RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD recovered from 5-1 down to beat Gary Anderson 10-8 and set up a semi-final showdown with Michael van Gerwen on day two of the Brisbane Darts Masters.
Rob Cross and Peter Wright will contest the other semi-final at the BCEC after the pair defeated Corey Cadby and Raymond Smith respectively.
The first match of the night saw Dutch legend Van Barneveld began the game in style, taking out 161 on the bull to win the opening leg of the encounter.
A run of five straight legs then put Anderson firmly in control of the contest and seemingly on his way to the last four.
The five-time World Champion had other ideas though, stringing together six consecutive legs to lead 7-5.
A crucial moment came in leg 14 when Van Barneveld took out 111 on tops with Anderson sat on 40 waiting to break back and level.
The Dutchman, who is still aiming to win his first ever World Series event, then went on to seal the win hitting six maximums in the process and book a place in the semi-finals.
“Maybe now we have seen the natural throw of Raymond van Barneveld and you can see what I can do.
I think in the last seven or eight legs I hit maybe five or six 180s. I’ve struggled with my set-up a little but it’s starting to come together now.
“I am pretty confident now and happy with the win against the world matchplay champion,” said the 51-year-old after his victory.
The victory for Van Barneveld means he sets up a semi-final with fellow Dutchman Michael van Gerwen after the world number one hammered Kyle Anderson 10-3.
Finishes of 140 and 136 were the highlights of a game that Van Gerwen was dominant in.
The Dutch ace raced in to a 5-0 lead and from that point Anderson had no answer.
The Australian did manage to close the gap to two legs but after that Van Gerwen barely gave his opponent a shot as he bulldozed his way in to the last four.
“I started well and once I was 5-0 up the damage was already done, he wasn’t able to do anything special in the game and it was a very comfortable win for me,” said the two-time World Champion after the victory.
“He didn’t really give me a game tonight so it’s hard to take much from the match. I know I need to be much better against Raymond tomorrow but if I play my best game I will have the trophy at the end of the night,” summed up a bullish MVG.
Rob Cross will be back for Sunday’s final day of action after a classy 10-4 win over Australian sensation Corey Cadby.
The World Champion averaged 101 and struck six 180s in a match he dominated as he booked his spot in the semi-finals.
The pair traded holds of throw until the first television break, with Cross leading 4-3.
After that stoppage it was all one way traffic with the number four seed winning six of the next seven legs to progress.
“The break was really important for me. I saw I was averaging low 90’s and that gave me a kick up the backside.
“After that I started to find my rhythm and didn’t waste many darts,” said Cross.
“Corey is an incredible talent but if you give him and inch, he will take a mile so it was important that once I got in front I stayed in control.
“I want to win one of these before the end of the year and I’m still going strong and I know if I play as well as I can I will go very close,” concluded the world number three.
Peter Wright will be the Cross’ opponent in the last four after the number one seed defeated Raymond Smith 10-4.
Smith had beaten his namesake Michael in the shock of the previous night but was unable to find the same form that helped him beat the former World Youth Champion.
The Australian started well taking out 107 to hold in the opening leg and stuck with the Scot until the seventh leg where Wright struck the first break of throw.
After that the Melbourne Darts Masters Champion took control winning six of the next seven legs to seal victory with an average of 101.91.
“I have changed the way I am approaching my games, there’s no point worrying about how tired you are, you just have to get on with it and play darts.
“When the Aussie and New Zealand guys come over for the world championships we don’t want to hear them complaining, so let’s just play as well as we can and enjoy it,” said a pragmatic Wright after his win.
“I have got to play more solid (against Rob Cross) but I believe I can up my game if I’m pushed.
“I’ve taken the points out all the other darts I’ve brought with me so I haven’t got temptation to change them because it will take me ages to put all the points back in,” joked a happy Wright after his win.
The Brisbane Darts Masters will conclude on Sunday with the semi-finals and final being played at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Brisbane Darts Masters will conclude on Sunday with the semi-finals and final from 7pm local time. For tickets, visit ticketek.com.au.
The Brisbane Darts Masters will be broadcast live on Fox Sports across Australia and worldwide through the PDC's international broadcast partners, as well as through PDCTV-HD for Rest of the World Subscribers (outside of the UK, Ireland & Netherlands).
UK TV coverage on ITV4 will be from 7pm BST on Saturday and Sunday.
2018 Brisbane Darts Masters
Saturday August 18
Quarter-Finals
Gary Anderson 8-10 Raymond van Barneveld
Rob Cross 10-4 Corey Cadby
Michael van Gerwen 10-3 Kyle Anderson
Peter Wright 10-4 Raymond Smith
Best of 19 legs
Sunday August 19 (7pm)
Semi-Finals
Peter Wright v Rob Cross
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Best of 21 legs
Final
Wright/Cross v Van Gerwen/Van Barneveld
Best of 21 legs
The Brisbane Darts Masters will be held from August 17-19 at the BCEC. For tickets, visit www.ticketek.com.au.