Heavy-scoring Adrian Lewis and Michael van Gerwen will clash in the BetVictor World Matchplay semi-finals tonight following brilliant victories against Andy Hamilton and Dave Chisnall at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Recent European Champion Lewis booked his place in a third World Matchplay semi-final with an amazing 19-17 tie-break defeat of Hamilton, edging through the closest of contests.
Hamilton led 13-10 at one stage and hit a 170 finish in the game, but Lewis hit back to level, posted a 161 finish of his own and took his tally of 180s to 13 in the contest before taking the game’s final three legs to claim victory.
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, hit 14 maximums and averaged 102.29 in a superb 16-11 win over Dave Chisnall, who landed ten 180s in reply but was unable to prevent the Dutchman reaching his first World Matchplay semi-final.
With reigning champion Phil Taylor and 2007 Winter Gardens winner James Wade due to clash in the other semi-final, the world’s top four ranked players will be competing for the right to contest Sunday’s semi-final in Blackpool.
Hamilton tried his hardest to prevent that line-up, producing a typically determined display in his all-Stoke battle with Lewis as he maintained his record of appearing in every major ranking quarter-final for 12 months.
He landed four 180s in the game’s opening four legs, and came from 4-3 down to lead with checkouts of 170 and 127 in successive legs, only for Lewis to reply with a showpiece 100 checkout which featured two double tops.
Lewis also went on to lead 7-6 after posting his seventh 180 of the game, but Hamilton then took the next four legs to move himself into command.
He would retain that cushion until Lewis, trailing 13-10, found an extra gear to finish 96, break throw with an 11-darter and land double four to take three successive legs and level.
Hamilton stopped that run with a 101 checkout, and Lewis – despite hitting three maximums in as many legs, to take his tally to 13 for the game, and a sensational 161 finish – was unable to secure a break of throw as the match headed into a tie-break with the UK Open finalist holding a slender 17-16 lead.
Lewis, though, finished 53 to level, and seized his chance in the 35th leg when Hamilton missed one dart at double 16 to finish 64, allowing the world number three in to take out 78 in two darts to finally break and move 18-17 up.
He then powered in a 174 score to leave 86, and took out the finish in two darts to seal victory in a remarkable contest.
“It was an amazing game and I’m so happy to have come through it,” said Lewis. “I really had to dig in and it was blow for blow all the way through the match – there didn’t deserve to be a loser in a game as great as that.
“We always seem to have good games and that’s the best. Andy was solid like he always is and you have to be consistent to stay with him.
“His 170 was great and it rocked me for three or four legs after that, and in the same way my 161 was massive for me. When I got level at the end I couldn’t seem to break him, but he missed one dart at double 16 and I knew that was my chance on 78 and I took it.
“I still gave myself a scare in the last leg when I needed 86 and I hit the treble 18 because I dropped a dart so I only had one in my hand – luckily the double 16 went in for me!”
Hamilton admitted: “Although I’m really disappointed to lose, I’m happy with how I played. It was a great battle and we put a great show on for the crowd.
“When I took out the 170 it was a big shot and it gave me a great opportunity to win the game, but it was nip and tuck all the way through and Adrian came strong at the end.”
World number two van Gerwen, (Pictured), secured his first World Matchplay semi-final place in style by defeating Chisnall 16-11.
The pair kicked off the match in superb form, as van Gerwen took out 105 and legs of 14 and 13 darts in holding a 3-2 lead before Chisnall took the next three, hitting 180s in legs of 11 and 13 darts as he broke before finishing 112 to move 5-3 up.
However, Chisnall would miss doubles in the next two legs as van Gerwen finished 110 and double eight to level, before taking out 75 to put himself back in front at 6-5.
Chisnall levelled, but van Gerwen took four of the next five legs as he moved into a 10-7 lead in the game, hitting a 12-darter, three more 180s and a 171 score in the run.
Chisnall stemmed the tide before taking out a brilliant 144 checkout as he hit back to 11-9, only for van Gerwen to find an extra gear at the right time – with back-to-back 11-darters pulling him clear and also seeing him set up a possible nine-darter.
Van Gerwen added another 180 in a 12-darter to lead 14-9, and after Chisnall replied with his ninth maximum the Dutchman finished double eight to move a leg away from victory.
Chisnall kept his hopes alive with a superb 11-darter and hit another maximum in the next leg, but crucially missed double top and van Gerwen stepped in to secure his semi-final place on double ten.
“I’m very happy to be in the semi-finals and pleased with my performance,” said van Gerwen. “I didn’t have a great start to the game and I wasn’t as focused as normal, but I came through it well.
“My doubles were great and I hit lots of 180s, but I didn’t think I played as well as the stats say, so I want to improve on that in the semi-finals.
“Adrian’s a great player and he’s won the last two games we’ve had, but I want to put that right on Saturday. I’m doing very well and I can make it very difficult for him.
“We’re both playing well, we like each other’s pace and it will be an exciting game. To have the best four players in the world in the semi-finals is brilliant and it promises to be amazing.”
Chisnall had won through to his first World Matchplay quarter-final with wins over Paul Nicholson and Jamie Caven, but admitted: “I think I played quite well, but I let Michael in too much.
“I could have gone 7-3 up but I missed doubles and all of a sudden it was five-all, and that starts to play on your mind a bit. I gave him loads of chances and you can’t afford to do that.
“I’m happy with reaching the quarter-finals and my last two games were really good. I feel confident, I’m happy with my form and hopefully I can take that into the rest of the year.”
Taylor and van Gerwen remain locked as the joint favourites at 11/8 to win the title with sponsors BetVictor, with Lewis 6/1 to win his first World Matchplay title and Wade 9/1 to repeat his 2007 success.
Taylor is 1/5 favourite to win his semi-final against Wade, who is 7/2 to reach a sixth Winter Gardens in eight years, while van Gerwen is 2/7 favourite to take victory against Lewis, who is an 11/4 chance of reaching his first Blackpool final.
BetVictor are also offering odds of 8/15 on a Taylor-van Gerwen final, with 6/4 for either Wade or Lewis to be in the decider.