ADRIAN LEWIS and Phil Taylor turned on the style with sensational performances in The Coral Masters on Saturday night, as they were joined in the semi-finals by comeback kings James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld in Edinburgh.
Lewis followed up Friday's thrilling first round victory over Kim Huybrechts with another sensational performance, as he averaged 107.93 in an 8-2 win over Robert Thornton, whose defeat ended Scottish hopes at the Royal Highland Centre.
Lewis opened their contest in style with a 14-darter and a 136 checkout for a 12-dart leg, and traded 180s with Thornton before taking out 80 on the bull to lead 3-0.
Thornton replied with a 14-dart finish, but Lewis took out 96 for an 11-darter and then finished 82 and 80 as he moved 6-1 up, before hitting double ten to move to the brink of victory.
The Scot replied by finishing 70, but Lewis landed double 18 to seal a brilliant performance, as he continues to defy the effects of a draining bout of 'flu to remain in the hunt for the inaugural £50,000 title.
World Champion Taylor was also in unstoppable form as he won through to the semi-finals with an 8-2 victory of his own, as he averaged 109.28 in a fine display against Wes Newton.
Although Newton shared the first two legs, he was punished for missed doubles as Taylor established a 4-1 cushion, before a pair of double ten finishes saw the Stoke ace move into a five-leg lead.
Double eight saw Newton hit back, but Taylor posted a 180 in a 14-darter to respond before tops saw him complete a sensational display.
Taylor now plays seven-time major winner James Wade in the last four, after the left-hander showed his class with a gutsy comeback from 7-4 down to defeat Simon Whitlock 8-7.
Whitlock hit seven 180s in the contest, but paid the price for missing match darts in two of the final four legs as Wade clawed back level before taking out 91 on the bullseye to complete a brilliant fightback.
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld also hit back from behind as he won the all-Dutch clash with Michael van Gerwen 8-6.
Van Gerwen established an early 4-1 lead, taking out a superb 110 finish to break throw in leg four, and though van Barneveld finished 120 and 105 to pull back the next two, double 16 put the Premier League champion 5-3 up.
Van Barneveld, though, took his tally of 180s in the game to six as he won the next four legs without reply to turn the game on its head by moving 7-5 up, and though van Gerwen rallied briefly by finishing tops, his rival took out 82 on double eight to seal his last four place.
Sunday's semi-finals will be followed by the final as the stars compete to take the inaugural Coral Masters title and a £50,000 first prize from the event, which features the world's top 16 players.
The Coral Masters
Saturday November 2
Quarter-Finals
James Wade 8-7 Simon Whitlock
Robert Thornton 2-8 Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor 8-2 Wes Newton
Michael van Gerwen 6-8 Raymond van Barneveld Best of 15 legs
Sunday November 3 (6.45pm)
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor v James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis
Best of 19 legs
No comments:
Post a Comment