BARRIE BATES 11-9 ALAN TABERN
BARRIE BATES ended Alan Tabern's hopes of glory at the Budweiser UK Open with an 11-9 victory in the semi-final.
Welshman Bates reached his first major final with the triumph, and he will now take on either Raymond van Barneveld or John MAGowan for the £30,000 winner's cheque.
Tabern never fully recovered from going 4-1 down early on, although he did out-score Bates by six maximums to one.
Despite being pegged back to 8-7 and 10-8, Bates proved more clinical in his finishing to earn a place in the final.
"I just keep chucking them and they go in!" joked Bates. "I didn't expect to be here but I've got to enjoy it.
"I struggled in parts but Alan let me off and I got back in. Now I'm in the final, it's great."
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 11-7 JOHN MAGOWAN
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD booked his place in the final of the Budweiser UK Open with an 11-7 win over John MaGowan at the Reebok Stadium.
The Dutchman overcame Phil Taylor 11-10 in a classic quarter-final, and was forced to battle again against the veteran Northern Irishman.
Van Barneveld opened the match in style with finishes of 91 and 116 in the first two legs, but MaGowan won the next three to move 3-2 up.
The 65-year-old grandfather of four saw van Barneveld storm back to go 5-3 up, only for MAGowan to pull back level at five-all.
Van Barneveld won three of the next four legs, including a 136 finish as he moved 8-6 up, and that cushion proved great enough as he pulled away to the win.
"It wasn't my best display," said van Barneveld. "I've played better and hopefully I will in the final.
"It means a lot to me and I'm really proud to be in this final."
MaGowan said: "It's been a brilliant weekend. I'm overjoyed to have reached the semi-final and the crowd have been brilliant."
Budweiser UK Open
Semi-Finals
Barrie Bates 11-9 Alan Tabern
Raymond van Barneveld 11-7 John MaGowan
|
Barrie Bates |
Stats |
Alan Tabern |
|
34 |
100+ |
28 |
|
9 |
140+ |
11 |
|
1 |
180 |
6 |
|
27.60 |
Ave1 |
28.39 |
|
82.81 |
Ave3 |
85.17 |
|
48 |
High Finish |
130 |
|
Raymond van Barneveld |
Stats |
John MAGowan |
|
25 |
100+ |
19 |
|
16 |
140+ |
12 |
|
2 |
180 |
3 |
|
32.15 |
Ave1 |
28.74 |
|
96.44 |
Ave3 |
86.22 |
|
136 |
High Finish |
81 |