Simon Whitlock and James Wade progress to semi-finals
Simon Whitlock and James Wade safely made it through to the semi-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay darts tournament.
Wade beat Wayne Jones 16-12 while Whitlock demolished Dutchman Jelle Klaasen 16-8.
Wade, the 2007 champion here in Blackpool, took the opening leg, but Jones, appearing in the quarter-final for the first time, replied by taking the next two legs, landing a 13-dart leg and double 18.
Wade opened up a 5-2 lead, taking out a 121 finish for a 12-darter. However, Jones hit back with legs of 13, 14 and 14-darters to level the match.
Both players hit double-top finishes to share the next two legs, but Wade then took the next four legs, capitalising on Jones’ missed doubles. Jones checked out 83 and 128 to reduce his arrears to 11-9, but Wade went further ahead again at 13-9.
Jones hit double 18 and double eight to pull it back once again to 13-11, but Wade was able to clinch the match and reach the semi-finals, producing an 11-dart finish and posting double top. Wade is aiming to reach the final for the fourth time in five years, and now awaits the winner of the match between Co Stompe and Raymond van Barneveld.
“It was an exceptionally hard game for me because Wayne has a good record against me and it was psychologically hard,” he said.
“But there was a bit of the old James Wade there and it's getting better. I made a break early on but didn't kill him off as quickly as I could, but I know I've got three more gears to find yet. It would be amazing to win this tournament again and it's about time I won another big title because it's over a year, so we'll see what happens this weekend,” Wade added.
Whitlock defeated an in-form Klaasen 16-8, who has enjoyed wins against Mervyn King and Gary Anderson. However, overcoming Whitlock proved to be too much for the young Dutchman.
Klaasen blitzed the first leg by checking out 115, but Whitlock replied by taking the next three. Klaasen levelled the match with finishes of 132 and 148, but the world championship runner-up led again 5-3. Another ton-plus finish from Klaasen, this time 116, put him one behind. When Klaasen was 6-5 behind, Whitlock stepped on the power, and reeled off the next nine legs to lead 15-5. Three ton-plus scores put Whitlock in command and he sealed the match with double 16.
“Jelle started well but I tried to get a big break on him and it worked out for me. His finishing was great early on but he didn't keep that up and it was the difference. My finishing was very good when I needed it to be and it was the important thing. I'm still feeling poorly with the flu but I enjoyed the game a lot more than in the second round and feel a little bit better, and hopefully after an early night and some rest I'll be nearly recovered by the time I go on stage for the semi-finals,” said Whitlock.
Whitlock will either face Phil Taylor or Kevin Painter, who play tonight.
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