked at five-all.

Van Gerwen, though, was aided by his sixth 180 as he regained the lead before breaking throw and then hitting tops for an 8-5 lead.

Anderson responded with an 11-darter, featuring his fifth 180, but was unable to prevent van Gerwen from powering into the last four with an average of 104.

"I'm really happy to produce a performance such as this," said van Gerwen, who now meets Peter Wright. "When I was 3-0 up I thought it was going to be an early night but I had to keep my focus and I think I finished it off professionally.

"I know I've got an extra gear and if I play well I know I can do something really good. This is a fantastic tournament but I've never performed like I can over in Australia so I hope I can show everyone my best darts on Saturday."

He added: "Kyle is a very talented, good player with a lot of ability but he's still learning. He can be dangerous and we saw that tonight with some of the shots he took out."

Wright, meanwhile, was in fine finishing form as he landed ten double from 16 attempts in his 10-4 win over Australia's Rhys Mathewson, who knocked out James Wade in the first round but was unable to repeat his heroics against the world number five.

A superb 121 finish in the opening leg saw Wright claim the first of three breaks of throw, and he went on to lead 2-0 and 5-1.

Victoria-based Mathewson - who moved to mainland Australia from Tasmania - hit back by winning three of the next five legs as he reduced the gap to 7-4, only to then see Wright halt the fightback in stunning fashion with a 156 checkout.

Double 16 moved Wright into a 9-4 lead, and he then traded 180s with Mathewson before sealing his place in a first World Series semi-final of the year on double eight.

"Rhys handled himself well on stage and performed well - he proved again that he's a good player," said Wright. "It was okay tonight but wasn't great and I've got to go to another level to win this.

"The crowd have been great and they were singing for me so hopefully I can give them some more to cheer on Saturday."

The Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters concludes on Saturday night with the semi-finals and final at The Star.

Watch live on Fox Sports, as well as worldwide through the PDC's series of international broadcast partner, as well as for International Pass Subscribers at www.LIVEPDC.TV.

UK Coverage through ITV4 is delayed to evening time BST.

Van Gerwen enters finals night as the 4/7 favourite to take victory with tournament sponsors Ladbrokes, with Taylor 5/2 to claim a fourth successive Sydney win, while Wright and Chisnall are the 10/1 outsiders.

Semi-Final Match Odds
2/9 Phil Taylor v 10/3 Dave Chisnall
1/8 Michael van Gerwen v 5/1 Peter Wright
Odds courtesy www.ladbrokes.com.au and correct at time of writing. Subject to fluctuation.

Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters

Friday August 19
Quarter-Finals
Adrian Lewis 5-10 Dave Chisnall
Rhys Mathewson 4-10 Peter Wright
Gary Anderson 2-10 Phil Taylor
Michael van Gerwen 10-6 Kyle Anderson
Best of 19 legs

Saturday August 20
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor v Dave Chisnall
Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright
Best of 21 legs

Final
Taylor/Chisnall v van Gerwen/Wright
Best of 21 legs

MATCH INFORMATION
Adrian Lewis v Dave Chisnall
1-0 - Lewis lands double 19 to win the game's opening leg.
1-1 - Chisnall fires in a 180 before missing eight doubles to level, but Lewis misses four darts of his own to win the leg before the St Helens ace steps in on double three.
1-2 - Chisnall opens with 180 and 177, and though he is unable to complete a nine-darter he returns to move ahead.
2-2 - Double five sees Lewis level.
2-3 - Lewis misses double 12 to finish 92, and Chisnall steps in on double ten to avoid a possible break of throw.
2-4 - Chisnall lands a maximum and finishes double 18 to complete a superb 12-darter to break throw.
3-4 - Lewis breaks back by landing double eight.
3-5 - A third successive leg is won against the throw as Chisnall lands his fourth 180 of the game before taking out 81 on double 13.
3-6 - Double six sees Chisnall move into a three-leg lead.
3-7 - Chisnall scores 120, 180 and 139, and when Lewis is unable to land the bull for a 170 checkout, the St Helens man finishes tops for a 12-darter to continue his charge.
3-8 - Tops sees Chisnall move two legs away from victory with his fourth in a row.
3-9 - Chisnall fires in his sixth maximum before taking out 45 on tops.
4-9 - Lewis lands his first two 180s of the game, with Chisnall also posting a maximum but being unable to prevent the two-time World Champion completing an 11-darter on double 18 to keep his hopes alive.
5-9 - Chisnall misses two match darts, and Lewis steps in on double 16 to continue his revival.
5-10 - Lewis hits his third 180, but it proves to be his final visit as Chisnall takes out 86 to seal his place in the semi-finals.

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	5-10	Dave Chisnall
16	100+	19
12	140+	6
0	170+	1
3	180	7
91.15	Average	96.56
46	High Finish	86
3	Breaks of Throw	5
5/17 - 29%	Checkout %	10/25 - 40%

Rhys Mathewson v Peter Wright
0-1 - Mathewson leaves 32 but sees Wright claim the opening leg in 12 darts with a superb 121 finish.
0-2 - Double eight sees Wright move two legs up.
1-2 - Mathewson claims his first leg of the game on tops.
1-3 - Both players initially miss one dart at a double, with Wright returning on double eight to regain his cushion.
1-4 - Mathewson opens with a 180, but Wright posts double four to move three legs up with a second break of throw.
1-5 - Wright fires in a 180 and tops to create a four-leg gap.
2-5 - Mathewson returns on double 16 to hit back with his first leg in four.
2-6 - Wright finishes 48 on double 16 to regain his lead.
3-6 - Mathewson fires in his second 180 before hitting double four to continue his revival.
3-7 - Mathewson misses his chance to punish Wright's miss at double 16, as the Scot returns on double eight.
4-7 - Mathewson hits back by finishing 68 on double 16.
4-8 - Wright produces a sensational 156 checkout to move two legs away from the semis.
4-9 - Double 16 sees Wright break throw to move to the brink of victory.
4-10 - Both players land 180s before Wright seals a fine win with double eight to book his place in a World Series semi-final for the first time this year.

Match Stats

Rhys Mathewson	4-10	Peter Wright
21	100+	21
7	140+	12
0	170+	0
4	180	2
91.17	Average	95.60
68	High Finish	156
0	Breaks of Throw	3
4/15 - 27%	Checkout %	10/16 - 63%

Gary Anderson v Phil Taylor
0-1 - Taylor finishes 78 on double 12 for a 14-darter to claim the opening leg.
1-1 - Anderson fires in a 180 and double top to level the game.
1-2 - Taylor opens with 140 and 180 and takes out tops for an 11-darter to continue his strong start.
1-3 - Taylor fires in two 180s in another 11-dart finish as double 16 breaks Anderson's throw.
1-4 - Taylor hits his fourth 180 of the game before missing five darts at double 16, but Anderson is unable to land tops to capitalise as the reigning champion returns on double 16.
1-5 - Anderson is left waiting on a finish as Taylor takes out a brilliant 129 combination with treble 19, double 16 and tops.
1-6 - Taylor's brilliant run continues as he claims a fifth successive leg, finishing 115.
1-7 - Taylor breaks throw for a third time, taking out tops to win his sixth straight leg.
1-8 - Taylor hits his fifth 180 before finishing 65 on double four to move two legs away from the semis.
1-9 - Taylor lands his third ton-plus checkout, taking out 127 to move to the brink of the win.
2-9 - Anderson lands double ten as he wins his first leg in nine.
2-10 - Anderson hits his second 180 of the game, only to see Taylor fire in two more of his own - taking his tally to seven - before landing double 16 to complete a clinical triumph with another 11-dart leg.

Match Stats

Gary Anderson	2-10	Phil Taylor
15	100+	16
5	140+	8
0	170+	0
2	180	7
98.09	Average	112.41
54	High Finish	129
1	Breaks of Throw	5
2/4 - 50%	Checkout %	10/15 - 67%

Michael van Gerwen v Kyle Anderson
1-0 - van Gerwen opens the game with a 180 before finishing 48 on double 16 to take the opening leg in 11 darts.
2-0 - The world number one lands a 174 score, and when Anderson misses four darts at doubles the Dutchman steps in on tops to move two legs up with a break.
3-0 - van Gerwen fires in another 180 before hitting double 16 to win a third successive leg.
3-1 - Anderson's 180 is followed by two maximums from van Gerwen, who is unable to take out 83 as the Australian lands tops to claim his first leg.
3-2 - Anderson raises the roof at The Star with a brilliant 160 checkout.
3-3 - The Australian hits tops to level the game and continue his brilliant run.
4-3 - Double eight sees van Gerwen claim his first leg in four to edge ahead again.
4-4 - Anderson lands his second 160 finish of the contest, again bringing the crowd at The Star to their feet.
5-4 - Anderson hits a third 180 of the game, but misses two darts at tops to break van Gerwen's throw as the Dutchman returns from three earlier misses to land double four.
5-5 - The pair trade 180s before Anderson recovers to draw level once again.
6-5 - van Gerwen opens with a sixth 180 before finishing double 16 for an 11-darter to regain the lead.
7-5 - Double six sees van Gerwen break throw to regain a two-leg lead.
8-5 - van Gerwen takes out 53 on tops to push clear of the home favourite.
8-6 - Anderson lands a 180 in an 11-darter to respond.
9-6 - Anderson's 180 is followed by a maximum from van Gerwen, who finishes double 16 to move to the brink of victory.
10-6 - van Gerwen lands a 170 score to leave 30, and when Anderson misses tops the Dutchman wraps up a superb win on double 15.

Match Stats