CHISNALL STUNS TAYLOR IN SINGAPORE DARTS MASTERS OPENERS
DAVE CHISNALL caused a sensation on the opening day of the Singapore Darts Masters, in association with Singha Beer and Weston's Cider, with a 10-6 win over Phil Taylor on Friday, as Michael van Gerwen, James Wade and Simon Whitlock joined him in the semi-finals of the World Series of Darts event.
Taylor had travelled to Singapore on the back of claiming a record seventh successive World Matchplay title last month, but paid for missed doubles as Chisnall recorded a 10-6 win from their quarter-final.
Chisnall led 2-0 and 4-2 early on, before Taylor capitalised on a string of misses from the world number eight as he cut the gap to 4-3.
The roles were reversed, though, in the next two legs as Chisnall finished 82 and 76 on tops to take advantage of misses from Taylor, and he also won the next three legs to move 9-3 up.
Taylor, staring defeat in the face, hit back with legs of 14, 13 and 14 darts to reduce the gap to 9-6 and threaten a fightback as Chisnall began to wobble.
Taylor also landed a 180, his fourth, in the game's 16th leg, but missed two further darts at doubles to allow Chisnall in to take out 112 on tops to complete a memorable win.
"I'm delighted, over the moon," said Chisnall. "I started quite well; my scoring was good at the beginning and I was hitting my finishes well.
"My finishing was my strong point but I scored quite well and that gave me the chances. When I went 9-3 up I just froze and thought 'I'm going to win this'.
"I had six legs to win one and so I was thinking that it didn't matter how I play, I'll win one. Phil gave me the shot at 112 at the end and I took it."
Chisnall will now face Australian star Whitlock in the semi-finals, having claimed a narrow 10-8 win when they last met in a televised event in the Dubai Darts Masters in May.
"Me and Simon always have cracking matches," he added. "I've just beaten one of the best players in the world so there's no reason that I can't win this now."
Whitlock powered into the semi-finals with a 10-6 win over Raymond van Barneveld in a see-saw contest which saw the lead change hands four times before the world number four prevailed.
Premier League Darts champion van Barneveld took out 116 early on as he came from a leg down to move ahead, only for Whitlock to take a 4-3 lead.
A second 13-darter of the game from van Barneveld saw him level in the eighth, and after Whitlock posted a 180 as he moved 5-4 up, the Dutchman levelled by hitting two maximums in an 11-darter before punishing missed doubles from his opponent to lead 6-5.
Whitlock, though, took the next two to regain the lead at 7-6 and finished a key 114 checkout with a 'Shanghai' combination on the 19 bed of treble, single and double 19 as he took a two-leg cushion for the first time.
Van Barneveld posted a maximum in the next as he battled back, but two missed doubles proved crucial as Whitlock finished 100 to move 9-6 up and then hit tops to complete the win.
"I feel great after winning that," said Whitlock. "I started a bit slowly but I played well towards the end of the match.
"There wasn't a lot in the match, but Raymond missed a couple of doubles and I hit a few good finishes which turned the course of the game. I'm feeling pretty good now going into the semis."
World Champion Michael van Gerwen sealed his 10-4 win over Andy Hamilton with a superb 164 checkout as he progressed to a semi-final against left-hander Wade.
Van Gerwen, making his first outing since losing in the World Matchplay final to Taylor and subsequently marrying partner Daphne, was punished for a slow opening as Hamilton won the first leg.
The world number one, though, replied with finishes of 68 and 108 in a clinical reply and landed two 180s as he took a 3-1 cushion.
Hamilton finished 80 and 105 as he pulled back to trail just 4-3, but van Gerwen won the next four legs - twice punishing missed doubles from his opponent and landing the bull for a 12-darter in another leg - as he moved 8-3 up.
Hamilton hit a 180 and double ten as he responded, but van Gerwen took out 78 on tops to lead 9-4 before sealing the win in style by finishing 164 on the bull.
"It was difficult at the beginning but I got into the game and it was a good win," said van Gerwen. "I tried really hard and at times it went well, but I need to find a bit more form and I'll get that as the tournament goes on.
"I feel good. I've had a great honeymoon but I want to win more tournaments now and that's what I'm in Singapore to do."
Wade, meanwhile, impressed as he averaged 100.65 and finished 71 percent of his chances at at double in his memorable 10-4 win over Peter Wright.
Wade opened the game with a 13-dart leg and traded 14-darters with Wright before finishing double five, tops, 121 on the bull and 96 on double 18 to move 6-1 up in a brilliant opening to the contest.
Wright finished 118 and double 18 to take the next two, but was punished by two misses at double eight in the tenth leg as Wade moved 7-3 up and then finished tops and 101 to lead 9-3.
Wright took out 93 as he kept his hopes alive, but Wade ended any chance of a fightback as he took out 140 to seal his place in the last four.
"It's a good win for me and I'll take that," said Wade. "To win a tournament like this I've got to play a lot better, but it's a good start."
The Singapore Darts Masters, in association with Singha Beer and Weston's Cider, will conclude on Saturday with the semi-finals and final at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
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Singapore Darts Masters
Friday August 15
Quarter-Finals
Peter Wright 4-10 James Wade
Simon Whitlock 10-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 6-10 Dave Chisnall
Michael van Gerwen 10-4 Andy Hamilton
All games the best of 19 legs, first to ten
Tournament Draw Bracket
Michael van Gerwen (1) v Andy Hamilton
Peter Wright (4) v James Wade
Phil Taylor (2) v Dave Chisnall
Simon Whitlock (3) v Raymond van Barneveld
Saturday August 16
7pm local time (12pm BST)
Semi-Finals Order of Play
Dave Chisnall v Simon Whitlock
Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
Final
van Gerwen/Wade v Chisnall/Whitlock
Semi-Finals and Final are the best of 21 legs, first to 11
WATCH LIVE!
Watch the Singapore Darts Masters live:
Sky 2 (Channel 121 in UK & Ireland)
Fox Sports Asia
RTL7 Netherlands
Sky New Zealand
www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers
NB - Fox Sports Australia are now not showing live coverage of the Singapore Darts Masters, but will show the event on Aug 19 (2pm Fox 1) and Aug 20 (7.30pm Fox 2). Fans in Australia can watch via Sky New Zealand or www.LIVEPDC.TV.
LIVE BLOG
Updates below are based on Singapore local time.
23:13 - The Semi-Finals and FInal will take place on Saturday from 7pm local time (12pm BST) - it's Dave Chisnall v Simon Whitlock then Michael van Gerwen v James Wade.
23:10 - van Gerwen 10-4 Hamilton - van Gerwen seals the win in superb style with a sensational 164 checkout.
23:08 - van Gerwen 9-4 Hamilton - van Gerwen fires in a 180 before taking out 78 to move a leg away from victory.
23:06 - van Gerwen 8-4 Hamilton - Hamilton again hits a maximum to set up a possible 11-darter, but misses the bull and double top - with two darts - before returning to punish three misses at double five from van Gerwen by hitting double ten.
23:04 - van Gerwen 8-3 Hamilton - Hamilton lands a 180 to set up a possible 11-dart leg, but misses doubles in four visits to the board before van Gerwen steps in on double two.
23:00 - van Gerwen 7-3 Hamilton - van Gerwen pins tops as he moves five legs clear.
22:58 - van Gerwen 6-3 Hamilton - van Gerwen finishes 81 on the bull for a 12-darter to break throw.
22:56 - van Gerwen 5-3 Hamilton - Hamilton misses double 16 to finish 70, and van Gerwen capitalises on double eight.
22:48 - van Gerwen 4-3 Hamilton - van Gerwen misses the bull for a 121 finish, and Hamilton takes out 105 with a treble 19, single 16, double 16 combination to hit back again.
22:45 - van Gerwen 4-2 Hamilton - The World Champion opens with a 180 before finishing double eight to regain his cushion.
22:43 - van Gerwen 3-2 Hamilton - Hamilton finishes 80 on tops to hit back with his first leg in four.
22:41 - van Gerwen 3-1 Hamilton - van Gerwen sets up a possible nine-darter with two 180s, but misses a seventh treble 20. However, he returns to finish double ten to move two legs up.
22:39 - van Gerwen 2-1 Hamilton - van Gerwen finishes 108 on double 16 to break throw and move ahead.
22:37 - van Gerwen 1-1 Hamilton - The Duchman takes out 68 in two doubles with a treble 20, double four combination as he levels.
22:35 - van Gerwen 0-1 Hamilton - van Gerwen starts slowly before landing a 180 after Hamilton had already reached a finish - but both players miss chances to win the leg in two visits on doubles before Hamilton returns to land double four.
22:28 - The night's final walk-ons are underway, with Andy Hamilton first up on stage to be closely followed by Michael van Gerwen.
22:21 - Dave Chisnall on stage: "I'm delighted. I started quite well and was hitting my finishes well. My finishing was my strong point but I scored quite well and that gave me the chances. Phil gave me the shot at 112 at the end and I took it."
22:15 - Our final game will see World Champion Michael van Gerwen - May's Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters winner - taking on Andy Hamilton. Andy's won the bull and will throw first.
22:14 - Dave Chisnall's superior finishing proves the difference as he takes out 10/21 for a 48% ratio, with Phil Taylor averaging 101.47 but missing 15 of 21 attempts at doubles in the game.
22:13 - Taylor 6-10 Chisnall - Taylor opens with a 180 but misses double 16 and double eight to continue his fightback, and Chisnall takes out 112 on tops to claim the win.
22:11 - Taylor 6-9 Chisnall - Chisnall leaves 40 after 12 darts, only to see Taylor finish double 16 for another 14-darter to claim a third successive leg.
22:08 - Taylor 5-9 Chisnall - Taylor's response continues as he scores 174 to leave 40 before hitting tops for a 13-darter and his first break of throw in the game.
22:06 - Taylor 4-9 Chisnall - Taylor wins his first leg in six with a fine 14-darter, hitting two 137 scores and then posting a 168 to leave 16, which he finishes on double eight.
22:04 - Taylor 3-9 Chisnall - Taylor lands a 180 and then scores 96 to set up tops, but Chisnall had also left 40 and lands double ten to edge to the brink of a famous win.
22:02 - Taylor 3-8 Chisnall - Chisnall takes out 82 on double 16 to win a fourth successive leg, breaking throw again to move two legs away from the Semi-Finals.
21:59 - Taylor 3-7 Chisnall - Chisnall finishes tops again as he takes a four-leg cushion.
21:57 - Taylor 3-6 Chisnall - Chisnall takes a three-leg lead with another break of throw, punishing two misses from Taylor at double six, for a 72 finish, but taking out 76 on tops.
21:54 - Taylor 3-5 Chisnall - Taylor kicks off the leg with a 174 score but misses double seven to finish 88, and Chisnall takes out 82 on tops to regain his cushion.
21:47 - Taylor 3-4 Chisnall - Taylor opens what proves to be a dramatic leg with a 180, but misses five darts at doubles to win the leg, only to be allowed back in on double five after Chisnall misses the bull for a 170 finish and four further doubles across two visits.
21:44 - Taylor 2-4 Chisnall - Both players open with 180s before Chisnall finishes 87 on double 18 for an 11-dart leg.
21:42 - Taylor 2-3 Chisnall - Taylor scores 165 to leave 16 before landing double eight to hit back.
21:40 - Taylor 1-3 Chisnall - Chisnall posts double top to regain his two-leg lead.
21:38 - Taylor 1-2 Chisnall - Taylor misses double 16 with two darts, but Chisnall is unable to finish 131 to allow the world number two back in on double eight.
21:36 - Taylor 0-2 Chisnall - Chisnall lands a 180, and though he initially misses double 18 and double nine, Taylor is unable to land the bull for a 124 finish to allow his opponent back in on double nine.
21:33 - Taylor 0-1 Chisnall - Chisnall claims an immediate break of throw, hitting three 140s before finishing double top with his third dart at the bed.
21:27 - Our players for the third game are entering the arena - Dave Chisnall's now on stage as Phil Taylor makes his way into the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
21:20 - Simon Whitlock on stage: "I started the game a bit slowly but I played well towards the end of the match. There wasnt a lot in the match but Raymond missed a couple of doubles and I hit a few good finishes which turned the course of the game. I feel great after winning that."
21:16 - Next up is Phil Taylor against Dave Chisnall - Phil Taylor will throw first after winning the pre-match bull.
21:15 - The pair share eight 180s in the match, but Whitlock ends with a 97.05 average as he progresses to the Semi-Finals on Saturday.
21:13 - Whitlock 10-6 van Barneveld - Whitlock hits double top to secure the win with an impressive five legs in a row.
21:11 - Whitlock 9-6 van Barneveld - van Barneveld opens with five treble 20s with a 180 and 125 score, but misses two darts at tops and one at double ten, allowing Whitlock to take his fourth successive leg with a clinical 100 finish.
21:09 - Whitlock 8-6 van Barneveld - Whitlock finishes a superb 114 with "Shanghai" on the 19 bed, with treble, single and double 19 giving him a two-leg lead for the first time.
21:07 - Whitlock 7-6 van Barneveld - Whitlock hits a 177 to leave 44 after nine darts, and though van Barneveld replies with a 180, the Australian finishes double eight for a 12-dart leg to break and move in front once more.
21:05 - Whitlock 6-6 van Barneveld - Whitlock hits another 180 before landing double four to level.
21:03 - Whitlock 5-6 van Barneveld - A dramatic leg sees Whitlock wire the bull for a 164 finish and miss two further darts to win the leg, allowing van Barneveld back in from a missed bullseye to land double 16 as he moves back in front.
20:59 - Whitlock 5-5 van Barneveld - The Dutchman hits his first two 180s of the game as he leaves 58 after nine darts, and when Whitlock misses double five to take out 130, he steps in to level once more by pinning tops for an 11-dart leg.
20:57 - Whitlock 5-4 van Barneveld - Whitlock lands another 180 before hitting tops to break throw again and move back ahead.
20:55 - Whitlock 4-4 van Barneveld - van Barneveld breaks back immediately to level with a 13-dart leg, ending on double 12.
20:48 - Whitlock 4-3 van Barneveld - The Australian opens the leg with another maximum, and returns from initially missing the bull for a 124 finish to land double four as he breaks to move back ahead.
20:46 - Whitlock 3-3 van Barneveld - Whitlock fires in a 180, the game's first, but misses tops and three darts at double ten, although when van Barneveld is unable to set up a double when needing 116 the Australian returns to hit double ten to level.
20:44 - Whitlock 2-3 van Barneveld - van Barneveld initially misses double ten for a 137 finish before returning to hit the bed to regain the advantage.
20:42 - Whitlock 2-2 van Barneveld - Whitlock finishes double four as he levels.
20:40 - Whitlock 1-2 van Barneveld - van Barneveld finishes 116 on double 18 to move ahead.
20:38 - Whitlock 1-1 van Barneveld - The Dutchman breaks back as he hits tops for a 13-darter.
20:35 - Whitlock 1-0 van Barneveld - van Barneveld misses two darts at double 18, and Whitlock hits the same bed to break throw after leaving 36 with a 139 score.
20:33 - We're underway, with Raymond van Barneveld throwing first.
20:29 - It's time to get our second game on stage, with Raymond van Barneveld enjoying his walk-on first, to be followed by Simon Whitlock.
20:24 - James Wade on stage: "To win a tournament like this I've got to play a lot better, but it's a good start for me and I'll take that."
20:19 - Coming up shortly will be our second Quarter-Final as Simon Whitlock faces Raymond van Barneveld.
20:19 - Impressive performance from James Wade, as he hits four 180s and checks out 71% of his chances at a double (10/14).
20:18 - Wright 4-10 Wade - Wade completes victory in superb style with a 140 checkout, ending the game with a 100.65 average.
20:16 - Wright 4-9 Wade - Wright takes out 93 on double 18 as he keeps alive his hopes in the event.
20:14 - Wright 3-9 Wade - A 101 finish moves Wade to the brink of an impressive victory.
20:12 - Wright 3-8 Wade - Wade this time takes out 45 as he moves five legs clear once again.
20:10 - Wright 3-7 Wade - Wade hits a fourth 180 of the game, and capitalises on two misses at double eight from Wright - for a 73 finish - to take out 40 and regain his cushion.
20:07 - Wright 3-6 Wade - Wright's revival continues as he posts double 18 to break Wade's throw.
20:05 - Wright 2-6 Wade - We're back in action following the advertising break, and Wade adds a third 180 of the game only to see Wright take out 116 on tops to hit back.
19:58 - Wright 1-6 Wade - Wade finishes 96 on double 18 for a 14-darter to move five legs ahead of Wright.
19:56 - Wright 1-5 Wade - Wade takes a fourth successive leg, finishing 121 on the bullseye to continue his charge.
19:54 - Wright 1-4 Wade - Wade lands another 180 before finishing double top to move three legs clear.
19:52 - Wright 1-3 Wade - Wright misses double 16 to finish 91, and Wade capitalises on double five to break throw.
19:49 - Wright 1-2 Wade - Wade hits the game's first 180 before finishing 76 in two darts on double eight for a 14-darter of his own.
19:47 - Wright 1-1 Wade - Wright misses double 18 for a 121 finish, but returns to land double eight and level in 14 darts.
19:45 - Wright 0-1 Wade - Confident start from James Wade as he hits three 140s and takes out double five for a 13-darter.
19:40 - Here come the boys! James Wade has just walked onto the stage and is being joined now by Peter Wright.
19:30 - Our live broadcast is about to start - see the WATCH LIVE section above for details of where to view this!
19:25 - News for our first game is the James Wade has won the bull and will throw first against Peter Wright.
19:18 - We're getting ready here to start the Singapore Darts Masters! The Singapore Indoor Stadium is filling up and the anticipation is rising ahead of the opening of our new World Series of Darts event.