partypoker.com World Grand Prix SF

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN and Robert Thornton will contest the final of the partypoker.com World Grand Prix on Saturday evening, following their semi-final triumphs over Mark Webster and Mensur Suljovic at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin.

Reigning champion van Gerwen is bidding to claim his third title in four years in the famous double-start tournament, and continued his relentless quest with a 4-1 victory over Webster in the last four.

Webster has enjoyed a resurgence in reaching his first major semi-final for almost four years and shared the opening two sets with van Gerwen, who found another gear to claim nine of the next 11 legs as he swept into the final.

Webster kicked off the game with a 120 checkout and took the opening set to a decider only for top seed van Gerwen to move ahead on double 16.

The Dutchman then led 2-0 in the second only for Webster to battle back to level as an 82 finish forced a decider, which he won with a sensational 103 checkout as van Gerwen waited on 32.

However, van Gerwen stamped his authority on the match by taking set three without reply with the aid of two 14-dart finishes, and came from a leg down to win the fourth 3-1.

He then took out finishes of 154 and 124 to lead 2-0 in set five, and though Webster replied on double nine, a 74 checkout completed van Gerwen's clinical win.

"It's amazing for me and a fantastic feeling," said van Gerwen, the 2012 and 2014 Dublin winner. "My scoring power tonight was phenomenal and I hope I can keep that going for the final.

"Mark had a couple of good finishes and made if difficult, and my starting wasn't great at times but I did the right things at the right times, and when he got the second set I found an extra gear.

"It's such a hard tournament to win but I know what it's like to win here and I'm really pleased that I'm in the final. I've never lost a final here yet so I have to turn up and make sure I don't make any mistakes.

"Robert's a fantastic player. He's a fighter and he never gives up so it's going to be a hard battle. I hope I can give him a really difficult game and win this for a third time.

"This is the tournament where it all started, the first big major in the PDC, so it's always got something special for me."

Scottish ace Thornton, the number seven seed, won through to his first partypoker.com World Grand Prix final with a gutsy 4-2 comeback win over Mensur Suljovic.

Thornton found himself 2-1 down to the tournament's surprise package as Suljovic, the Austrian ace who has reached his first major semi-final, continued his superb run of form.

Suljovic landed a 108 finish to take the opening leg before winning the set 3-1 with Thornton edging the second in a deciding leg after the Austrian hit back from 2-0 down to level.

Thornton took out a 140 finish in the third, only for Suljovic to take the set 3-1 to regain the edge - but the fourth went to the former UK Open champion before he claimed a key fifth set 3-1 against the throw.

Suljovic took the sixth to another deciding leg, but Thornton landed his 11th 180 of the game to leave 56 before hitting tops to complete a 14-darter as he booked his spot in the final.

"It's fantastic and I'm over the moon," said Thornton. "It was a great battle and that's the type of match I love - I'm a street fighter and I'm delighted.

"Mensur's beaten me in the last few games we've played and he never gave up, but neither did I and eventually I got a chance and capitalised. It was one of those matches you want to keep going all night - but I'm glad it didn't!

"I'm going up there for the final to enjoy myself and I love this format, where you have to start and finish with a double. Some players don't like it but it's my favourite, it brings the best out in me and I want to go all the way now."

Saturday's final will be preceded by the final of the Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay championship between Mick McGowan and Tom Biggane, with the winner qualifying to compete in the William Hill World Darts Championship.

The partypoker.com World Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and worldwide through the PDC's series of international broadcast partners, and through www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers.

Tickets for the partypoker.com World Grand Prix are available from the Citywest Hotel by email via darts15@citywesthotel.com or by calling 01 401 0505 (Outside Ireland 00353 1 401 0505 ).

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partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Friday October 9
Semi-Finals
Robert Thornton 4-2 Mensur Suljovic
Michael van Gerwen 4-1 Mark Webster

Saturday October 10
Final
Michael van Gerwen v Robert Thornton

Format
Final - Best of nine sets
* All Sets are the best of five legs. There will be no tie-break in any set.
* All legs must begin and end with a double, meaning that a player must hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.

MATCH INFORMATION
Robert Thornton v Mensur Suljovic
First Set
0-1 - Thornton lands the game's first 180, but Suljovic finishes 108 on his favoured double 14 to hold throw in the opening leg.
1-1 - Thornton hits another maximum in a superb 11-darter, as he takes out double 18 for a 66 finish.
1-2 - The Scot lands his third 180 in as many legs, but is denied a dart at a double to break throw when Suljovic finishes 52 on double eight.
1-3 - Suljovic finishes 60 on double ten to break and seal the opening set.
Second Set
1-0 - Thornton fires in yet another 180 before taking out 41 to lead in set two.
2-0 - The Scot breaks throw with the aid of another maximum.
2-1 - Suljovic hits back on double three, with Thornton waiting on 40.
2-2 - The Austrian levels the set on tops, despite another 180 from Thornton.
3-2 - Thornton's seventh 180 of the game is followed by a 177 from Suljovic, but the Scot claims the set on tops.
Third Set
0-1 - Thornton misses three darts to break throw, allowing Suljovic in to take out 67 on double eight to move ahead.
1-1 - The Scot produces a brilliant 140 checkout to level.
1-2 - Suljovic scores 168 to set up 28, as double seven edges him back ahead.
1-3 - Suljovic wins his second set of the evening, landing double ten.
Fourth Set
1-0 - Thornton finishes 61 on tops to move ahead.
1-1 - Thornton fires in his eighth 180 of the game, but Suljovic finishes double 14 to level.
2-1 - Double four sees Thornton edge ahead.
3-1 - Thornton hits a 180 to leave 56 before punishing missed doubles from Suljovic at double top and ten by finishing tops to claim the set.
Fifth Set
0-1 - Suljovic takes out 84 with a bullseye, single six, double 14 combination.
1-1 - Thornton hits his trusted tops to level.
2-1 - Another double top finish sees Thornton break throw.
3-1 - Thornton hits his tenth 180 of the game, and though he initially misses four set darts, Suljovic wires double five to take out 95 as the Scot returns to finish a third-dart double one as he claims the set to move ahead in the contest.
Sixth Set
0-1 - Suljovic receives a let-off for two missed doubles as Thornton is unable to land double seven, with the Austrian returning on double five.
1-1 - Thornton breaks back immediately by punishing two misses from the Austrian on double ten.
2-1 - Thornton finishes 50 on tops to move a leg away from the win.
2-2 - Tops sees Suljovic keep the game alive.
3-2 - Thornton hits his 11th 180 of the game to leave 56, and hits tops for a 14-darter to seal his spot in the final.

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen v Mark Webster
First Set
0-1 - Webster finishes 120 to claim a break of throw immediately.
1-1 - van Gerwen lands a 180 before hitting double 12 to level.
2-1 - Webster fires in a maximum, but misses double 12 to take out 141 as the Dutchman steps in on double eight for a 13-darter.
2-2 - Webster kicks off the leg with a 160 score before finishing tops to level.
3-2 - Double 16 gives van Gerwen the set in the decider.
Second Set
1-0 - A scrappy opening leg goes to van Gerwen on double one, following missed doubles by both players.
2-0 - van Gerwen fires in a maximum as he doubles his lead.
2-1 - Double ten sees Webster hit back.
2-2 - The left-hander saves the set with an 82 checkout on tops.
2-3 - van Gerwen opens with a 160 score, but is left waiting on 32 as Webster finishes a superb 103 to snatch the set.
Third Set
1-0 - Webster opens with a 160 of his own, but van Gerwen lands a 180 and double nine to lead.
2-0 - Double 16 sees van Gerwen break.
3-0 - The Dutchman finishes 92 on double 16 to claim the set.
Fourth Set
0-1 - Webster takes out double two to lead in the fourth set.
1-1 - van Gerwen opens with a 160 once more before finishing double four to level.
2-1 - van Gerwen misses three opening doubles before scoring 160, and double ten moves him ahead in the set with a break of throw.
3-1 - Double 16 seals a third set for the reigning champion.
Fifth Set
1-0 - The Dutchman again misses three opening doubles before hitting a 160 score, and claims the leg with a brilliant 154 checkout.
2-0 - van Gerwen moves a leg away from the win with a 124 finish.
2-1 - Webster hits a 180 and double nine to stay in the hunt.
3-1 - van Gerwen takes out 74 on double 16 to seal his spot in the final.

Match Stats