Grand Slam of Darts - Day Six, Report and Statistics

BRILLIANT LEWIS JOINS TAYLOR, WADE & HUYBRECHTS IN LAST EIGHT
ADRIAN LEWIS and Phil Taylor won through to the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals with thrilling triumphs against Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson on Thursday, as James Wade and Kim Huybrechts joined them in the last eight.

Two-time World Champion Lewis hit an amazing 12 maximums and averaged 105.24 in an outstanding performance as he overcame van Gerwen 10-8 in their second round clash at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
The Stoke star twice set up a nine-dart finish in the game, while van Gerwen also enjoyed six perfect darts in one leg and landed six 180s of his own in a high-paced match. The pair shared the opening six legs, before van Gerwen broke to lead 5-3 with an 11-darter - only for Lewis to respond with an 11-dart finish of his own to kick-start a run of four successive legs as he moved 7-5 up. Van Gerwen replied but was never able to draw level as Lewis' pounding of the treble 20 continued, with an 11-darter moving him 9-7 up before he held off the Dutchman's response once more to seal the win with a 14-dart leg.

"I was confident and I felt I could do a job tonight, and I did just that," said Lewis. "I've got a great rivalry going with Michael at the moment and these games excite me, and we bring the best out of each other. Early on in the game I was scoring brilliantly but I couldn't hit a double and Michael took his chances. I knuckled down and responded to his 11-darter with one of my own, and you have to do that against him because if you give him a chance he takes it. I thought I was on for a nine-darter tonight, and Michael had a chance too, and I think I'll have a nine-darter soon, and possibly this weekend - but I'm just focusing on playing Kim Huybrechts next because he's another great player. He's had a great year to get into the top 16, he's scoring superbly and he plays at a great pace. It's too early to celebrate but I'm up for it, I feel good and we'll see what happens now."

Taylor, meanwhile, was at his clinical best as he held off a fine Anderson performance to win through in a repeat of the 2011 Wolves Civic final.
The pair traded eight legs before Taylor found another gear, trading 180s with Anderson in the ninth before breaking for the first time in leg ten after the Scot missed a dart at tops. Taylor also took the next two legs as he moved 9-4 up, and though Anderson hit back with a 128 checkout, double 12 saw the PDC World Champion progress to the last eight.

"I loved every minute of that," said Taylor. "When Gary scores like that he's brilliant, and the scoreline doesn't show how good he was in this match. The tenth leg was key but that's what you have to do against Gary, you can't miss against him if you get a chance. I was under pressure from the start and I went at Gary straight away. I wanted to get the first whack in and I did that in the first throw with the 180, but you've got to put him under pressure and hope he gives you a shot."

Taylor now faces James Wade, the 2010 finalist who won through to the quarter-finals once again with a crushing 10-1 win over below-par Paul Nicholson, with the left-hander taking out 150 before sealing victory with a showpiece 125 checkout.

"It's not nice to win 10-1 but I had to do my job and that's good enough for me," said Wade. "I hit my shots well and my darts are starting to go right. The 150 was a big shot, and the 125 to win the match was an easy shot because there was no pressure - it's easy to do things like that when you're so far in front. I've played okay this week, I haven't been great but I'll be looking forward to the quarter-finals. I know that when I play my good darts I can give him a game and make him uncomfortable."

Taylor has overcome Wade on his way to winning the World Grand Prix and The Masters in the past five weeks, but added: "It's been a different James this week. He's played steady, his mind's been concentrated on what he's doing and I think we'll have a good game on Saturday."

Belgium's Kim Huybrechts was the night's other winner as he took a 10-5 winner over brother Ronny in an emotional evening for the siblings.
Kim was at his high-scoring best as he took leads of 3-0 and 7-2, and he also took out 117 as he moved 8-3 up. Ronny, the elder of the brothers who had won through the group stage unbeaten, hit back to 9-5, but could only watch as the 2012 Players Championship Finals runner-up sealed the win on double ten.

"I'm really pleased to be through to the quarter-finals of such a big tournament," said Huybrechts. "It was hard to play my brother, and though I wanted to win, I also wanted him to do well too. It was the hardest game I've had to play my career - harder than playing Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Adrian Lewis or James Wade - but I got through it. I did my own thing before the game and it was a normal day for me, but it was weird when we got on stage. Ronny struggled a bit early on and I got a good lead which made it easier for me, but he made me nervous at the end! I think I'm at the most confident point of my life, and to win through the hardest game I know I could have is a boost. It can only get easier now and I can play my own game again in the quarter-finals now - but I'll have to do something special to beat Adrian."


Statistics
Ave180sDoublesPlayervPlayer Ave180sDoubles
91.54110/29Wade 10:1Nicholson87.7721/15
91.2535/14R.Huybrechts 5:10 K.Huybrechts97.83810/17
102.56510/21Taylor 10:5Anderson106.1365/12
97.8868/17v.Gerwen 8:10Lewis105.241210/25








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