REPORTS, results and reaction from the semi-finals at the 2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.
Two-time World Champion John Part is the only former winner remaining in the event, and he faces 2004 Kevin Painter in the first semi-final.
They are followed by three-time semi-finalist Wayne Mardle, who knocked out Phil Taylor, taking on 21-year-old qualifier Kirk Shepherd.
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PLEASE NOTE that there are currently technical issues with the Live Scoreboard and semi-final updates will be available below
2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship
Semi-Finals (7pm Sunday)
Kevin Painter 2-6 John Part
Wayne Mardle 4-6 Kirk Shepherd
Listen to player reaction in DartsTV
JOHN PART 6-2 KEVIN PAINTER
(3-2, 3-2, 0-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2, 0-3, 3-2)
JOHN PART ended Kevin Painter's title dream with a clinical display to reach his first Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship final in five years.
Painter knocked out defending champion Raymond van Barneveld earlier in the tournament, but his hopes of a first major title were extinguished by the 2003 champion.
The Canadian started well, winning the first two legs, but Painter won the next two after Part missed four darts for the set.
Painter had chances to win the set in the deciding leg, but he missed two darts at doubles and Part landed an 88 finish, hitting double seven with his last dart to take the lead.
The second set was a replay of the first, with Part again opening up a 2-0 advantage before Painter took the third leg and then levelled with a 101 checkout.
But Part had the advantage of throw in the deciding leg, and made that count with a superb 13-dart finish to open up a 2-0 lead.
The Daventry-based man hit back quickly to take the third set without reply, hitting a 15-dart finish in the second leg and then winning it with a 74 checkout.
Painter then took the first leg of the fourth set, and had two darts at doubles to take a 2-0 lead, but he could not take the opportunity and Part stepped in to take the leg.
The Canadian then took the fourth leg, and then hit another 13-dart finish in the deciding leg of the set to re-establish his two sets advantage.
Painter opened up a two leg advantage in the fifth set with checkouts of 96 and 108.
Part took the third leg with a fantastic 160 checkout, and then hit double seven to take another set to a deciding leg.
He then won that with a 44 finish to lead 4-1, despite Painter having a dart at bull to win the set.
The sixth set also went to a fifth leg and once again it was Part who took it with an 88 finish, landing double seven to go one set away from victory.
Painter stemmed the tide to take the seventh set without reply from his opponent, which included an 11-dart finish in the first leg.
Painter broke the throw at the start of the eighth set with a 65 finish, but Part came back to take the next two legs to go one away from victory.
Painter hit double four to win the fourth leg and had one dart to take the set for 109 finish.
But he failed to hit double 16 and that proved to be costly and Part hit a brilliant 130 finish to take victory in style.
"It's fantastic," said Part. "It obviously keeps my hopes of a third title alive and it feels good - but it's just one step and there's an even bigger step for me on New Year's Day, if I can take it.
"I've felt fantastic all week but I felt a little worn out today. I played Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Sunday night so I'll enjoy having a day off!
"Just to be in the final is fantastic, and to be in position to close out another title is really exciting.
"It was a tough match against Kevin. There's a lot of respect between us and we were both a little tight at times and I hit some key darts.
"It was a difficult match because I got into the lead, you just want to get across the line but he made me earn it."
Painter conceded that missed doubles cost him, after earlier wins over Gary Mawson, Chris Mason, Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis put him in the last four.
"I felt as good as I did against Barney but sometimes when you go the wrong side of the wire you know it's not going to be your day," admitted Painter.
"It was disappointing because five of the six sets that John won were 3-2 and I was at a double before him in some of them.
"Earlier in the week my finishing was good but I let John in and gave it to him. He's a great champion and he played well in the legs that mattered.
"The sets I won were easy, and if I'd have hit my doubles in the other sets I'd have done better.
"Tomorrow I will wake up disappointed but in a couple of days I will reflect on the whole tournament and I'd have taken a semi-final if you'd said that to me at the start of the week."
Listen to reaction from John Part & Kevin Painter in DartsTV
Match Stats
KIRK SHEPHERD 6-4 WAYNE MARDLE
(0-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 2-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-2)
QUALIFIER KIRK SHEPHERD produced a sensational performance to reach the final on his debut at the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship and shatter Wayne Mardle's hopes of claiming a maiden major title.
The 21-year-old had built up a 3-1 lead, and had five darts to go 4-1 up in a thriller, only for Mardle to come back to lead 4-3.
Mardle - who knocked out 13-time World Champion Phil Taylor in the quarter-finals - appeared to have weathered the storm, but Shepherd was undeterred and went on to take the next three sets without reply to continue his remarkable journey at this year's World Championship.
Mardle started well, taking the opening set without reply in a strong start, but Shepherd hit back quickly to win the second in the same manner.
Mardle established a 2-1 lead in the third and then had six darts at double one to win the set, after hitting a 140 to leave two.
But he missed those opportunities and Shepherd cashed in by hitting double two to level.
The Romford man had more chances in the deciding leg, but he was off-target once again and Shepherd landed double top to pinch the set.
After Mardle's problems on the doubles in the third set, he hit an incredible 170 checkout at the start of the fourth set, and then doubled his advantage by taking the second leg.
Shepherd, though, came back to win the next three legs and take the set to establish a 3-1 lead, after Mardle had missed two darts at doubles to win the set.
In the fifth set it was Shepherd who was guilty of missing doubles, and Mardle landed a superb 140 checkout to cut the deficit to 3-2.
He then levelled the match, breaking throw in the third leg and hitting a 13-dart finish in the fourth, which included his fifth maximum of the game.
Mardle took the seventh set to lead for the first time since the opening set of the match, hitting a fantastic 12-dart finish in the deciding leg.
Shepherd levelled at 4-4 by taking the eighth set, which also went to a deciding leg, by landing double 16.
The qualifier from Kent then broke throw at the start of the ninth set with a clinical 123 checkout, and led 2-0 after both players missed chances to take it.
Mardle converted a 72 finish in the third leg, but Shepherd hit double four to lead once again at 5-4.
Shepherd won the opening two legs of the tenth set, taking the second with an 80 finish after Mardle had missed three darts at doubles.
Mardle broke back in the third leg, hitting a two-dart 96 checkout to complete an 11-dart finish and then won the fourth by landing a crucial double 16 after Shepherd had one dart for the match at double six.
But Shepherd held his nerve and hit two 140s in the deciding leg, followed up with a 62 checkout to win an amazing contest.
"I'm on cloud nine," said Shepherd. "When I came here I knew if I played the darts I could I would go far, but I never dreamed of reaching the World Championship final.
"I'm there and I really do think I can win this now. I won't fear John - he has got to beat me."
Shepherd is guaranteed £50,000 for reaching the final - with the winner on New Year's Day taking home £100,000 - and he will also move into the PDC's top 32 after starting the event at 140th in the Order of Merit.
"I know I'm in the Grand Slam of Darts and hopefully I have pushed into the top 32 of the world," he added. "The £50,000 means a lot to me and it could change my life for the better."
Listen to reaction from Kirk Shepherd in DartsTV
Match Stats
Two-time World Champion John Part is the only former winner remaining in the event, and he faces 2004 Kevin Painter in the first semi-final.
They are followed by three-time semi-finalist Wayne Mardle, who knocked out Phil Taylor, taking on 21-year-old qualifier Kirk Shepherd.
Watch Live Coverage on www.worldchampionshipdarts.tv
Follow the action in DartsTV with live audio commentary - click here to visit DartsTV
PLEASE NOTE that there are currently technical issues with the Live Scoreboard and semi-final updates will be available below
2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship
Semi-Finals (7pm Sunday)
Kevin Painter 2-6 John Part
Wayne Mardle 4-6 Kirk Shepherd
Listen to player reaction in DartsTV
JOHN PART 6-2 KEVIN PAINTER
(3-2, 3-2, 0-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2, 0-3, 3-2)
JOHN PART ended Kevin Painter's title dream with a clinical display to reach his first Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship final in five years.
Painter knocked out defending champion Raymond van Barneveld earlier in the tournament, but his hopes of a first major title were extinguished by the 2003 champion.
The Canadian started well, winning the first two legs, but Painter won the next two after Part missed four darts for the set.
Painter had chances to win the set in the deciding leg, but he missed two darts at doubles and Part landed an 88 finish, hitting double seven with his last dart to take the lead.
The second set was a replay of the first, with Part again opening up a 2-0 advantage before Painter took the third leg and then levelled with a 101 checkout.
But Part had the advantage of throw in the deciding leg, and made that count with a superb 13-dart finish to open up a 2-0 lead.
The Daventry-based man hit back quickly to take the third set without reply, hitting a 15-dart finish in the second leg and then winning it with a 74 checkout.
Painter then took the first leg of the fourth set, and had two darts at doubles to take a 2-0 lead, but he could not take the opportunity and Part stepped in to take the leg.
The Canadian then took the fourth leg, and then hit another 13-dart finish in the deciding leg of the set to re-establish his two sets advantage.
Painter opened up a two leg advantage in the fifth set with checkouts of 96 and 108.
Part took the third leg with a fantastic 160 checkout, and then hit double seven to take another set to a deciding leg.
He then won that with a 44 finish to lead 4-1, despite Painter having a dart at bull to win the set.
The sixth set also went to a fifth leg and once again it was Part who took it with an 88 finish, landing double seven to go one set away from victory.
Painter stemmed the tide to take the seventh set without reply from his opponent, which included an 11-dart finish in the first leg.
Painter broke the throw at the start of the eighth set with a 65 finish, but Part came back to take the next two legs to go one away from victory.
Painter hit double four to win the fourth leg and had one dart to take the set for 109 finish.
But he failed to hit double 16 and that proved to be costly and Part hit a brilliant 130 finish to take victory in style.
"It's fantastic," said Part. "It obviously keeps my hopes of a third title alive and it feels good - but it's just one step and there's an even bigger step for me on New Year's Day, if I can take it.
"I've felt fantastic all week but I felt a little worn out today. I played Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Sunday night so I'll enjoy having a day off!
"Just to be in the final is fantastic, and to be in position to close out another title is really exciting.
"It was a tough match against Kevin. There's a lot of respect between us and we were both a little tight at times and I hit some key darts.
"It was a difficult match because I got into the lead, you just want to get across the line but he made me earn it."
Painter conceded that missed doubles cost him, after earlier wins over Gary Mawson, Chris Mason, Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis put him in the last four.
"I felt as good as I did against Barney but sometimes when you go the wrong side of the wire you know it's not going to be your day," admitted Painter.
"It was disappointing because five of the six sets that John won were 3-2 and I was at a double before him in some of them.
"Earlier in the week my finishing was good but I let John in and gave it to him. He's a great champion and he played well in the legs that mattered.
"The sets I won were easy, and if I'd have hit my doubles in the other sets I'd have done better.
"Tomorrow I will wake up disappointed but in a couple of days I will reflect on the whole tournament and I'd have taken a semi-final if you'd said that to me at the start of the week."
Listen to reaction from John Part & Kevin Painter in DartsTV
Match Stats
|
Kevin Painter |
2-6 |
John Part |
|
46 |
100+ |
43 |
|
26 |
140+ |
24 |
|
5 |
180 |
4 |
|
30.65 |
Ave1 |
30.95 |
|
91.94 |
Ave3 |
92.84 |
|
108,101 |
High Finish |
160,130,100 |
KIRK SHEPHERD 6-4 WAYNE MARDLE
(0-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 2-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-2)
QUALIFIER KIRK SHEPHERD produced a sensational performance to reach the final on his debut at the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship and shatter Wayne Mardle's hopes of claiming a maiden major title.
The 21-year-old had built up a 3-1 lead, and had five darts to go 4-1 up in a thriller, only for Mardle to come back to lead 4-3.
Mardle - who knocked out 13-time World Champion Phil Taylor in the quarter-finals - appeared to have weathered the storm, but Shepherd was undeterred and went on to take the next three sets without reply to continue his remarkable journey at this year's World Championship.
Mardle started well, taking the opening set without reply in a strong start, but Shepherd hit back quickly to win the second in the same manner.
Mardle established a 2-1 lead in the third and then had six darts at double one to win the set, after hitting a 140 to leave two.
But he missed those opportunities and Shepherd cashed in by hitting double two to level.
The Romford man had more chances in the deciding leg, but he was off-target once again and Shepherd landed double top to pinch the set.
After Mardle's problems on the doubles in the third set, he hit an incredible 170 checkout at the start of the fourth set, and then doubled his advantage by taking the second leg.
Shepherd, though, came back to win the next three legs and take the set to establish a 3-1 lead, after Mardle had missed two darts at doubles to win the set.
In the fifth set it was Shepherd who was guilty of missing doubles, and Mardle landed a superb 140 checkout to cut the deficit to 3-2.
He then levelled the match, breaking throw in the third leg and hitting a 13-dart finish in the fourth, which included his fifth maximum of the game.
Mardle took the seventh set to lead for the first time since the opening set of the match, hitting a fantastic 12-dart finish in the deciding leg.
Shepherd levelled at 4-4 by taking the eighth set, which also went to a deciding leg, by landing double 16.
The qualifier from Kent then broke throw at the start of the ninth set with a clinical 123 checkout, and led 2-0 after both players missed chances to take it.
Mardle converted a 72 finish in the third leg, but Shepherd hit double four to lead once again at 5-4.
Shepherd won the opening two legs of the tenth set, taking the second with an 80 finish after Mardle had missed three darts at doubles.
Mardle broke back in the third leg, hitting a two-dart 96 checkout to complete an 11-dart finish and then won the fourth by landing a crucial double 16 after Shepherd had one dart for the match at double six.
But Shepherd held his nerve and hit two 140s in the deciding leg, followed up with a 62 checkout to win an amazing contest.
"I'm on cloud nine," said Shepherd. "When I came here I knew if I played the darts I could I would go far, but I never dreamed of reaching the World Championship final.
"I'm there and I really do think I can win this now. I won't fear John - he has got to beat me."
Shepherd is guaranteed £50,000 for reaching the final - with the winner on New Year's Day taking home £100,000 - and he will also move into the PDC's top 32 after starting the event at 140th in the Order of Merit.
"I know I'm in the Grand Slam of Darts and hopefully I have pushed into the top 32 of the world," he added. "The £50,000 means a lot to me and it could change my life for the better."
Listen to reaction from Kirk Shepherd in DartsTV
Match Stats
|
Wayne Mardle |
4-6 |
Kirk Shepherd |
|
56 |
100+ |
56 |
|
39 |
140+ |
28 |
|
6 |
180 |
6 |
|
30.79 |
Ave1 |
29.59 |
|
92.36 |
Ave3 |
88.77 |
|
170,140,121 |
High Finish |
128,123,106 |