ADRIAN LEWIS and Phil Taylor won through to the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals with thrilling triumphs against Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson on Thursday, as James Wade and Kim Huybrechts joined them in the last eight. Two-time World Champion Lewis hit an amazing 12 maximums and averaged 105.24 in an outstanding performance as he overcame van Gerwen 10-8 in their second round clash at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
The Stoke star twice set up a nine-dart finish in the game, while van Gerwen also enjoyed six perfect darts in one leg and landed six 180s of his own in a high-paced match.
The pair shared the opening six legs, before van Gerwen broke to lead 5-3 with an 11-darter - only for Lewis to respond with an 11-dart finish of his own to kick-start a run of four successive legs as he moved 7-5 up.
Van Gerwen replied but was never able to draw level as Lewis' pounding of the treble 20 continued, with an 11-darter moving him 9-7 up before he held off the Dutchman's response once more to seal the win with a 14-dart leg.
Taylor, meanwhile, was at his clinical best as he held off a fine Anderson performance to win through in a repeat of the 2011 Wolves Civic final.
The pair traded eight legs before Taylor found another gear, trading 180s with Anderson in the ninth before breaking for the first time in leg ten after the Scot missed a dart at tops.
Taylor also took the next two legs as he moved 9-4 up, and though Anderson hit back with a 128 checkout, double 12 saw the PDC World Champion progress to the last eight.
Taylor now faces James Wade, the 2010 finalist who won through to the quarter-finals once again with a crushing 10-1 win over below-par Paul Nicholson, with the left-hander taking out 150 before sealing victory with a showpiece 125 checkout.
Taylor has overcome Wade on his way to winning the World Grand Prix and The Masters in the past five weeks, but added: "It's been a different James this week.Belgium's Kim Huybrechts was the night's other winner as he took a 10-5 winner over brother Ronny in an emotional evening for the siblings.
Kim was at his high-scoring best as he took leads of 3-0 and 7-2, and he also took out 117 as he moved 8-3 up.
Ronny, the elder of the brothers who had won through the group stage unbeaten, hit back to 9-5, but could only watch as the 2012 Players Championship Finals runner-up sealed the win on double ten.
The quarter-finals begin on Friday night as former UK Open champion Robert Thornton takes on three-time Lakeside Championship finalist Tony O'Shea, before reigning Lakeside Champion Scott Waites - the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts winner - faces two-time World Champion Ted Hankey.
Saturday's remaining quarter-finals will see Lewis take on Huybrechts, before Taylor plays Wade.
William Hill Grand Slam of Darts
Thursday November 14
James Wade 10-1 Paul Nicholson
Ronny Huybrechts 5-10 Kim Huybrechts
Phil Taylor 10-5 Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen 8-10 Adrian Lewis
Friday November 15 (7pm)
Quarter-Finals
Tony O'Shea v Robert Thornton
Ted Hankey v Scott Waites
Saturday November 16 (7pm)
Quarter-Finals
Kim Huybrechts v Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor v James Wade
No comments:
Post a Comment