“I thought we were going into a decider there and it would have been
the biggest leg of my life, so it was a relief when I got the chance and
took it.”
Andy Hamilton defeated fellow Stoke-based thrower Ian White to reach
the semi-finals.
Hamilton produced his best darts of the weekend as he took the first
four legs without reply, before White took out 100 to get off the mark
and won three of the next five to pull back to 6-4.
The next two were shared before Hamilton moved 8-5 up with a
12-darter, and though he missed three match darts as White hit back
to win a sixth leg, double 14 saw the UK Open finalist win through to
the last four.
“I hit Ian hard early on and he was always chasing the game, but it
was important that I finished him off when I had the chance,” said
Hamilton. “It was a pretty solid performance and I took advantage
when he let me in.”
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
The semi-final line-up was completed by nine-time Pro Tour winner
Michael van Gerwen who averaged 102.51 in a fine display of darts that
saw him defeat Wes Newton 9-4.
The Dutchman landed an 11-dart leg that included back-to-back
maximums on his way to an early 3-1 lead, before Newton pulled a leg
back.
The next three legs then went to van Gerwen as he raced into a 6-2
lead, again Newton fought back landing a maximum on his way to
closing the gap to 6-3, but checkouts of 76 and 170 saw van Gerwen
move to the brink at 8-3.
Newton was able to secure the next leg, but could do nothing to prevent
van Gerwen from sealing his victory with a comfortable hold of throw.
“I’m very happy,” said van Gerwen. “I think I played really well and I
want to keep this going now in the semi-finals.”
“The 170 was lovely and I scored quite well, but I know I can improve
in the next game.”
Photo: Mike Glover/UK Darts Magazine
Semi-Finals
The
early stages of the semi-final
between Justin Pipe and Phil Taylor
were closely contested and the
pair were locked at 4-4 after the
first eight legs.
Unfortunately for Pipe a
certain Phil Taylor obviously
felt that it was time for a
customary ‘power surge’
and he went on to take
the next six legs without
reply to seal a 10-4 victory,
ending the match with an
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
“I played well in
the semi-final but
Phil’s phenomenal
and that’s why
he’s the 16-time
World Champion”
Justin Pipe