There will be no threepeat for Adrian Lewis after losing in one of the best quarter-final matches ever to Michael Van Gerwen. In contrast to the first two quarter-finals, tonight's action saw both matches require all nine sets to determine the second semi-final, James Wade versus Van Gerwen.
Lewis and Van Gerwen traded 23-180s and it may not have been so close in the Dutchman hadn't have missed so many doubles in the beginning. Lewis missed six darts to win the second leg, allowing Van Gerwen to take a ton checkout before taking the set without conceding.
But Van Gerwen then missed six darts to level the second set a 1-1. Lewis then survived another three missed doubles in the fourth leg to be able to take the second set 3-1. Van Gerwen responded to take a 2-0 lead in the third set before missing five darts in both the third and fourth legs to restore his set advantage. The fourth leg in that set saw Lewis hit an 84-checkout on the bull to force the deciding leg that Van Gerwen ultimately won to lead 2-1.
A 136-checkout from Lewis saw him take a 2-0 lead in the fourth set before two more missed darts from Van Gerwen allowed Jackpot to level the match without conceding. That only led to angering the Dutchman as he responded by winning the fifth set, also without conceding. Lewis kicked the sixth set off with a 138-checkout before a 102-checkout, after Van Gerwen missed a further two doubles, secured the set 3-1.
For the first time in the match, Lewis could have taken the lead after going 2-1 in front. But Van Gerwen hit a Shanghai 120-checkout to force another deciding leg which he won to lead 4-3. Lewis still wasn't finished and his best performance of the tournament produced another 3-1 set victory to force a deserved deciding set.
Van Gerwen began the final set with another classy 102-checkout. But Lewis came back to take a 2-1 lead and then missed two darts to win the match. Van Gerwen managed to level the set and force a tie-break situation. Van Gerwen smashed a 108-checkout to take the lead before managing to hit a crucial double four after three missed attempts to win the match and knock the double World Champion out.
It was just as a classic affair between Wade and Wes Newton. A nervy opening leg saw both players miss three darts at the double before Newton managed to take it. Wade followed that up with a 101-checkout but had to force a deciding leg but Newton continued to hold throw to take the opening set.
The Warrior would then miss three darts in the second leg of the second set to give Wade a 2-0 lead. But Newton managed to fight back to force another deciding leg that he ended up winning to move into a 2-0 lead. Another three missed darts from Newton allowed Wade to take the opening leg of the third set before halving the arrears with a 3-1 set victory.
A 103-checkout was sufficient enough for Newton to win the opening leg in the fourth set. He then lead 2-0 before missing three set darts to win it 3-1. Wade managed to recover and win the deciding leg to level the match up. Wade would complete the come back by taking the fifth set after conceding the first leg.
Newton then missed two darts at the double in the opening leg of the sixth set to allow Wade to take it without conceding and move into a 4-2 lead. The tide turned once again as Wade missed three darts at the double in the opening leg of the seventh set, allowing Newton to respond with a set without conceding of his own.
A 102-checkout from Newton started the crucial eighth set in style. The Warrior then used that to win the set 3-1 and set up a deciding set. Newton then crucially missed two darts to take a 2-1 lead in the final set and that finally broke him as Wade managed to win the set 3-1 and progress into the final four.
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