ANDY HAMILTON, Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and James Wade won through to the semi-finals of the Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay on Friday by winning thrilling quarter-finals at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Reigning champion Taylor produced one of his finest performances on the Winter Gardens stage with a 16-5 victory over Wes Newton, a win which was made more remarkable as he had to come from 4-1 down.
Fleetwood's world number eight Newton took the early advantage in an inspired opening, but Taylor followed a 150 checkout with a brace of 128 finishes in taking the lead, and eventually won nine straight legs in storming to victory.
Taylor averaged over 108 - his highest of the event this year - in taking the victory, and will now play Stoke-born Hamilton in an all-Potteries semi-final on Saturday.
"I'm delighted with that," said Taylor. "I'm not starting brilliantly but it's going well after that, and I'm playing maybe as well as I can.
"Wes is setting a good standard at the moment and he's getting better and better. He doesn't miss and you have to play well to beat him. He hit everything early on but the 150 and 128 were massive shots and you could see his head drop a little bit.
"I'm loving this event and with the way the players are playing, you have to be completely on your game/. I want to hit a 110 average against Andy and to keep improving too because I want to leave here on Sunday with the trophy again."
With World Champion Adrian Lewis having won through to the last four earlier in the day, seeing off Mark Webster 16-12, James Wade secured a spot in the semis against the Stoke ace with a 16-11 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld.
The Dutchman shared the opening 14 legs against Wade, who pulled clear in the final stages with some clinical finishing, notably on his favoured double top.
"I'm not in top gear but I'm winning and I need five more percent in my game before I'm at my best," said Wade.
"This is the best tournament in the world, for me it's bigger than the World Championship and I get a feeling from this tournament that I don't get from any other."
Hamilton, the world number 17 who had claimed the last of 16 Players Championship qualifying places just to get into the World Matchplay before defeating Scottish pair Gary Anderson and John Henderson, had won through to the semis in dramatic fashion earlier on Friday.
He looked set to crash out to Simon Whitlock when the Australian ace led 15-8, but he incredibly won nine successive legs in arguably the greatest comeback in the 18-year history of the World Matchplay.
"At 15-8 I had nothing to lose and I started clawing it back, and that's the greatest comeback of my career," said Hamilton. "Simon kept missing and he gave me a glimmer, and I pounced on him.
"I was probably trying too hard early on and missed too many doubles, but I relaxed as the game went on and it paid off."
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Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session
Simon Whitlock 15-17 Andy Hamilton
Adrian Lewis 16-12 Mark Webster
Evening Session (7pm)
Raymond van Barneveld 11-16 James Wade
Phil Taylor 16-5 Wes Newton
All matches the best of 31 legs. Matches must be won by two clear legs.
Quarter-Final Draw Bracket
Phil Taylor 16-5 Wes Newton
Simon Whitlock 15-17 Andy Hamilton
Adrian Lewis 16-12 Mark Webster
Raymond van Barneveld 11-16 James Wade
ANDY HAMILTON 17-15 SIMON WHITLOCK
ANDY HAMILTON produced the most remarkable comeback in the history of the Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay, winning nine successive legs in coming from the brink of defeat to Simon Whitlock to win 17-15 in their classic quarter-final.
Hamilton, who only earned his spot in the event as the last of 16 Players Championship qualifiers a month ago, seemed set to see his Winter Gardens challenge end when Whitlock took a 15-8 lead.
However, the Australian's accuracy on the doubles evaded him as he missed five match darts across three separate legs as Hamilton clawed his way back level and snatched the most dramatic of victories.
Whitlock made the stronger start, hitting a 174 and double eight to win the opening leg and recovering from allowing Hamilton in to level on tops in the second with some clinical finishing to win three successive legs.
The first came courtesy of a 116 checkout, the second saw him hit tops for an 80 finish and the third, for a 14-darter saw Whitlock follow a 180 with double 16.
Hamilton hit his first 180 of the match in the sixth leg, and swiftly added a second in posting a superb 11-dart leg to halt the run.
The next two were shared courtesy of double 16 finishes, before Whitlock took the ninth in spectacular fashion by following a 180 with a 105 checkout.
Hamilton landed another 11-darter to pull back to 6-4, but Whitlock again hit top gear, winning six out of the next seven legs to pull clear at 12-5, with only a third 11-dart finish of the game from the Englishman coming in reply.
Hamilton hit his fifth 180 of the game and double top to slow Whitlock's progress, although the Australian replied with a 106 checkout and also shared the next four legs as he edged towards victory by moving 15-8 up.
Double 16 from Hamilton saw him begin the fightback, and when he broke throw for the first time in the match in the 24th leg with a 12-darter which featured two 180s, the gap was reduced to 15-10.
Whitlock was first to a finish in the next, but when he missed three match darts just above double top, Hamilton stepped in with an 86 finish to stay alive.
Another missed double top in the next, this time for a 120 finish, allowed Hamilton to finish double 16, and when he hit a pressure double five to reduce the gap to 15-13, the comeback was truly underway.
Whitlock posted a 180 in the next, and when Hamilton missed double 16 for a 142 finish he was handed another chance to take the win - but again was off-target on double top, and his opponent returned to pull to within a leg.
Hamilton then finished 68 to level the match, and landed his ninth 180 and a 68 finish to incredible lead for the first time at 16-15 after Whitlock missed five darts to regain his advantage.
Whitlock replied with a maximum in the next as he battled to keep the game alive, but Hamilton secured the victory in style, finishing 94 on the bullseye with a superb dart to complete the most remarkable of fightbacks.
"I can't believe it," said Hamilton. "At 15-8 I had nothing to lose and I started clawing it back, and that's the greatest comeback of my career.
"Simon kept missing and he gave me a glimmer, and I pounced on him. I got back in the game and at 15-13 I was on a roll.
"I was probably trying too hard early on and missed too many doubles, but I relaxed as the game went on and it paid off."
Hamilton's win followed up defeats of number four seed Gary Anderson and a second Scot, John Henderson, and ensures that he will return to the world's top 16.
"I'm growing in confidence and I've nothing to lose in the semi-finals," said Hamilton. "Because I beat Gary it's given me more self-belief and I've nothing to lose.
"I'm the underdog but I could go all the way, and I'm shutting the doubters up about my game. People said I was gone and that I'd never come back but this will shut them up."
Match Stats
|
Simon Whitock |
15-17 |
Andy Hamilton |
|
35 |
100+ |
38 |
|
27 |
140+ |
20 |
|
6 |
180 |
9 |
|
32.05 |
Ave1 |
32.16 |
|
96.14 |
Ave3 |
96.49 |
|
116,106,105 |
High Finish |
94 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
4 |
|
15/42 - 36% |
Checkouts |
17/39 - 44% |
ADRIAN LEWIS 16-12 MARK WEBSTER
ADRIAN LEWIS overcame a slow start before defeating Mark Webster 16-12 to reach the Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay semi-finals at the Winter Gardens on Friday.
The World Champion trailed 4-1 and 6-2 as Webster made a swift start in his bid to reach the semis in a second successive major, following his run in the Speedy Hire UK Open last month.
However, Lewis won seven out of eight legs in mid-game to edge into a 9-7 lead, and he eventually proved too strong as he booked his place in Saturday's semi-finals.
Webster made an ideal opening to the game, taking the first leg and then breaking to win the second after Lewis suffered some early double trouble.
A makeshift finish of double 11, double three from Webster saw him move into a 3-0 lead, and although Lewis got off the mark by hitting a 180 and tops in the fourth a 13-darter from Webster saw him take a 4-1 advantage at the first break.
A 70 finish from Lewis saw him win the sixth, but Webster edged the next two to take a 6-2 advantage, only to miss two chances in the next as Lewis posted double five to break.
He followed that with a 14-dart leg and checkouts of 110 and 118 for four successive legs in levelling the contest, before Webster took out 72 on double 12 to 7-6 up.
A two-dart 85 finish from Lewis saw him level once more, and he took the lead for the first time with a 13-dart leg, which was followed by double top as he moved clear at 9-7.
Webster finished 104 to win the 17th leg, but Lewis moved three legs ahead with a brace of double tops as he edged towards the winning line.
Webster replied with two double ten checkouts to pull back to 11-10, and hit a 180 in the next only to see Lewis finish 72 on double 18 to five himself breathing space.
After the Welshman took the next, Lewis held his cool to hit a 180 and a 90 finish to lead 13-11 and then moved two legs away from the semis by winning the 25th leg.
Webster produced a brilliant ten-darter to keep his hopes alive at 14-12, but Lewis replied with back-to-back 180s in winning the next before sealing victory on double 11.
Having stared defeat in the face against Kevin Painter in the first round, as his opponent missed six darts to knock him out, Lewis now sits two victories away from claiming his second major title in the space of seven months following defeats of Vincent van der Voort and Webster.
"In the first match Kevin played well and I was lucky to get through, but you have to take your chances and I've shown a lot of bottle," said Lewis. "That's part of why I'm World Champion and I think I can go on to win this tournament now.
"When I was 4-1 down at the first break against Mark I knew I had three or four more gears and I knew what I had to do.
"He kept giving me chances and I didn't take them early on, but I never felt under pressure. I'll have to improve, though, and I will probably have to average 103 or 104 to win the semi-finals, but I've got the game to do it."
Match Stats
|
Adrian Lewis |
16-12 |
Mark Webster |
|
33 |
100+ |
37 |
|
20 |
140+ |
18 |
|
7 |
180 |
2 |
|
31.59 |
Ave1 |
30.68 |
|
94.76 |
Ave3 |
92.05 |
|
118,110 |
High Finish |
104 |
|
6 |
Legs Against Throw |
4 |
|
16/37 - 43% |
Checkouts |
12/38 - 32% |
JAMES WADE 16-11 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
JAMES WADE secured his place in the Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay quarter-finals with a 16-11 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld at the Winter Gardens on Friday night.
Dutch star van Barneveld had defeated Wade during his run to the World Matchplay final in Blackpool last year, and had performed superbly against Steve Brown and Paul Nicholson to book his last eight spot this week.
However, he was punished for missed doubles at key times as Wade, the 2007 World Matchplay champion, took out four ton-plus finishes to set up a tantalising semi-final with World Champion Adrian Lewis
Van Barneveld made a bright start, hitting double top to win the opening two legs without reply before Wade landed a second 180 of the game and double ten to get off the mark in the third.
When he hit tops to take the next three legs and a 4-2 lead, Wade's early double troubles seemed to have been put behind him, only for the left-hander to then miss three darts to win the seventh as van BArneveld hit back.
Wade hit a 180 in the eighth, but double six drew van Barneveld level - and the tables were turned in the next when the Dutchman landed a maximum only to see his opponent finish 121.
The next two were shared before van Barneveld finished 126 on the bullseye to square the match at six-all, and the pair traded the next two legs as the match remained finely poised.
Wade, through, produced two fine finishes to take the next two legs, taking out 95 and 96 to lead 9-7, assuming an advantage he would never lose.
Van Barneveld landed a 174 and double eight to take the next, but when he missed his chance to level in leg 18 Wade hit double ten to break and a 100 finish for a 14-darter to move 11-8 up.
Finishes of double eight and double six pulled the five-time World Champion back into the game, but again a chance to level slipped away as he missed the bull for another 126 finish, with Wade taking out 116.
Three further missed doubles from van Barneveld gave Wade the chance to hit double ten for a 13-10 lead, and when he took out 127 on double eight the winning line loomed into sight.
Double top saw Wade edge to the brink of victory, and although van Barneveld landed double 16 to stay in the contest it proved only brief respite as the left-hander's trusted double top secured the win.
"I'm not in top gear but I'm winning and I need five more percent in my game before I'm at my best," said Wade. "The big finishes were good but they were rescue shots for me - I'm not scoring as well as I can.
"It's not felt comfortable for the first two games and it didn't quite click for me, and it's testing my ability.
"This is the best tournament in the world, for me it's bigger than the World Championship and I get a feeling from this tournament that I don't get from any other."
Wade defeated Lewis in last year's World Grand Prix final and also in the 2007 World Matchplay semi-finals, but is expecting a huge test against the World Champion.
"He's supposed to be the best player and roughly is, more times than not," added Wade.
"He's done very well to win the one title I want, the World Championship. He's brilliant at darts, amazing, and there's no other player who can string together two or three legs when you need them like he can."
Match Stats
|
Raymond van Barneveld |
11-16 |
James Wade |
|
32 |
100+ |
38 |
|
22 |
140+ |
24 |
|
6 |
180 |
5 |
|
31.64 |
Ave1 |
31.50 |
|
94.93 |
Ave3 |
94.50 |
|
126 |
High Finish |
127,121,116,100 |
|
4 |
Legs Against Throw |
6 |
|
11/27 - 41% |
Checkouts |
16/40 - 40% |
PHIL TAYLOR 16-5 WES NEWTON
PHIL TAYLOR stormed into the semi-finals of the Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay with an amazing fightback to hit back from 4-1 down and defeat Wes Newton 16-5 at the Winter Gardens.
Local star Fleetwood, the world number eight who was appearing in his first World Matchplay quarter-final, stunned the reigning champion by taking an early 4-1 lead.
But Taylor showed his quality in a relentless barrage as he won 15 of the next 16 legs, including nine in a row, to take a superb win, hitting a key 150 finish and a brace of 128 checkouts along the way.
Following his victories over Andy Smith and Justin Pipe earlier in the event, home favourite Newton made a great start by winning the opening leg on double 16 and hitting the same bed to double his lead with an immediate break of throw.
After hitting a 180 in the third, Newton missed the bullseye for an 84 finish in a bid to move further clear as Taylor opened his account with a 66 checkout.
The duo traded maximums in the fourth, and after Taylor missed the bull Newton finished double top for a fine 11-dart leg, and then took the fifth to move 4-1 up at the first break.
He also hit a 180 in the sixth leg, but was left waiting on 40 when Taylor took out 150 before the reigning champion piled in a 128 finish in the next and a 14-darter to draw level.
Taylor then hit another 128 finish to take the lead for the first time, despite a fourth 180 of the game from Newton, and landed a 180 and double ten to edge 6-4 up.
Newton hit back well in the 11th, with Taylor hitting a 174 to leave 32 but being denied a dart at the double as Newton finished 72 on double six to win his fifth leg.
However, Taylor asserted his dominance with a clinical 64 finish before breaking in a key 13th with a 71 checkout after trading 180s with Newton, and double 18 gave him a 9-5 cushion.
He added a 12-darter win his tenth leg, and also produced an 11-dart finish which featured a 180 and a 96 checkout, but it was his accuracy on double 16 - allied to his pounding of the treble 20 and treble 19 beds - which saw him power to victory.
Taylor hit the double 16 bed in five of the final six legs, with none being over 13 darts as he stormed into a a semi-final against Stoke-born Andy Hamilton.
"I'm delighted with that," said Taylor. "I'm not starting brilliantly but it's going well after that, and I'm playing maybe as well as I can.
"Wes is setting a good standard at the moment and he's getting better and better. He doesn't miss and you have to play well to beat him.
"He hit everything early on but the 150 and 128 were massive shots and you could see his head drop a little bit.
"I'm loving this event and with the way the players are playing, you have to be completely on your game.
"I want to hit a 110 average against Andy and to keep improving too because I want to leave here on Sunday with the trophy again.
"Andy will battle for every dart and he wears his heart on his sleeve. He showed that against Simon Whitlock with the best performance I've seen all year.
"I can't think of anyone who can take nine legs in a row against Simon, but Andy never legs his concentration slip. He works hard for what he's got and he earns everything he gets."
Taylor added: "It's a great semi-final line-up and I'm glad I'm on first so that I can watch the other semi-final. Everyones a little bit in awe of Adrian because he's World Champion and James is on a high at the minute, so that will be a cracking game."
Newton said: "I'm obviously very disappointed but I gave it my all.
"It's starting to get on my nerves a bit that Phil seems to play at his very best against me, but I've got to take the positives from that because perhaps he does it for a reason, and maybe I'm bringing the best out in him.
"I will keep plugging away and hopefully get the better of him one day. I'll regroup now and get ready for the European Championship now.
"It's been a good step forward for me. I've come into this tournament and won a couple of games in Blackpool at last."
Match Stats
|
Phil Taylor |
16-12 |
Wes Newton |
|
24 |
100+ |
23 |
|
20 |
140+ |
14 |
|
5 |
180 |
5 |
|
36.13 |
Ave1 |
32.05 |
|
108.39 |
Ave3 |
96.15 |
|
150,128,128 |
High Finish |
72 |
|
8 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
16/23 - 70% |
Checkouts |
5/9 - 56% |
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