Ladbrokes World Darts Championship – Semi-Finals
Sunday January 1 (7.30pm)

Andy Hamilton 6-5 Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis 6-5 James Wade

ANDY HAMILTON 6-5 SIMON WHITLOCK (3-0, 2-3, 3-1, 3-1, 0-3, 2-3, 0-3, 0-3, 3-2, 3-1, 4-2) Andy Hamilton secured a place in his first Ladbrokes World Darts Championship final, after overcoming Simon Whitlock 6-5 in a titanic semi-final, at Alexandra Palace.

Hamilton, who defeated Whitlock in dramatic fashion at the World Matchplay in Blackpool, last July, held the advantage in the early stages of the contest as he led 3-1.

However, Whitlock then produced some superb darts to take 12 of the next 14 legs in the process of moving 5-3 ahead.

That put the 2010 runner-up a set away from his second final in the space of three years, but Hamilton, who held pre-tournament odds of 125/1  with sponsors, Ladbrokes, hit back to claim the next three sets to seal an amazing triumph.

Hamilton, who was impressive in defeating Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts, in the quarter-finals, hit double eight to take the first leg, before hitting tops at the first time of asking to break throw.

The Stoke ace then took out a 68 finish to take third leg, and seal the set, to make an ideal start to his first World Championship semi-final since 2007. Both players held throw in the opening two legs of the second set and the Australian, who triumphed over Gary Anderson, in the last eight, hit double 20 to take the third leg.

Whitlock missed three chances to win the set, in the fourth leg, allowing Hamilton take it on double top, with his first dart. The deciding leg saw Whitlock hit a 170 score to leave double top, but three missed attempts at doubles allowed Hamilton a chance to nick the set. However, Hamilton was just off-target with his attempt at bullseye for a 2-0 lead, and Whitlock returned to hit double 10 to level the match.

Hamilton took the first leg of set three, which featured a 177, but the Stoke man missed a dart at double six to take the second, which Whitlock won on double two. Whitlock hit a maximum in the next, but Hamilton won it with a clinical two-dart 84 finish, before winning the set on double four. Whitlock hit double eight to win the first leg of the fourth set, and had a chance to take the second. But a missed attempt at bullseye for a 170 checkout proved expensive, as Hamilton took out a 118 finish to win it.

Both players failed with attempts at bullseye claim the first leg of the fifth set, before Whitlock hit double eight to secure a break of throw. The deciding leg saw Whitlock hit his seventh 180, and that followed by a 74 finish to win the set, and square the match at three sets all. Whitlock hit-back to win the third leg on double eight, before recording an excellent 14-darter to claim the fourth against the darts.

Hamilton hit his sixth 180 of the match in the next, but Whitlock won it with a fantastic 170 checkout to go 2-0 up. Whitlock then hit an excellent 13-dart finish in the third leg, to win the set comfortably, and reduce the deficit to 3-2. Hamilton broke throw to make a positive start to set six, by landing double top at the first time of asking, before taking out 89 in two-darts to win the second.

The Australian kept up the momentum in the seventh set, as he broke throw to take the first leg, before the second followed with a 13-dart finish. Hamilton hit a 180 in the third leg, but it was not enough as Whitlock landed double 18 to win his sixth leg in a row, and lead the match for the first time. The 2010 runner-up was now in full cry as he hit a 101 checkout to open the eighth set, before taking the second leg with a 13-dart finish.

The third leg saw Whitlock off-target with two attempts at double 16, but Hamilton was unable to hit the bullseye, allowing Whitlock to return and hit double 16 with his first dart to move a set away from the final. Hamilton held throw to take the first leg of the ninth set, after Whitlock was guilty of wasting four darts at double 16. Whitlock hit his tenth maximum in the process of winning the second leg, but Hamilton recorded an excellent 130 checkout to take the third.

Whitlock hit double 16 to move a leg away from victory, after both players had traded 180s, before Hamilton hit an excellent 13-dart finish in the deciding leg to take the set and keep the match alive. Whitlock missed three shots at doubles at the beginning of set 10, but Hamilton was unable to capitalise as he missed two chances of his own to claim it. Whitlock hit double 10 to take an early advantage, before Hamilton registered a 115 checkout to take the second, and then won the next, after the Stoke star landed double eight with his last dart.

The fourth leg saw Whitlock miss three darts at doubles, which proved costly as Hamilton hit a superb 110 finish to send the match into a deciding set. Both players held throw at the start of the final set in the opening two legs, and Hamilton continued that trend by winning the third on double 10, to move a leg away from the match. Whitlock converted a pressure 68 finish, by landing double 16 with a pressure third dart, before Hamilton hit a 13-dart finish to lead for the third time in the set.

Whitlock kicked-off the sixth leg with a 180, but Hamilton produced the more consistent scoring, and the Stoke star landed double eight his last dart, to seal a place in the final.

 JAMES WADE 5-6 ADRIAN LEWIS (1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 0-3, 1-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-0, 3-0, 3-0) Adrian Lewis came back from the brink of defeat to keep his hopes of retaining his Ladbrokes World Championship title, after an amazing 6-5 semi-final victory over James Wade.

Lewis missed three chances to level the match at one set all, before falling 5-1 down and looking likely to exit the tournament in tame fashion. Wade missed one dart at double 18 in the eighth set to secure a 6-2 victory, and from then on it was one-way traffic as Lewis powered into the final, as he won five sets in a row, which included an incredible run of 10 straight legs to win the match.

“This is probably my greatest ever win to date,” said a triumphant Lewis, who will now face Andy Hamilton in an all-Stoke final for the £200,000 first prize. “To be honest, the problems with the draught coming on to the stage did affect for a time. But I think tonight I showed that I’m a true champion. I do not want to lose my grip on this trophy.”

“I’m going to get a good night’s sleep now, relax, and prepare myself properly before I play Andy in the final tomorrow.” Lewis won the first leg of  the match on double top, before Wade converted finishes of 76, followed by a fantastic 157 to take the third. Wade then won the first set in the next by hitting double 20 at the first time of asking, before starting the second set in positive fashion, courtesy of a 96 finish.

Lewis hit back superbly by taking the next two legs with ton-plus finishes of 105 and 130, before Wade took the fourth after Lewis was off-target with three darts at double top for the set. The deciding leg saw Wade land double 10 for the second successive leg to win the set and establish early command of the contest. After the end of the second set there was a break of around 15 minutes, after both players complained of experiencing a draught on the stage.

After the issue was rectified, Wade started the stronger of the two as he claimed the opening two legs of set three. Lewis, who beat Terry Jenkins in the quarter-finals, held throw to take the third leg and won the fourth, with the aid of a maximum. The Stoke star then hit an excellent 114  checkout, to seal the set in style, and reduce the deficit to 2-1. Wade hit double 12 to take the first leg of the fourth set, and then broke throw to win the second in just ?? The Aldershot man then hit a superb 143 checkout to move 3-1 ahead and restore his two-sets advantage.

Lewis hit double top to win the first leg of set five, and then hit a 180 at the start of the second. However, Wade took with an 80 finish, before recording a 126 checkout, to break throw in the next. The number three seed hit double top in the fourth leg, to complete a 13-dart finish, and go 4-1, leaving Lewis with a mountain to climb. The sixth set began with Wade missing a dart at double top, for a 120 checkout. That allowed Lewis to hit double five and secure a break of throw.

However, Wade immediately hit back by landing double 20, to win the second leg against the darts, before the third was secured in just 13-darts. The fourth leg saw Wade hit double seven to take his third set in a row to move 5-1 clear of his opponent, and a set away from a place in the final. Lewis won the opening leg of set seven, but he wasted three chances to take the next and Wade capitalised with a successful attempt at double two.

Lewis won the third leg with a 70 finish, before taking the set in clinical fashion by taking out 94 in two-darts, to keep the match alive. The world number two, kept up the momentum at the start of the set eight, by taking out an 85 finish to win the first leg, and then won the second with the aid of a 180. Wade hit double top to win the third leg and won the fourth by landing double five with a pressure third dart, after Lewis missed a dart at double top for the set.

The deciding leg saw Wade miss an opportunity at double 18, which would have wrapped up the game, and Lewis took out 98 with two superbly placed darts to keep in it. Lewis won the ninth set without reply to reduce the gap to just one set and leave his opponent with something to think about. Lewis hit double top to win the first leg, before winning the second against the darts on double 19. The Stoke man then kicked-off the third leg with a 180, which was won in 13-darts, to claim his fourth leg in succession. The tenth set began in amazing fashion as Lewis hit back-to-back maximums to leave an opportunity of a nine-dart finish.

That was not to be, but Lewis then missed three darts at doubles, however, Wade was unable to capitalise was off-target with two chances of his, allowing Lewis to return and hit double one. Wade was unable to stem the tide as Lewis hit an 81 finish to take the second leg, and hit double top at the first time of asking to confirm that the match would go to a final set. Lewis made a winning start to set eleven by hitting double top, but a dramatic second leg saw him miss six darts at doubles.

However, Wade was guilty of missing seven chances of his own to level, and Lewis landed double one to move a leg away from the victory. That was duly confirmed in the next leg, as Lewis crossed the finishing line in emphatic fashion, as he landed an incredible 161 checkout, to reach the World Championship final for the second consecutive year.