Netherlands 4 – 0 Northern Ireland

The Netherlands moved a step closer to retaining their World Cup title after beating Northern Ireland in the quarter-final.

Vincent van der Voort and Raymond van Barneveld both won their singles matches before joining forces to win the pairs to set up a semi-final clash with Australia.

VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 4 – 3 Brendan Dolan

Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Vincent van der Voort produced a brilliant fight-back against Brendan Dolan to claim Holland’s first point of the quarter-final.

The fastest player in the world had to win three consecutive legs, two of which were against the throw, to claim victory from the jaws of defeat.

‘The Dutch Destroyer’ took out a neat 76 checkout to level after Dolan had won the first leg. The Irishman won the next two legs to open up a 3-1 lead in the race to four.

Van der Voort hit double sixteen in consecutive legs to force a decider. The Dutchman hit a 180 in the final leg before hitting double three to win the match, giving the Netherlands a one point lead overall.

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 4 – 2 Michael Mansell

Raymond van Barneveld produced another strong display to overcome Northern Ireland’s Micky Mansell. The defending champion trailed twice in the quarter-final tie but hit back to make it two wins out of two for Holland in the singles.

Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Mansell won the first leg before ‘Barney’ hit tops to draw level. The Irishman then hit the same double to go back in front. Van Barneveld restored parity with a tidy 97 finish. He followed it up with a maximum and then hit double eight to take the lead for the first time.

The five time world champion hit double sixteen to seal the win and double his nation’s overall lead, meaning the best Northern Ireland could hope for from the doubles was to force a sudden death leg.

VAN DER VOORT & VAN BARNEVELD 4 – 3 Dolan & Mansell

Raymond van Barneveld and Vincent van der Voort made it four points out of four in the quarter-final with victory in the pairs.

The Dutch team won a final leg decider against Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan and Michael Mansell to secure their place in tomorrow’s semi-finals.

Van Barneveld opened with a 180 and his teammate hit double ten to put Holland in front. Their opponents drew level with a 14 dart leg before van der Voort took out 76 restore his team’s lead.

Northern Ireland won the fourth leg to level up once more. ‘Barney’ hit another maximum in response, and then hit double six to edge back in front.

Dolan hit double three to force a deciding leg, which Holland won when van der Voort produced a clinical 90 finish.

The Netherlands will play Australia in tomorrow’s semi-final.

By Chris Murphy

Wales 3 – 1 South Africa

Wales went through to the semi-finals of the World Cup after coming out on top in an exciting encounter with South Africa.

The result of the match was decided in a tense deciding leg after Wales had won one and lost one of the singles games, and were tied 3-3 in the pairs.

Mark Webster had cruised past Shawn Hogan with a stunning display before Richie Burnett was edged out by Devon Petersen.

The pair teamed up to come through the doubles and set up a potential semi-final tie with tournament favourites England.

MARK WEBSTER 4 – 0 Shawn Hogan

Mark Webster continued his remarkable run of form in the World Cup with a second consecutive whitewash. The Welshman wasted little time in grabbing the first point of the match for Wales by beating South Africa’s Shawn Hogan 4-0.

Webster produced some clinical checkouts. He took out 94 to win the first leg and 76 to take the second. ‘Spider’ raced into a 3-0 lead by hitting double ten. He posted his first maximum in the fourth and final leg, which he won with a brilliant eleven darter.

Richie Burnett 3 – 4 Devon Petersen

Richie Burnett suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of promising youngster Devon Petersen, meaning Wales’ fate would be decided in the pairs.

Burnett fell behind but responded with a maximum before drawing level. Petersen retook the lead and Burnett replied with another 180, before hitting double two to restore parity.

The young South African went back in front with a 105 checkout, but Burnett refused to be beaten and took out 41 to set up a deciding leg. The Prince of Wales hit 140, 180 and then 130 in the final leg but it wasn’t enough as Petersen took out 116 to win the game and draw the match level on points.

WEBSTER & Burnett 4 – 3 Hogan & Petersen

Wales secured their semi-final spot by winning an intense decider in the doubles. Mark Webster and Richie Burnett were made to work hard by the South African pairing of Shawn Hogan and Devon Petersen, but the Welshmen won the battle to progress.

Webster hit double top to give Wales the lead and Burnett hit double ten to double it. Hogan took out 100 to pull a leg back for South Africa and then 52 to draw level.

Burnett hit double eight to edge Wales back in front but Hogan took out 121 to set up a deciding leg. Webster just missed the bull for a 122 finish before Burnett hit double eight, making Petersen pay for a miscount.

Wales will play either England or USA in tomorrow’s semi-final.

By Chris Murphy