stages of the match, only for Taylor to level at 4-4 and then move in
front for the first and only time at 5-5.
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
A couple of years back it would have been Taylor who was the one to
kick on from a tight position, but the game has evolved and every top
player is capable of bursts of brilliance that can win matches, and so
it was that Peter Wright found one of these bursts at exactly the right
time.
The Scotsman landed finishes of 70, 96 and 141 as he took the next
three legs without reply and his third 180 of the match was enough
to move him to the brink. The victory was then wrapped up with a
somewhat scrappy leg, although it did prove enough to finish of Taylor.
“I’m delighted to get the win,” admitted Wright. “I got a bit emotional
on stage and it means a lot to beat Phil.
“He’s the best player who’s ever lived and he always comes back
stronger and stronger, which makes all of us lift our game again. He
wasn’t at his best tonight but I’m over the moon to beat him.
“I should have gone 3-0 up and I let Phil back in, and I thought then
that he was going to run away with it like he normally does, but I tried
to keep him under pressure and it worked. The 141 was a big shot.
“I believe I can win this tournament and it’s a beautiful trophy, one
which I’d love to take home. I’ve done a lot of hard work in the last
year and I believe in my own ability and that I can go all the way.”
Taylor hit just five from 18 attempts at a double during the game, and
admitted:”It wasn’t good enough. I didn’t finish well enough and he
did.
“The 141 was a killer but I wasn’t good enough and I’ve got to go back
to the practice board and dedicate myself again. I’m playing brilliantly
in practice but I was an inch above the treble on stage and I didn’t find
my range.
“There’s only one person can put that right and that’s me. I was dead
frustrated, and Peter’s inspired me to come back with a vengeance.”
Michael van Gerwen 10-9 James Wade
This was undoubtedly the tie of the round, with an in-form van Gerwen
meeting a determined James Wade who was returning to TV action
after missing out on the Premier League.
Wade led 3-2 at the first break, but van Gerwen had levelled at 5-5
by the time the players left the stage for a second time in what was
proving to be an exceptionally tight match.
A burst from van Gerwen saw him move into an 8-5 lead but Wade
produced a response to level up at 8-8. Van Gerwen, though had the
advantage of throw and he made it pay holding on in a decider to get
his title defence underway.
“It was a great game,” said van Gerwen. “I think I was the most
consistent player and that’s why I came through it, but James is a
fantastic player.
“He played really well and put me under pressure at the start, but
when I was 5-3 down I won five straight legs and I was happy with
that. I was 8-6 in front and then James came back with two great
“I wasn’t good
enough and I’ve
got to go back to
the practice board
and dedicate
myself again”
Phil Taylor