Speedy Services UK Open QFs

DAVE CHISNALL, Robert Thornton and Denis Ovens will challenge for their first major PDC title alongside Phil Taylor in the semi-finals of the Speedy Services UK Open on Sunday evening.

The four stars won through Sunday afternoon's quarter-finals at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton to remain on course for the £40,000 first prize, which will be decided with the semi-finals and final on Sunday night.

Only Taylor of the quartet has previously lifted a major PDC title, but his three rivals will be confident of winning the UK Open following fine victories in the quarter-finals.

Chisnall was arguably the most impressive of the afternoon's winners, sending two-time UK Open Raymond van Barneveld crashing out of the tournament with a 10-5 victory.

The St Helens ace won the game's first five legs in a superb opening, and although van Barneveld hit back to 7-4 at one stage it was Chisnall who took two of the next three to move into the semis with a 99.79 average.

"I'm very pleased with my performance," said Chisnall, who had reached the quarter-finals on his Bolton debut last year. "I played quite well there, and the start I made was important.

"I didn't think I had it won at 5-0 because Barney can always come back, so I'm happy to have got through it. Robert's having a good weekend and I'm looking forward to playing him tonight."

Thornton knocked out 2011 runner-up Wes Newton with a 10-8 victory in their contest, despite the Fleetwood ace making the early running to take a 3-1 lead.

Thornton levelled and punished Newton for missed doubles as he allowed a potential ten-dart finish to slip away in leg nine, as the Scot moved into a lead he would never relinquish.

Newton hit two 121 finishes to stay in the hunt, but Thornton sealed victory with a 13-darter to reach his first major semi-final for over three years as he plays Chisnall.

"Wes is always a tough opponent but he missed a few doubles and I'm glad I got past him," said Thornton. "I'm very happy with the way I'm playing and ecstatic to have got this far.

"I'm taking each round as it comes and I'll prepare myself as well as I can for the semi-finals."

Ovens, meanwhile, won through to the semi-finals in Bolton for a third successive year as he saw off Jamie Caven 10-6 in their clash.

Caven, like Newton earlier in the afternoon, led 3-1 only to see his opponent hit back as Ovens won four straight legs to move 5-3 up.

Caven hit a ten-darter in levelling and was also all-square at six-all before Ovens' superior finishing saw him take the next four without reply to progress, with the Derby man paying for 26 missed doubles during the contest.

"I'm relaxed and enjoying myself and it's great to be back in the semi-finals," said Ovens, who now meets Taylor in a repeat of their meeting at this stage two years ago.

"I had a couple of let-offs yesterday but was pleased with how I finished against Jamie. I know the size of the challenge against Phil but I'm looking forward to it."

World number one Taylor remained on course for his fifth UK Open title with a 10-5 win over Terry Jenkins, who never fully recovered from the missed doubles which allowed the Stoke ace to take an early 4-1 lead.

Taylor also hit a showpiece 125 checkout of bullseye, 25 and bullseye to lead 7-2, and although Jenkins rallied by winning three out of four legs to pull back to 8-5, it was the 51-year-old who secured his last four place with a 12-darter.

"I'm really happy with that and I'm playing lovely," said Taylor, who averaged 106.52 in the win. "In a competition like this you want to keep getting better and better, and I think I'm doing that.

"I missed a few doubles but I'm happy with a 10-5 win because Terry's a tough opponent. It sets me up nicely for the semi-finals and I can't wait for tonight."

The semi-finals will be followed by the final of the £200,000 tournament in the Premier Suite at the De Vere Whites Hotel in Bolton.

Speedy Services UK Open
Sunday June 10
Quarter-Finals
Wes Newton 8-10 Robert Thornton
Dave Chisnall 10-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 10-5 Terry Jenkins
Denis Ovens 10-6 Jamie Caven

WES NEWTON 8-10 ROBERT THORNTON
ROBERT THORNTON reached the semi-finals of the Speedy Services UK Open for the first time with a fine 10-8 victory over last year's runner-up Wes Newton.

The Scotsman will now face Dave Chisnall in his first televised semi-final for over three years, since he reached the final of the 2009 Players Championship Finals.

Newton managed to take an early advantage by establishing a 3-1 lead before Thornton won the fifth leg after the Fleetwood man missed two darts at double top to pull further clear.

The Scotsman, who has beaten Mark Webster, Gary Anderson and Dennis Priestley to reach the quarter-finals, won three of the next four legs to level at four apiece before taking the next two with finishes of 82 and 61 to move 6-4 up.

Newton won the next leg to reduce the gap to one before Thornton produced the better finishing, to take the next three legs to move 8-5 ahead and two legs away from triumph.

Newton won the next two legs, which included a 121 finish to keep in the hunt, before Thornton hit a timely 13-dart finish to move 9-7 up.

Newton hit another 121 checkout to keep the match alive but Thornton pulled clear in the next with back-to-back 180s and went on hit tops to seal a place in the last four.

Leg-by-leg
1-0 - Thornton hits a 180 only to miss three darts at doubles allowing Newton to secure an early break by hitting the same bed.
1-1 - The Scotsman hits back with an excellent 13-dart finish to level.
2-1 - Newton regains the lead by hitting double eight and break his opponent's throw for a second time.
3-1 - Thornton misses one dart at double top and Newton takes out 65 in two-darts to move two legs clear.
3-2 - Newton is off-target with two attempts at double top and Thornton hits the same bed to stay in touch.
3-3 - Thornton hits double top for the second leg running to break throw and level the match.
3-4 - Both players struggling to find their range but Thornton lands double 10 to lead for the first time.
4-4 - Thornton kicks-off the leg with 180 and 140 but a missed dart at bull for a 124 finish allows Newton in to hit double seven.
4-5 - Newton leaves 36 after nine darts thrown, however, three missed darts at doubles see's Thornton take out 82 in two-darts.
4-6 - Newton is just off-target with a dart at bullseye for a 121 checkout and Thornton takes out 61 to go two legs up.
5-6 - Thornton hits a 171 to leave 30 after 12-darts thrown, but two misses darts at doubles prove costly as Newton takes out 72.
5-7 - Newton misses two darts at tops to level and Thornton hits double four to restore his two leg advantage.
5-8 - Thornton moves two legs from victory by landing double five after Newton was unable to hit tops for a 103 finish.
6-8 - Newton hits double top at the first time of asking to reduce to the gap.
7-8 - Newton hits a 180 followed by an excellent 121 checkout, to break Thornton's throw.
7-9 - Thornton hits back with an excellent 13-darter to break throw.
8-9 - The Scotsman leaves 78 after 12-darts thrown only for Newton to take a 121 finish for the second time in the match.
8-10 - Thornton kicks-off with back-to-back 180s to leave a chance of a nine-darter. It's not to be but he successfully hits double top to claim a semi-final place.

Match Stats

DAVE CHISNALL 10-5 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELDDAVE CHISNALL secured a famous 10-5 victory over Raymond van Barneveld to reach his first PDC televised semi-final in the 2012 Speedy Services UK Open at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.

The St Helens ace, who reached the last eight of this event 12 months ago, started superbly to establish a 5-0 lead and kept that cushion to set up a clash against Robert Thornton on Sunday evening.

The 2010 Lakeside Championship finalist began the match by taking the first two legs in 14 darts, before winning the third on double two.

The next two legs also fell the way of the St Helens star, who hit a 72 finish to move 5-0 up with his opponent waiting on tops to continue a brilliant start.

The five-time World Champion hit back by winning the next two legs with superb 11-darters before taking the next to reduce the deficit to 5-3.

Van Barneveld missed three chances to win a fourth leg in a row, allowing Chisnall in to take that and the next leg with a 110 finish to move four legs clear.

The next two legs were shared to leave Chisnall 8-4 up before van Barneveld converted an excellent 121 finish, on the bull, to keep in the game.

Chisnall took the next which included his fifth 180, and then won the match by converting a 66 finish after van Barneveld was unable to take the three opportunities he had to keep the match alive.

Leg-by-leg
1-0 - Chisnall makes a confident by taking out 68 in two-darts to establish an early lead.
2-0 - The St.Helens man continues his red hot start to the match by hitting a 180 before taking the in 14-darts.
3-0 - The Dutchman misses bullseye for a 170 finish and Chisnall hits double two to complete a 15-dart finish.
4-0 - Chisnall lands double 18 at the first time of asking to convert his second 14-darter of the game.
5-0 - van Barneveld leaves himself 40 but does not get a shot at the double as Chisnall takes out 72 to move further clear of his opponent.
5-1 - The five-time World Champion hits a 180 only for Chisnall to hit two of his own before missing the bull for a 6-0 lead. The Dutchman wins the leg in 11-darts.
5-2 - Van Barneveld produces another superb 11-dart finish to reduce the deficit to three legs.
5-3 - Van Barneveld hits tops at the first time of asking to complete a 14-dart finish.
6-3 - The Dutchman is off-target with three darts at doubles and Chisnall lands double 12 to move three legs clear.
7-3 - Chisnall takes out a 110 finish with his opponent waiting on a two-darter.
7-4 - van Barneveld lands a second 180 and hits double four at the first attempt to stay in the hunt.
8-4 - van Barneveld fires in another 180 but a missed dart at tops proves costly as Chisnall hits the same bed.
8-5 - The Dutchman converts a 121 checkout, completed on the bullseye.
9-5 - Chisnall hits a fifth maximum of the match and win the leg by landing double top at the first attempt.
10-5 - van Barneveld is off-target with three crucial chances to keep the match alive as Chisnall takes out 66 on double top to win the match.

Match Stats

PHIL TAYLOR 10-5 TERRY JENKINSPHIL TAYLOR moved into the semi-finals of the 2012 Speedy Services UK Open with a 10-5 triumph over Terry Jenkins on Sunday afternoon.

"I'm playing lovely and getting better and better as the tournament progresses and that's what you want in a tournament like this," said the world number one, who followed up his 110 average against Ronnie Baxter in the last round, with a three-dart average of 106.52 against Jenkins.

"Terry did miss a few doubles early on in the game and that allowed me to set up a cushion and I built on that, so I'm happy with the 10-5 win."

Taylor, looking for a fifth UK Open title, established an early 3-1 lead over Jenkins, despite the Ledbury man having opportunities to win each of the first four legs.

The next two legs were shared before Taylor hit a 13-darter, followed by a 12-dart finish to 6-2 ahead and three legs away from a place in the last four.

The four-time UK Open champion kicked on by hitting bullseye, 25, bullseye to convert a showpiece 125 checkout to move five legs clear.

Jenkins produced a mini-revival to win three of the next four legs, which included finishes of 91 and 87, to cut the gap to 8-5.

But Taylor hit a maximum in the process of taking a 9-4 advantage and repeated the trick in the next, before landing double 16 to end Jenkins' hopes of a first major title.

Leg-by-leg
1-0 - Jenkins misses double five for a 142 finish and Taylor holds throw by landing double five.
2-0 - Taylor secures an early break of throw on double four, after Jenkins misses a dart at double 16 to level.
2-1 - Taylor is off-target with three chances to take a 3-0 lead and Jenkins capitalises by hitting tops to break back.
3-1 - Jenkins is made to pay for three missed darts to level as Taylor converts a 65 finish to regain a two-leg lead.
4-1 - Taylor hits double 12 at the first attempt to complete a 13-darter.
4-2 - Both players hit 180s before Jenkins takes out 78 to win the leg after Taylor missed a dart at bullseye.
5-2 - Taylor converts his second 13-dart finish of the contest by landing double eight.
6-2 - Both players trade maximums before Taylor hits a 174, followed by an 89 finish for a 12-darter.
7-2 - Taylor converts a 'showpiece' 125 checkout by hitting bullseye, 25, bullseye.
7-3 - Taylor is made to pay for two missed darts at double as Jenkins takes out a 91 finish.
8-3 - The Stoke ace takes out 87 finish with just two-darts to record an 11-dart finish.
8-4 - Jenkins converts a 13-dart finish completed on double top.
8-5 - Jenkins secures a rare break of throw by landing double two after Taylor is guilty of missing three chances for a 9-4 lead.
9-5 - Taylor hits double top with his last dart to move a leg away from triumph.
10-5 - Taylor fires in a fifth maximum before going on to win the leg in 12-darts to seal the match in style.

Match Stats

DENIS OVENS 10-6 JAMIE CAVEN
DENIS OVENS continued his love affair with the Reebok Stadium as he reached the semi-finals of the Speedy Services UK Open for a third straight year with a 10-6 win over Jamie Caven.

Ovens had taken a 5-3 advantage in the early stages only for Caven to level at six apiece before the Stevenage thrower put together a four-leg winning run to secure victory, making his opponent pay for 26 missed darts at doubles.

The reward for the 54-year-old, who came into the tournament at the preliminary round stage on Thursday night, is a clash against Phil Taylor for a place in the final.

After dropping the first leg of the match Caven won the next three, which included finishes of 80 and a superb 131, completed with two double tops.

Ovens hit back to win the next three legs to lead 4-3, capitalising on numerous missed attempts at doubles from his opponent.

Ovens, a semi-finalist in Bolton for the last two years, converted a 116 finish to win the eighth leg before Caven took the next two legs in 12 and ten darts respectively, to leave the match finely poised at five-all.

The next two legs where shared before Ovens put together a run of three straight legs to move 9-6 up after Caven suffered more difficulties on the doubles.

A similar pattern followed in the next leg as Caven missed two chances at double 18 to keep the game alive and Ovens hit double top to seal a spot in the last four.

Leg-by-leg
1-0 - Caven hits a 177 whilst Ovens hits a 180 and goes on to win the leg after Caven is guilty of missing five darts at doubles.
1-1 - Both players fire in 180s before Caven converts an 80 finish to break-back.
1-2 - Ovens hits a third maximum in as many legs but Caven wins it with a superb 131 checkout, courtesy of treble 17 followed by two double tops.
1-3 - Caven hits tops with his third dart to move two legs clear.
2-3 - Caven misses five chances to win a fourth straight leg and Ovens accepts the opportunity with an accurate dart at double eight.
3-3 - Ovens hits double nine to level the match after Caven misses two chances to win it.
4-3 - The Hertfordshire man hits double nine for a second successive leg to lead the match for the first time.
5-3 - Ovens takes out a 116 finish to win a fourth leg in a row.
5-4 - Caven wins the leg in just 12-darts completed with a 93 finish.
5-5 - Caven hits a third 180 followed by a 165 in a fantastic 10-dart finish.
6-5 - Ovens records a fourth maximum before taking out 80 to edge ahead for a second time.
6-6 - Caven takes out 68 with his opponent waiting on 32.
7-6 - Ovens converts a 60 finish with a successful attempt at double 10 with his third dart to break throw.
8-6 - The tension mounts as both players miss three darts at doubles before Ovens land double six.
9-6 - Ovens makes Caven pay for five miss darts at doubles by taking out 92, landing double top with his third dart.
10-6 - Caven is off-target with two attempts at double 18 and Ovens hits tops to end the contest.

Match Stats

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