Phil Taylor into the quarter-finals of World Grand Prix
Phil Taylor sailed through to the quarter-finals of the darts World Grand Prix after beating Andy Smith by three sets to nil.
The Power cruised to another win and remains on course to win a 10th World Grand Prix. After beating Brendan Dolan without dropping a leg in his last match, Taylor was in control against the Pieman.
Taylor took the first set three legs to one after limiting Smith to just one double, and then took his game up another level in the second set, taking the first leg with a superb 165 finish. A genius was at work, and Taylor moved two legs up by hitting a 153.
Smith’s second attempt at a double was a successful one and he made the score 2-1, but it wasn’t enough to save the set, as Taylor hit a 180 and took the set on double 16. The 15-time champion of the world began the third set scoring a 177 and checking out 105. Taylor strolled to the win with a 74 checkout and a double 16 finish to reach the last eight.
“Andy said to me at the end that he was sorry he didn't give me more of a game but I thought he played quite well,” said Taylor, who averaged over 101. “When he was under pressure he swapped his double and hit it, and he finished well when he had chances, but I didn't give him many chances.
“It shows that everything I've been doing is coming right on stage, and that takes experience and the ability to do it on stage. I'll have a bit more killer instinct in the quarter-finals and the longer format always suits me, even though I've not played a lot of darts so far,” Taylor added.
Taylor will now play Gary Anderson, who produced another hard-fought victory in a stunning match against Kevin Painter. The Flying Scotsman was on the brink of defeat in his last match against Ronnie Baxter, and once again he had to dig deep to keep his hopes alive.
Anderson stormed to the first set, taking out a 108 and a 62 along the way. Painter responded in the second set by hitting double eight to lead, but Anderson continued his good form by levelling the set on double 16. Anderson missed the bullseye on a 135 finish, allowing Painter to take the next two legs and the set on double top and double 10.
Both players were hitting 180s and 140-plus scores, playing at the top of their game. Painter took the first two legs and was one leg away from the match, but Anderson hit double top and capitalised on Painter’s miss on the bullseye on a 121 finish to tie the set, and ensured a deciding set by hitting double 10.
It was Anderson who held his nerve in the decider to set up a match with the Power, which will be a repeat of this year’s UK Open final. “The first set was brilliant but I didn't keep it going after the break,” said Anderson. “After the third set I got my rhythm back and I'll have to handle it better in the quarter-finals.”
“I know how tough it will be against Phil Taylor and he probably won't miss three match darts against me I'm looking forward to it because I'm playing the 15-time world champion and I've got nothing to lose. I'll worry about my own darts and if I hit my double top first dart then I can give him a good game and hopefully it will happen for me,” Anderson added.
In another close match, Adrian Lewis overcame the challenge of Terry Jenkins in a final set as well. Lewis took the first set 3-2 after Jenkins missed darts at the double to win it himself. The Bull improved in the second set, out-scoring Lewis, and managed to take it.
Lewis took a 2-1 lead in the third set, despite Jenkins taking out a 158 finish. Lewis hit double eight to put him in command of the match and one set away from the win. Jenkins, a two-time finalist at the World Grand Prix, won a high-quality fourth set, taking out 120 and 140.
Lewis wasn’t going to throw the match away, and he won the final set three legs to one on double top. “It was great to win but I don't like to do it easily,” said Lewis. “I thought I started well and was hitting my scores but we both hit some great shots during the match.”
Lewis’ quarter-final opponent is Wayne Jones, who is continuing to impress on the oche after dispatching Steve Brown three sets to nil. After reaching the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay and the final of the European Championship, Jones averaged over 84 and broke the throw three times. He also hit finishes of 124 and 108 along the way.
“I was relaxed after that and managed to finish him off. Steve didn't play as well as I thought he would but I'm glad to get it out of the way and get through,” said Jones. “Every time I do well it breeds confidence in me and I'm enjoying the game at the moment. I'm throwing nice darts and looking forward to the quarter-finals now.”
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