GSOD Semi Final Round Up
Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig/PDC
PHIL TAYLOR and Andy Hamilton will contest the final of the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts on Sunday following two thrilling semi-finals at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Taylor, the number two seed, edged out WDF number one Gary Anderson 13-11 to remain on course for another major title in his incredible career.
Anderson supported his status as number three seed with a marvellous performance against the 13-time World Champion, taking out three ton-plus finishes and landing nine 180s
But Taylor crucially came from 7-6 down to lead 9-7, and held his throw to close out he win.
“It was difficult,” admitted Taylor. ?Gary is a massive scorer and he was banging in big shots all the time but I kept plodding on and used all my experience.
“It will be a cracking final.”
Taylor faces Stoke rival Andy Hamilton in the final, following the PDC world number six’s thrilling 13-12 win over 22-year-old ITV Wildcard Qualifier McDine.
McDine had four ton-plus checkouts in their contest, but paid for an error in the deciding leg – when he failed to leave a double by hitting single 15 instead of ten – to allow Hamilton to take the win.
“It was very tough and I was just relieved he gave me a chance in that final leg,” admitted Hamilton. “That single 15 he hit at the end was a cracker – for me anyway!
“I’m happy with the result and I’m in the final now. It’s what I’ve wanted all my life and I can go and enjoy it now.”
Taylor will go into the final as the 2/9 favourite with PartyBets.com, with Hamilton at 3/1. PartyBets.com will also refund all losing match bets should either player hit a nine-darter in the final.
PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts
Semi-Finals
Andy Hamilton 13-12 Kevin McDine
Phil Taylor 13-11 Gary Anderson
Final (3.30pm Sunday, live on ITV1)
Andy Hamilton v Phil Taylor
Best of 35 legs
ANDY HAMILTON 13-12 KEVIN McDINE
ANDY HAMILTON won a dramatic final-leg shoot-out to book his place in the final of the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts at the expense of young star Kevin McDine.
McDine, a 22-year-old ITV Wildcard Qualifier, has battled through to reach the last four in his debut in a televised tournament.
But he saw his dreams of a place in the final at the Wolves Civic dashed in incredible fashion against Hamilton.
The pair were locked at 12-all going into the final leg of the contest, with McDine first to a finish – only to fail to leave a double by hitting a single 15 instead of the ten which would have left double top.
Hamilton stepped in and took out double 16 to reach his first televised final, and remain in line for the ?80,000 winner’s cheque.
The game enjoyed an explosive start, with McDine taking the first leg and Hamilton landing a 180 on the way to the second.
The next four were also shared equally before McDine showed nerves of steel to take out 130 on the bullseye and then a 136 finish to move 5-3 up.
Hamilton hit back to level with two key double top finishes, and a two-dart 61 finish put him ahead of the first time.
A 112 checkout then saw Hamilton go 7-5 up, and he also maintained a two-leg lead at 9-7 before McDine surged back, kicking off three successive legs with 180s.
He enjoyed finishes of 72 and 104 in hitting back to level, and then edged in front once more on double 16.
However, he missed double 12 for an 11-9 cushion, with Hamilton landing double five at the third attempt to square the contest once more.
The tension rose as the next two legs were shared, leaving the game effectively as a best-of-three leg shoot-out.
A 118 finish saw McDine move 12-11 up, only for Hamilton to reply in 14 darts with an 81 checkout and send the game into the final leg.
Hamilton edged the early scoring and a 97 score left him 50, with McDine needing 67.
But for the first time in the tournament, his composure let him down as he mistakenly hit single 15 instead of ten, denying a shot at the double.
Hamilton returned, hitting 18 and double 16 to move into the final, where he will face Phil Taylor or Gary Anderson on Sunday. The final starts at 3.30pm and is live on ITV1.
“It was very tough and I was just relieved he gave me a chance in that final leg,” admitted Hamilton. “That single 15 he hit at the end was a cracker – for me anyway!
“It was a battle throughout and Kevin threw really well. I put myself under pressure to throw good darts because of that, instead of just enjoying it and playing my own darts.
“But I’m happy with the result and I’m in the final now. It’s what I’ve wanted all my life and I can go and enjoy it now.”
McDine’s display included seven 180s and four ton-plus finishes, and Hamilton added: “I went two legs in front and he just kept coming back at me.
“He was always clinging to me and he’s done himself proud this week. He’s got a good future ahead of him.”
PHIL TAYLOR 13-11 GARY ANDERSON
PHIL TAYLOR sensationally edged out Gary Anderson 13-11 to win through to the final of the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.
The battle between the second and third seeds produced a scintillating contest in front of a packed house at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
The lead changed hands three times, but a break of throw from Taylor in the 15th leg, where he went 8-7 up, proved crucial in the final outcome.
Anderson started excellently, with an 11-darter and a 120 finish helping him into a 3-2 lead, despite a 113 checkout from Taylor in leg two.
Taylor won three legs in a row to move 5-3 up, only for Anderson to reply in kind to lead 6-5, including a 134 finish and a sixth maximum of the game.
Taylor took the next to level after Anderson missed the bullseye to steal the leg, only for Anderson to take out a 13-darter for a 7-6 lead.
Taylor won the next three, including scores of 180 and 177 and a key break of throw in leg 15, to lead 9-7 and push clear for the first time in the game.
It would prove a pivotal moment, with Anderson striving to break back but paying for three misses in the 20th leg as Taylor moved 11-9 up.
Legs of 13 and 15 darts, including a 120 Shanghai finish, kept him in contention, but Taylor refused to let his advantage slip – with a double top finish seeing him move 12-10 up and within one leg of victory.
Anderson took the next at ease on his own darts – but Taylor kicked off the next leg with scores of 99 and two 140s to take command, and landed double 16 to seal his final place.
“It was difficult,” said Taylor. “Gary is a massive scorer and he was banging in big shots all the time but I kept plodding on and used all my experience.
“When I went 11-9 up I started to relax because I had the darts. All I was concentrating on was my next leg with the darts.
“Gary’s a very, very good player and he has been exceptional this week.”
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