Phil Taylor romps to emphatic 16-6 win over Van Gerwen to set up semi-final showdown against Adrian Lewis
Saturday 29 July 2017 08:06, UK
An imperious Phil Taylor produced one of his greatest-ever performances to annihilate world No 1 Michael van Gerwen and stay on course for a 16th World Matchplay crown in Blackpool on Friday night.
The former world No 1, in his retirement year on the PDC circuit, produced a show-stopping 16-6 victory over the two-time reigning champion before being given a standing ovation as he left the main stage at the Winter Gardens.
Taylor will now take on his protege Adrian Lewis for a place in Sunday's final after the two-time world champion held off a monumental charge by Alan 'Chuck' Norris to win 16-13.
In Taylor's 105th World Matchplay match, he was backed by his legion of fans, and made the most of the red-hot atmosphere by making an astonishing start by surging into a 4-1 lead.
The momentum was well and truly with 'The Power' as he won the next session by the same scoreline to build an emphatic 8-2 lead with Van Gerwen looking perplexed at what was going on.
Taylor, who was looking to win his fifth match in his last seven meetings with Van Gerwen, edged closer to a spot in the final four on Saturday with an exhibition of darts for a third straight 4-1 session thanks to an unorthodox 99 finish to build what appeared to be an unassailable 12-3 advantage.
The Stoke thrower sealed an impressive 11-dart leg before completing an outstanding 94 checkout to move one leg away from victory. And he closed out victory with tops to send the Winter Gardens into a frenzy.
Van Gerwen's had won every televised ranking title since the 2016 World Championship in a period of dominance only previously achieved by Taylor, but it was the veteran who continued his pursuit of his 16th crown to add to his 16 World Championship titles.
In the opening match of the night Lewis missed four darts at doubles for a 4-1 lead, allowing Norris in to clean up 50 to make it 3-2.
There was drama in the 10th leg as Lewis missed nine darts at doubles for a 7-3 lead, but it was Norris who managed to hang on to make it 6-4, despite a moment when he seemed to overstep the marker throwing his last dart at the board to bust his score.
However, referee Russ Bray called it a no score for an underarm throw, albeit, it didn't matter when the 2014 Lakeside runner-up hit double 2.
The 32-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent quickened his throwing to win five out of the next seven legs to mount a 13-5 advantage, including a show-piece 136 checkout, before Norris responded by two legs on the bounce, which included a stunning 127.
Norris had a spring in his step to win eight out of the next nine legs to make it 14-12 while Lewis looked to be in more and more discomfort due to an operation he had on a torn muscle in his lower back at the start of the month.
But he responded with a wonderful 102 to move one leg away and he then took out 65 in two darts to stumble over the finishing line.
"It was a strange one," said world No 4 Lewis, who admitted he was in pain on the oche. "I got stuck in traffic so was in the car for three hours. That isn't good.
"If I turn up like that in the semi-finals, I'll be going home aren't I? If you're going to win a tournament you're allowed to win one bad game on doubles, so hopefully I'll put that right tomorrow."
Watch all the action from the World Matchplay Darts at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from 7pm on Sky Action and Sky Sports Mix on Saturday night, or watch for £6.99 without a contract on NOW TV. The arrows run right through until the final on Sunday, July 30.
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