Announcements
St Helens Star - Looking for Death Notices?
We've moved death notices to a new place.
Take me to death noticesSearch announcements
Chizzy beaten by Phil Taylor in Sydney Darts Masters semi final
PHIL Taylor's remarkable run of success in Australia continued on Saturday as he claimed a fourth Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters title with an outstanding 11-9 win over Michael van Gerwen at The Star.
The legendary 56-year-old has never been defeated since the World Series of Darts was introduced in 2013, claiming three previous Sydney titles and two Perth Darts Masters trophies in a 20-game unbeaten run.
He extended that to 24 matches and a fourth straight win in Sydney in a brilliant final day of this year's event, as he firstly swept past Dave Chisnall 11-4 in the semi-finals before edging out van Gerwen in a thrilling decider.
Taylor dominated his semi-final with Chisnall, leading 3-0, 7-1 and 10-2 before holding off a brief rally from his rival - who took out 66 and 70 - to book his spot in the final, averaging 102.47 and hitting five 180s.
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, overcame Peter Wright 11-6 with a brilliant 106 average as he finished 11 out of 13 darts at a double including his first eight without missing in a flawless opening as he took an 8-1 lead.
Wright took out 121 and 156 as he hit back to 8-4 with four perfect doubles of his own, but van Gerwen proved too strong as he held on for the win.
The final proved a tighter affair as van Gerwen opened with a 180 in an 11-darter before seeing Taylor come from 2-1 down to lead 4-2 and 5-3.
Van Gerwen then hit back with three legs of his own to move back ahead, landing a 104 checkout to edge 6-5 up and double eight to claim a 7-6 advantage.
Taylor again found a surge, levelling with an 11-darter, finishing double eight, 68 and 90 as he moved into a 10-7 lead, and though van Gerwen landed 180s in the next two legs to cut the gap and keep his hopes alive, the reigning champion held on to seal victory with double 16.
Taylor will now set his sights on retaining the TABtouch Perth Darts Masters title at the PCEC from August 25-27, having been victorious in Western Australia for the past two years.
"I'm going to go for it and I'm on a high," admitted the 56-year-old. "I'm really looking forward to Perth and I want to carry this forward now.
Wright had won through to his first World Series final of the year by defeating Australia's Simon Whitlock and Rhys Mathewson, while Chisnall was unable to repeat the form which had seen him overcome Harley Kemp and Adrian Lewis as he missed out on a spot in a maiden World Series decider.
Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters.
Saturday August 20.
Semi-Finals.
Phil Taylor 11-4 Dave Chisnall.
Michael van Gerwen 11-6 Peter Wright.
Best of 21 legs.
Final.
Phil Taylor 11-9 Michael van Gerwen.
Best of 21 legs.
MATCH INFORMATION.
SEMI-FINALS.
Phil Taylor v Dave Chisnall.
1-0 - Both players initially miss two darts at doubles before Taylor returns to land double two to lead.
2-0 - Taylor breaks throw, landing a 180 and double 16.
3-0 - Chisnall hits a 180 but misses two more darts at double top, allowing Taylor in to finish 64 on double eight to continue his strong start.
3-1 - Taylor opens with a 177, but misses darts in two visits to claim a fourth straight leg, and Chisnall steps in to finally land tops to get off the mark.
4-1 - Taylor scores 140, 180 and 165, with Chisnall landing a 177 in reply to leave 24 only to see his rival finish double eight for a 13-darter.
5-1 - Double two gives Taylor a fifth leg.
6-1 - Double top sees Taylor claim a third straight leg.
7-1 - The pair trade 180s before Taylor finishes 121 on the bull to move six legs clear.
7-2 - Chisnall takes out 84 on double 12 to hit back.
8-2 - Taylor fires in his fourth 180 of the game before breaking throw for a fourth time by finishing 82 on tops.
9-2 - Taylor finishes 64 on tops for a 14-darter to move two legs away from the final.
10-2 - Chisnall opens with a 180, but Taylor lands a maximum of his own before taking out 84 to move to the brink of the final.
10-3 - Chisnall lands his fourth maximum, and when Taylor misses two darts at double six for the match the St Helens ace finishes 66 on double 18 to keep his hopes alive.
10-4 - Chisnall finishes 70 to continue his revival.
11-4 - Taylor finishes 81 on double 12 for a 12-darter to complete the win and remain on course for a fourth straight Sydney win.