Adrian Lewis held off a brilliant fightback from Phil Taylor to reach the Unibet European Championship semi-finals, as Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright and Gary Anderson also won through to the last four in Belgium.
Lewis, the 2013 European Champion, had looked set to book a semi-final spot with relative ease when he took a 9-6 lead against his Stoke rival at the Ethias Arena in Hasselt.
Taylor, though, hit scores of 177 in three successive legs as he hit back to take Lewis into a deciding leg, only for the 30-year-old to be first to a double as tops saw him claim a memorable win.
The defeat for Taylor came despite the four-time European Champion hitting four 180s, five 177s and a 171 score as he averaged 106.12 in a fine display, but he eventually paid the price for missing 19 darts at doubles.
“It was a very strange game and the averages show how well Phil played,” said Lewis. “Phil showed his quality with the pressure he put on me at the end and he’s still the man to beat in my opinion.
“When it got to nine-each I couldn’t believe how it had got to that. You’re fighting for your life up there and luckily enough I pulled through.
“I’ve won this event once and lost in the final twice to Phil, so maybe it’s my turn again today.”
Lewis had taken the game’s first three legs before an 11-darter got Taylor off the mark as the Stoke legend hit two 180s to his rival’s one.
Lewis edged 4-1 up before Taylor took the next two to pull back to 4-3, but he missed four darts at doubles to level in leg eight and a further three darts to level in leg ten as Lewis moved 5-3 and 6-4 up.
That lead was extended to 7-4 as Lewis fired in a 13-darter, and he shared the next four to move to the brink of victory at 9-6 – only for Taylor to fire in 177 scores in three successive legs as he landed legs of 13, 15 and 14 darts.
Lewis, though, had the advantage of throw in the decider and posted scores of 135 and 140 to be first to a finish, and though Taylor’s 171 score left 40, his rival finished tops with his third dart to finally claim the win.
Lewis now takes on Gary Anderson in the semi-finals, after the Scot reached the last four in the event for the first time with a 10-6 comeback win over Jelle Klaasen.
Dutch ace Klaasen punished a slow start from Anderson to lead 2-0 and 3-1 before the Scot, aided by finishes of 100 and 120, took three successive legs to edge 4-3 up.
Klaasen levelled on double five, but Anderson won the next three to open up a 7-4 lead before finding his range on the treble 20 bed in the latter stages of the contest.
Klaasen finished double 18 in two legs out of three to stay in touch at 8-6, but Anderson fired in four 180s in as many legs as he eventually claimed a 10-6 victory.
“Once the scoring’s there I’m quite happy with my game, and if you can squeeze a 180 into each leg it gives you a good chance and I did that in the last three or four legs,” said Anderson.
“I’m still going and I’m enjoying it, and I’ll get myself ready for the semi-finals. I’m not going to put any pressure on myself and I’ll give it my best.”
Reigning European Champion Michael van Gerwen defeated Dave Chisnall 10-4 to continue his challenge to retain the title with a superb 106.55 average, seven 180s and 50 percent on his doubles.
Although Chisnall opened with a 14-darter, van Gerwen took command by winning the next four and also led 6-3 before a key moment saw the Englishman left waiting on 40 as the world number one took out 132 with a stunning bull, bull, double 16 combination to move four legs clear.
Chisnall hit back on double eight as he traded 180s with van Gerwen, but the Dutchman won the next two on tops before opening with two maximums as he sealed victory in style with a ten-dart leg.
“I played really well, especially when I needed to,” said van Gerwen. “I felt great and I did the right things at the right moments.
“The 132 finish was a killer I think. It was a fantastic moment and it made a huge difference. This is a big tournament and I don’t want to lose this title. I can do better but I’m playing well.”
Van Gerwen’s semi-final opponent will be world number four Peter Wright, who saw off Scottish rival John Henderson 10-4 in their quarter-final clash to reach the last four in this event for a first time.
Henderson held an early 2-1 lead but was punished for missed doubles as Wright took the next four legs, including an 11-dart finish, to move 5-2 up.
Henderson claimed a third leg before another treble from Wright, including another 11-darter, put him in command at 8-3, and after the Aberdeen ace replied with a maximum in leg 12 he hit four 180s in the next two legs to complete victory.
“I’m playing well and this is only the third week I’ve been playing with this design of darts and what I’m doing in practice is frightening, but I’ve not done it on stage yet,” said Wright.
“Michael’s a fantastic player and there will be 180s galore – nine might not be enough against him. I’ll prepare for the semi-final and take it as it goes tonight.”
