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JAMES WADE  17 – 15 Terry Jenkins

James Wade secured his fifth final appearance in seven visits to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens with a well earned victory over Terry Jenkins in the semi-finals of the Betfair World Matchplay on Saturday night.

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

‘The Machine’, who won the tournament in 2007, fired in no less than six three figure checkouts as he dumped out the man that he beat in the final five years ago.

“The Bull” played his part in a real battle in Blackpool but it was Wade who continued his love affair with the prestigious tournament.

“Terry was amazing,” said Wade, who also reached the final in 2006, 2008 & 2011.

“He probably should have won that game but I managed to dig in and get a result.

“The crowd were on his side which made it harder and a lot of the big shots I took out were born out of desperation really.

“I couldn’t get settled tonight and I struggled to concentrate at times but that won’t happen tomorrow.

“I have been putting in the practise and hopefully that will pay off in the final.”

Wade hit four 180’s in the first session but was only rewarded with a solitary leg to his name, with Jenkins going into the break with a 4-1 lead.

‘The Machine’ halved the deficit before Jenkins restored it, but Wade pulled it back to 5-3 with a stunning 164 checkout.

‘The Bull’ made it 6-3 before world number three Wade reeled off six consecutive legs, which included clinical checkouts of 103, 107 & 127.

Jenkins then hit back, taking five legs in a row to go 11-9 in front before ‘The Machine’ produced a sublime 130 checkout to spark another run of consecutive legs, this time taking a quick-fire four, with a sensational 144 finish in amongst the game shots.

Jenkins took the next two to restore parity at 13 apiece before Wade split 26 and then hit double top to move two legs clear.

‘The Bull’ wasn’t finished though and won the next two to leave the match finely poised at 15 all.

But Wade grabbed a crucial break of throw before getting the job done on double six, to move into Sunday evening’s £100,000 final, where he meets Phil Taylor.

By Chris Murphy

See some of the world’s top darts players in action at The Untouchables,Eastbourne on Friday 19 October.

JAMES WADE 16 – 13 Michael van Gerwen

James Wade sealed his place in a sixth semi-final in seven visits to Blackpool with a 16-13 triumph over Michael van Gerwen in a high quality encounter in the Betfair World Matchplay.

‘The Machine’, who is chasing his eighth major title, set up a last four clash against Terry Jenkins after being pushed hard by his opponent in a match where neither player’s average dropped below 100 from the off.

“Michael fought hard there,” said Wade, who won the tournament in 2007.

“He’s back to playing some of the best darts he’s ever played but I’ve been practising hard and it is starting to show in patches.

“I’m looking forward to playing Terry tomorrow. I know that we will both just go up there and play darts and may the best man win.”

Wade started the strongest, hitting double ten to take the first leg before breaking with a brilliant 116 checkout in the second, which included his first maximum.

van Gerwen broke straight back before ‘The Machine’ reeled off five consecutive legs in business like fashion, hitting two more maximums along the way.

‘Mighty Mike’ stuck in his first 180 as he pulled it back to 7-3, only for Wade to win the next two legs, holding with a sensational 146 checkout, before another 180 helped him break the Dutchman’s throw once again.

van Gerwen managed to break back, cutting Wade’s lead to 9-4 but the world number three restored his six leg lead with a seventh succesful shot at double ten.

Former World Master van Gerwen grabbed the games’ fourth consecutive break of throw, taking out 25, to leave the second session five legs behind.

The Dutchman, who had hit a nine-darter 48 hours earlier, went off with his fourth 180 in the 16th leg but ‘The Machine’ took out another fabulous shot with 122 on the bull.

van Gerwen took out 24 and then 65 to reduce Wade’s lead to 11-7, despite the 2007 winner hitting his fifth 180.

‘Mighty Mike’ levelled up the maximum count before hitting double 16 to move within three legs of Wade with a break.

The 23-year-old won a fourth leg on the spin, hitting double five before Wade made it 12-9 with a 12 dart leg.

van Gerwen hit double 16 to peg back ‘The Machine’ again, before grabbing a seemingly crucial break of throw with a fantastic 88 outshot on the bull.

Wade ensured he kept daylight between them, taking out 72 to break straight back, before a neat 86 finish put him three legs clear at 14-11.

van Gerwen kept himself in it with a 13 darter, bere Wade’s ninth maximum helped to move him within a leg of victory.

The Dutchman held to keep the pressure on but Wade clinched his place in the semi-finals with a brilliant 71 checkout, finishing on double ten.

By Chris Murphy

See some of the world’s top darts players in action at The Untouchables,Eastbourne on Friday 19 October.

Michael van Gerwen wowed the Winter Gardens with a wonderful nine-dart finish in an explosive performance, as he saw off Steve Beaton in Blackpool.

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

The 23-year-old Dutchman hit six ton plus finishes in a 13-9 triumph to set up a quarter final clash with James Wade, who was impressive in a convincing 13-4 success over Mark Walsh.

“It was a special moment for me,” said van Gerwen, on hitting his second televised nine-darter.

“I have been playing really well on the floor which has given me a lot of confidence and tonight it all came together on TV.

“James is a classy player so I will have to play great again to beat him, but everyone has seen what I can do.”

Wade, who won nine consecutive legs in his triumph over Walsh, said: “I did alright tonight and I’m glad to get through.

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

“Michael is a confident young lad and I was pleased for him but I’m here to do a job.”

There was disappointment for Raymond van Barneveld however, the Dutchman failed to reach the quarter-finals in Blackpool for the first time ever after suffering defeat at the hands of Terry Jenkins.

By Chris Murphy

See some of the world’s top darts players in action at The Untouchables,Eastbourne on Friday 19 October.