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 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 5-0 ALAN TABERN
(3-0, 3-2, 3-0, 3-2, 3-0)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD stormed into the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 5-0 win over Alan Tabern.
The Dutchman remains on course for an appearance in the Purfleet final in his debut year at the Circus Tavern after another quality display.
He dropped just four legs in the match, and the tone was set early on when van Barneveld took the first set 3-0 without Tabern even reaching a double.
Tabern then missed ten darts at a double in the opening leg of the second set, but took the next two with finishes of 60 and 130 on the bull, to move ahead.
Four-time Lakeside champion van Barneveld kept himself in the set in leg with double ten after Tabern missed the bull for the set, and he then won the decider to double the lead.
He twice broke Tabern's throw in the third set, as well as landing a 13-darter to move 3-0 up, and also led 2-0 in the fourth.
Tabern again hit back, with a 62 finish followed by a 126 checkout as he levelled matters, but van Barneveld was again the stronger in leg five to go four sets up.
Despite a maximum from Tabern in the opening leg of set five, van Barneveld checked out 64 in three darts and then 87 on double 18 to move to within a leg of the match.
He then wrapped up the win on double four to set up a tasty clash with Andy Jenkins in the last four.
Tabern, a qualifier from St Helens who has burst onto the scene in the past 18 months, admitted: "It was my most disappointing night as a professional.
"Everything that could do wrong, did go wrong. Maybe the week took its toll on me - it was like running two marathons in my last two matches.
"I hope I'm not remembered for this instead of the wins I've had earlier in this tournament because I know I am better than this.
"I needed to win a couple of legs to settle me down and give me the belief. Ray may have been there for the taking, but I didn't do anything to pressure him."
Match Stats
|
Raymond
van Barneveld |
5-0
(3-0, 3-2, 3-0, 3-2, 3-0) |
Alan
Tabern |
|
23 |
100+ |
23 |
|
18 |
140+ |
10 |
|
5 |
180 |
4 |
|
32.10 |
Ave1 |
28.14 |
|
96.31 |
Average 3 |
84.42 |
|
106 |
High Finish |
130, 126 |
PHIL TAYLOR 5-1 DARREN WEBSTER
(3-0, 3-0, 3-1, 3-0, 0-3, 3-0)
PHIL TAYLOR remained on course for a 14th World Championship title with a 5-1 win over Darren Webster at the Circus Tavern.
Taylor dropped only four legs in an impressive demolition of the qualifier, who defeated Bob Anderson, Adrian Gray and Wynand Havenga before becoming the latest victim of another masterclass from the defending champion.
Webster played his part in an enjoyable contest, taking out a 164 finish in winning the fifth set without reply - despite a maximum from Taylor in each of the legs.
However, it was not to be as Taylor powered through the final set to finish with an average of 101.5 to book a date with Andy Hamilton in Saturday's semi-finals.
Webster had chances to win the first leg, but was punished for misses at double top and ten when Taylor took out 81 in two darts.
Legs of 15 and 14 darts gave Taylor the first set, and he also took the second without reply in only 45 darts.
He led 2-0 in the third before a 12-darter from Webster got him off the mark, although Taylor responded to take the fourth leg and create a 3-0 advantage.
Taylor included a 112 finish in winning the fourth set 3-0, before Webster took the fifth by the same scoreline.
He capitalised on Taylor misses in the first, before taking out 164 in the second leg and landing a maximum to set up a one-dart 24 finish in the third.
His celebrations were short-lived, though, as Taylor wrapped up victory with three successive legs - including a 90 finish on the bull - to move into the last four.
"Darren was good to play against and hung in there," said Taylor. "I thought he would come back at one stage and he deserved his moment of success.
"The 90 finish on the bull was important. It was probably my best shot of the tournament - I had to knock his confidence back down after he won the fifth set!
"Everything's going well for me in this event and a 100 average is nice and steady. There's a lot of pressure now and some good players coming through.
"I do enjoy the game and the battles, and Andy Hamilton will be a tough game."
Webster admitted: "It was a big thing for me in the last eight against Phil Taylor, and the moment got to me at the start.
"I eventually settled down and enjoyed it, but it was 3-0 by that point,
"The 164 finish was great and I was proud to play like that in the fifth set. That is how I can play, and maybe if I'd produced that throughout it would have been different.
"I can concentrate on next year now and try to get back into the top 32. That way I will get used to the big stage more, although you can't gain any more experience than playing Phil in a quarter-final of the World Championship."
Match Stats
|
Phil
Taylor |
5-1
(3-0, 3-0, 3-1, 3-0, 0-3, 3-0) |
Darren
Webster |
|
22 |
100+ |
32 |
|
14 |
140+ |
12 |
|
5 |
180 |
4 |
|
33.84 |
Ave1 |
31.71 |
|
101.51 |
Average 3 |
95.13 |
|
112 |
High Finish |
164 |
|
