TAYLOR ENDS SCOTTISH HOPES IN UNIBET MASTERS WITH ANDERSON WIN
PHIL TAYLOR ended Scottish hopes at The Unibet Masters with a superb 10-6 win over Gary Anderson on Sunday afternoon, and he was joined in the semi-finals at the Royal Highland Centre by Michael van Gerwen, Mervyn King and James Wade.
Reigning Masters champion Taylor followed up Saturday's 110 average with a clinical display to see off home favourite Anderson, who led 2-0 and 4-3 only to see the Stoke great punish his missed doubles in the second half of the game.
Anderson had punished missed doubles from Taylor for ton-plus checkouts to win his first four legs, but saw the 54-year-old turn the tables as he won six legs out of seven to move 9-5 up.
Anderson rallied briefly on double six, but Taylor sealed victory with a stylish 139 checkout as he moved through to the last four, where he meets Wade on Sunday night.
"It was a difficult game but my finishing got me through," said Taylor. "Gary let me off on a couple of finishes and I took advantage.
"I'm through to the semi-finals and I'll get myself ready for tonight because it will be a tough challenge."
Anderson admitted: "I missed a few doubles and there were a couple there on tops that couldn't get any closer, so it was frustrating."
Wade overcame Adrian Lewis 10-6 in a game of the highest quality as the two-time World Champion hit eight 180s and averaged almost 107 in a brilliant display only to lose out to the left-hander.
Wade averaged 105 in reply, hitting an early 118 checkout before coming from 4-3 down to pull clear by winning five of the game's final six legs to reach the semi-finals in Edinburgh for a second successive year.
"To beat a players of Adrian's calibre is great and I'm grateful that he missed a few doubles in there because it made it easier for me in the end," said Wade.
"There are three or four players who you have to raise your game against and Adrian's one of them. If you don't play well against him, he beats you up but I kept up with his scoring and made the most of my chances, and I'll look forward to the next game now."
Lewis had been last year's Masters runner-up to Taylor, but said: "Fair play to James, his finishing was great.
"I was on for eight or nine ton-plus checkouts and missed the double, and James punished me. He played well but in the last few months I've not been at the races so it's good to play well like that."
World Champion Michael van Gerwen secured his spot in the semis by seeing off Dave Chisnall 10-7 in their last eight contest.
Van Gerwen opened the game with a brilliant 170 checkout and also finished 120 as he moved 120 into a 5-1 lead, before Chisnall finished 124 as he pulled back to 6-4.
The Dutchman, though, landed seven 180s in a five-leg burst as he pulled away to move to the brink of victory at 9-4, and though Cihsnall hit a 129 finish as he took three legs to threaten a fightback, van Gerwen sealed victory on double three.
"I'm very pleased with the win," said van Gerwen. "It looked like after I hit my first 180 I couldn't stop throwing them, so I was really happy about that but Dave threw some fantastic legs too.
"I was really glad to hit that double three at the end and I wanted to win as quickly as possible because I could have two more long games tonight.
"I've played Mervyn a lot of times in the last couple of years and I've got a good record against him, so I hope I can keep that going tonight - but he's a strong player and I can't afford any mistakes."
Van Gerwen will meet Mervyn King in the semi-finals, as the Norfolk thrower matched last week's success in the European Championship by overcoming Justin Pipe 10-6.
King took command with finishes of 146 and 136 to move into a 5-2 lead, and retained that advantage throughout the remainder of the game as he sealed his place in the last four.
"I had some great checkouts and finished well," said King. "Justin's a far better player than he showed today and he wasn't scoring as well as he normally does and maybe some of my finishes knocked him a bit."
The £160,000 tournament concludes on Sunday night, with the semi-finals to be followed by the final at Edinburgh's Royal Highland Centre, live on ITV4.
Van Gerwen remains the 17/20 favourite to win the title with sponsors Unibet, with Taylor 7/4, Wade 5/1 and King the 20/1 outsider going into the semi-finals.
Relive all the action below with our Interactive Live Blog, plus match information.
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The Unibet Masters
Sunday November 2
Afternoon Session (12.45pm-5pm)
Quarter-Finals
Mervyn King 10-6 Justin Pipe
James Wade 10-6 Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor 10-6 Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Dave Chisnall
Best of 19 legs
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor v James Wade
Michael van Gerwen v Mervyn King
Best of 21 legs
Final
Best of 21 legs
MATCH INFORMATION
Mervyn King v Justin Pipe
1-0 - King makes an excellent start, landing a 180 and tops for a 13-darter to break throw immediately.
2-0 - King doubles his lead by finishing 52 on double 16.
2-1 - Double 12 sees Pipe get off the mark.
2-2 - Pipe initially misses four doubles, but has enough cushion to return and land double three to level the game.
3-2 - King regains the lead with a superb 146 checkout.
4-2 - King this time finishes 86 as he moves two legs clear.
5-2 - King takes out another fine finish, as a 136 checkout sees him break throw again.
5-3 - This time King misses double eight to finish 96, and Pipe finishes 72 on double six.
5-4 - Double 16 sees Pipe hit back.
6-4 - King finishes 70 in two darts on double eight as he denies Pipe the chance to level.
7-4 - King repeats his 70 checkout as he regains his three-leg lead.
8-4 - King kicks off with a 180 before finishing double six to extend his advantage.
8-5 - Pipe responds as he fires in his second 180 of the game.
9-5 - King lands a 180, and returns to win the leg after both players initially miss double 16.
9-6 - Pipe fires in his third maximum and then lands tops as he keeps his hopes alive.
10-6 - Double 16 sees King secure his semi-final place for a second successive weekend.
James Wade v Adrian Lewis
1-0 - Wade posts a 180 as he breaks throw immediately by hitting tops for a 13-darter.
2-0 - Wade takes out 118 to double his lead in a fine start.
2-1 - Lewis lands seven perfect darts for the second time in the tournament, hitting two 180s and a seventh treble 20 before missing the treble 19 on the 141 combination, and despite a maximum in reply from Wade the Stoke ace returns to finish an 11-darter on double 16.
3-1 - Wade opens leg four with a 180, with both players missing the bull for ton-plus finishes before the left-hander returns on double five to hit back.
3-2 - Wade misses the bull for a 126 finish, allowing Lewis in to take out 52 on tops to hit back - with both players averaging above 106 in a superb start to the contest.
3-3 - Lewis breaks throw on double ten to level the game.
3-4 - Lewis hits the front for the first time, opening with a 174 score and finishing 60 after Wade misses double seven to take out 88.
4-4 - Double ten sees Wade level.
5-4 - Lewis opens with a 180, but Wade later lands a 162 score before taking out tops to capitalise on a miss from Lewis on double seven.
5-5 - The world number three opens another leg with a maximum, and though he misses the bull to take out 161, Wade suffers a rare blip with three misses at tops, allowing his rival back in to level on double eight.
6-5 - Lewis lands his fifth maximum, but Wade finishes 82 on the bull to break throw again and edge back ahead.
6-6 - A fourth successive leg goes against the throw as Lewis fires in a maximum before finishing 81 for an 11-darter.
7-6 - Lewis lands a 180 for a fifth successive leg, but misses the bull for a 124 finish and two further darts at double eight, allowing Wade to land double 11 to move himself back into the lead.
8-6 - Wade holds throw as he pins double 12 to move two legs clear.
9-6 - Lewis lands his eighth 180 of the game, but misses double six and double three as he allows Wade in to finish 82 on double eight to move to the brink of victory.
10-6 - Lewis opens with a 177, but it unable to finish 100 to allow Wade back in to finish 66 on tops to seal the win in a high-quality contest - with Wade's 104.65 average bettered by eight maximums and a 106.95 average from Lewis in defeat.
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
0-1 - Taylor misses tops for a 111 finish to break throw, and Anderson hits the same double as he claims the opener.
0-2 - Anderson initially misses double 12 and six to take out 81, but Taylor is unable to land the bull for a 135 checkout to allow the Scottish favourite back in on double six to break throw and double his lead.
1-2 - Anderson fires in the game's first 180, but Taylor is already sat on 24 and takes out double 12 for a 13-darter to break throw and claim his first leg.
2-2 - Anderson lands another maximum, but Taylor finishes 62 on tops to level.
2-3 - Taylor misses the bull for a 121 finish, and Anderson again capitalises as he finishes tops for a 13-darter to regain the edge.
3-3 - Double 14 allows Taylor to level.
3-4 - Anderson's 177 is followed by a 180 from Taylor - but for the fourth time in the game he misses the double to complete a ton-plus finish, this time the bull for a 121, as Anderson is given a reprieve to return on double five.
4-4 - Anderson fails to capitalise on missed doubles from Taylor for the first time in the game, as the reigning champion lands a 180 before eventually taking the leg on double two, after the Scot misses the single 17 to leave the bullseye on a 92 finish.
5-4 - Taylor lands a 180, and punishes Anderson for bursting his score on 80 - hitting double 15 instead of double ten - to allow his opponent back in on double eight.
6-4 - Taylor takes out 62 on tops to open up a two-leg lead for the first time.
6-5 - Taylor misses double nine to take out 123, with Anderson finishing double five to hit back.
7-5 - The tables are turned as Anderson this time misses tops to complete a 112 finish, and Taylor takes out double ten to regain his cushion.
8-5 - Taylor finishes 112 on tops to move three legs clear with a break of throw.
9-5 - Taylor initially misses five darts at doubles, but Anderson misses double top and ten to break back as Taylor returns on double three to move a leg away from the win.
9-6 - Anderson lands double six - with his fifth dart at a double to win the leg - as he keeps the contest alive.
10-6 - Taylor finishes a superb 139 with a treble 20, treble 13 and double top combination to secure a fine win and book his semi-final place.
Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
1-0 - van Gerwen makes a stunning start with a brilliant 170 finish.
1-1 - Chisnall lands tops as he levels the game.
2-1 - The World Champion takes leg three by finishing 95 on double 16.
3-1 - Chisnall misses tops and van Gerwen steps in to break throw by hitting the same bed.
4-1 - van Gerwen takes out 120 as he moves three legs clear.
5-1 - Chisnall misses two darts at double two, and van Gerwen finishes double four to extend his advantage.
5-2 - Chisnall takes out 124 on the bull to hit back with a break of throw.
5-3 - Chisnall lands a 180 and finishes 81 on double 13 to cut the gap to two legs.
6-3 - van Gerwen replies with his first maximum before taking out double 16.
6-4 - van Gerwen fires in back-to-back 180s to leave 84 after nine darts, with Chisnall landing a maximum in reply before stepping in after the World Champion misses the bull by landing double 18 to hit back.
7-4 - van Gerwen opens with 140 and 180 before landing double eight with his third dart as he moves three legs clear.
8-4 - van Gerwen lands six perfect darts with two more maximums, and takes out 65 for an 11-darter.
9-4 - van Gerwen posts a seventh 180 in five legs, with the pair missing doubles for ton-plus finishes before the Dutchman returns to complete a 14-darter to move to the edge of a semi-final berth.
9-5 - Chisnall takes out 129 to hit back.
9-6 - Chisnall replies to an eighth maximum of the game from his rival by posting two 180s of his own, before finishing 81 on double six for a 12-darter to continue his revival.
9-7 - Chisnall takes his third successive leg as double four cuts the gap to two legs.
10-7 - van Gerwen initially misses two match darts at double 12, but Chisnall is unable to land double top as he allows the world number one in on double three to seal victory.
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