REPORTS from the semi-finals of the Stan James World Matchplay, with James Wade overcoming Roland Scholten to reach his first major final, where he will face Phil Taylor.
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Stan James World Matchplay
Semi-Finals (7pm BST)
James Wade 19-17 Roland Scholten
Phil Taylor 17-11 Andy Hamilton
JAMES WADE 19-17 ROLAND SCHOLTEN
JAMES WADE reached his first major final with a stunning 19-17 win over Roland Scholten in the Stan James World Matchplay.
The 23-year-old from Aldershot has risen steadily up the rankings for the past two years, and has come of age on the big stage at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool this week.
Following superb wins over Denis Ovens, Kevin Painter and Chris Mason, he knocked out another leading player in a thrilling contest.
Fans who queued from 11am on Friday were treated to one of the greatest games in the tournament's history as Wade came back from 5-1 down at one stage to take the win.
Dutchman Scholten even had the chance to win the game 18-16 before Wade took three successive legs, including a ten darter to seal the biggest win of his career.
"When I messed up those first few legs it got to me," he admitted afterwards. "It played on my mind and didn't let me play how I had been. I was thinking about it rather than playing how I can.
"That made me more determined though, because I thought people would have been thinking I can only win when I'm in front.
"I wanted to prove now that I can do it in both situations, and hopefully I've done that."
Wade opened the game with a fine 102 finish to break Scholten's throw, but the Dutchman responded with checkouts of 113 and 121 in taking the next five legs.
Wade hit back to trail just 6-5 by winning four of the next five legs, and the high-quality finishing continued with efforts of 114 from the youngster - after Scholten had missed the bullseye - and 110 from the Dutchman.
Scholten hit a second 12-dart leg, ending with a 136 finish, and he edged out to 11-7 despite some missed doubles.
Wade took three legs on the spin to cut the deficit to one leg, and won the 23rd leg with a fine 150 checkout.
Scholten roared back with a 120 in the next leg, and though Wade continued to battle the Dutchman managed to keep himself ahead at 15-14.
But Wade won the next two to go 16-15 up, and then missed double 14 for the match before Scholten checked out 114 to stay alive and send the game into the tie break.
Scholten held his throw to take the next leg, but Wade snatched the next two with the Dutchman sat on a double to go 18-17 up.
He then hit scores of 140, 180 and 145 to leave himself sat on a finish, and sank to his knees after seeing his double 18 for a ten darter give him the victory.
"It's probably up there with the toughest games I've played in my career but I've never experienced a game like that on TV," he said.
"I'm over the moon. I thought I'd thrown it away when I missed and he took out 114 but he gave me another chance and I wasn't going to miss it again.
"I've worked for this a long time but I've put a lot of extra work in during the past two weeks, more than I normally would, after giving up my job to go professional.
"I don't think I would be in the final if I wasn't full time. I had a big relaxing week-and-a-half before I came here, instead of trying to finish off jobs on the last day before an event.
"I'll be doing exactly the same on Saturday - you don't fix what ain't broken!"
As an added bonus for his performance, Wade has earned himself a holiday to Barbados, after manager Jason Thame promised him and stablemate Andy Jenkins the trip should one of the pair reach the Blackpool final.
"Jason has stayed loyal to me throughout my career and I owe him a lot," he added. "He's great for myself and Andy, and he has always had faith in me.
"I've earned at least £15,000 now for this tournament, so maybe I should be paying!"
Scholten was typically gracious in defeat, and stated: "I missed too many doubles.
"I eased up and let him back in at the end, and he out-scored me in the last two legs.
"I got away with the 114 to make it 16-all but had to take out too many big shots. That was my punishment for missing doubles earlier on.
"I never felt uncomfortable and I tried to win every five-leg session but he kept coming back at me. At the end he got level, I knew I had to put my foot down and then I missed a dart at a double and he took it.
"In the last leg he out-scored me with 140, 180, 145 and there was nothing I could do about that.
"I know how well he can play so it's no surprise to me at all. I knew he would be a tough opponent and I tried my best."
PHIL TAYLOR 17-11 ANDY HAMILTON
PHIL TAYLOR overcame a superb challenge from Andy Hamilton to stay on course for an eighth Stan James World Matchplay title with a 17-11 semi-final triumph.
Hamilton, appearing in his first major semi-final, gave as good as he got against the 13-time World Champion in an epic all-Stoke contest.
The qualifier led three times in the match and also missed double 12 for a nine-dart leg - a feat only Taylor has achieved in the World Matchplay's 13-year history.
Taylor himself set up a potential perfect leg, but failed on treble 19 after hitting seven perfect darts.
Hamilton opened the game with a 114 finish, but Taylor took four of the next five to open up a 4-2 lead.
Hamilton hit back to go 6-5 up, and regained the lead with an 11-dart leg after missing out on the nine-darter.
Taylor then took six of the next seven legs in a typical burst to go 12-8 up, but a double-burst from Hamilton kept him in contention.
After failing to land a single maximum in the opening 23 legs, Taylor lifted his average to 102 with four maximums in three legs - including two 11-darters - to go to within one leg of the win.
Hamilton hit back with a 12-darter, but three ton-plus scores from Taylor gave him the cushion to wrap up the win and move into another final.
"It was hard work, he hit me with everything bar the kitchen sink," said Taylor. "He was fantastic, his first dart was sensational.
"Andy is now one of the big boys and he doesn't realise himself his potential - I knew he was good, he has been for four or five years, but all of a sudden he is beginning to realise how good he is.
"I've never seen anybody concentrate like him.
Hamilton averaged 101.88 and landed 12 maximums, eight more than Taylor, to confirm his status among the sport's elite.
"I felt comfortable up there," he said. "I was looking forward to the match and had a good game but I missed a few doubles early on and it made the difference.
"Phil took them out and I can't fault him. I'll always fight to the end and it was the best I've thrown all week."
He added: "I'd have loved to hit the nine-darter. I hit one in the practice room earlier and maybe I will get one in the future."