Unibet Masters - Report and Statistics Quarterfinals

VAN GERWEN EDGES UNIBET MASTERS CLASSIC AGAINST CHISNALL
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN edged out Dave Chisnall in a Unibet Masters classic to reach the semi-finals of the £200,000 event in Milton Keynes on Sunday afternoon, as Adrian Lewis, Raymond van Barneveld and Gary Anderson also progressed to the last four with brilliant displays .

Chisnall followed up Saturday's 106 average in his win over Robert Thornton by hitting a Masters record 13 180s and a 108 average against van Gerwen, only to lose 10-9 in a thrilling quarter-final.
Chisnall landed nine of those maximums in the game's opening eight legs, which were shared, before he edged ahead for the first time at 5-4. However, van Gerwen broke back with a 121 checkout and finished double ten to lead 6-5, with Chisnall firing in three further 180s to counter a ten-darter from the Dutchman as the pair traded legs to leave the scores finely poised at eight-all. Van Gerwen's 14-darter moved him 9-8 up before Chisnall traded 180s with his opponent as a 13-dart leg forced a decider, which the world number one took with a 126 checkout.

Van Gerwen ended the game with a 110.28 average, and admitted: "Dave's a fantastic player and I had to play that well to win the game. It was a fantastic match and we pushed each other. We've had a lot of great matches but this was maybe the best and I'm so glad that I'm the winner."
Van Gerwen will now take on Lewis in the semi-finals on Sunday evening as he bids to win the tournament for the first time, and he added: "It's going to be hard tonight but I've got a great chance now."

Lewis landed nine maximums - which at the time equalled the tournament record before Chisnall's later achievement - in his superb 10-8 win over world number five Peter Wright. Wright led 4-2 and 7-6 only to see the reigning UK Open champion find a second wind to claim four of the final five legs to book his spot in the semis.

"I finished pretty well and the 180s were great but the game was never in my hands until I hit the winning double," said Lewis. "In patches I'm playing brilliant darts but I want to be more consistent. The semi-finals should be amazing and it's a fantastic tournament, and it would be a great honour to win it tonight."

The evening's second semi-final will see reigning Premier League champion van Barneveld take on new World Champion Anderson in another tasty clash.
Dutch star van Barneveld enjoyed a 10-3 win over Terry Jenkins, who had knocked out Phil Taylor in Saturday's first round but never recovered from falling 5-0 down.
Van Barneveld landed his first four attempts at a double - including checkouts of 70, 90 and 121 - and was averaging almost 109 after five legs. Jenkins hit back by winning three of the next four legs, but was punished for missing two doubles in leg ten as van Barneveld moved 7-3 up, and the Dutch ace took out another 121 finish and an 11-darter as he sealed his last four spot.

"I'm feeling confident and the break I've had since the World Championship has done me a lot of good," said van Barneveld. "I'm fresh and really enjoying this tournament, and I'm happy with my game. My scoring was good against Terry and I finished well but the standard overall is fantastic and it's an amazing tournament - I can't wait to play again tonight."

Anderson ended James Wade's hopes of retaining the title with a 10-5 victory over the reigning champion, which saw the Scot match van Barneveld by taking the game's opening five legs - averaging over 121 in a sensational start. Wade hit back to win five of the next six legs, but crucially missed two darts to level in the 12th leg - with Anderson edging away before hitting an 11-darter and a 130 checkout to secure the win.

"The first five legs were great but against James you know he can come back at you and he did that," said Anderson. "If you get a shot against him you've got to take it, so I'm happy that I got there in the end. Things are going great for me at the moment but it will be tough tonight if I'm going to win this tournament now."

Anderson's win extended his winning run to 20 matches since last suffering a defeat - to Gerwyn Price on November 22 in a Players Championship in Coventry - as he bids to claim a third successive major TV title and a fourth tournament win in a row.


Statistics
Ave180sDoublesPlayervPlayer Ave180sDoubles
93.9818/14Wright 8:10Lewis96.48910/19
110.28710/21v.Gerwen 10:9Chisnall108.09139/13
99.6153/9Jenkins 3:10v.Barneveld102.89510/19
96.8335/14Wade 5:10Anderson105.34710/21








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