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MICHAEL VAN GERWEN 16 – 11 Dave Chisnall

Michael van Gerwen moved into the last four of the World Matchplay with victory over Dave Chisnall at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Friday evening.

The world number two completed a line-up of the PDC’s four highest ranked players for Saturday’s semi-finals.

van Gerwen will face Adrian Lewis, who he lost out to at the same stage in the European Championship almost three weeks ago.

“I’m very pleased to be through and looking forward to facing Adrian,” said van Gerwen, who remains in the hunt for his third PDC major title.

“Tonight I was surprised to average over 100 and hit over half of my attempts at doubles because I didn’t think I played that well.

“I have had some great battles with Adrian and I hope it will be the same tomorrow. He beat me last time so I want to make it my turn and I will be focusing only on that game.

“My aim is to win this but it is still so far away with the best four players in the world still in. Tomorrow will be a fantastic night for everyone and hopefully that will include me.”

van Gerwen hit three 180s in the first five legs, which all went with the throw to give the Dutchman a 3-2 lead.

Chisnall won the next two legs, hitting a 180 in each of them before a 112 finish increased his lead to 5-3.

But van Gerwen hit back as he punished his opponent for missing three darts at doubles with a brilliant 110 checkout, before a fourth 180 for the world number two helped him restore parity.

‘Mighty Mike’ cleaned up 75 to edge ahead but Chisnall levelled despite the Dutch star’s fifth maximum.

His sixth 180 put him 7-6 infront and a neat 84 checkout gave the 24-year-old a break of throw but ‘Chizzy’ broke back immediatley.

van Gerwen continued the breaking phase when he bedded tops, before increasing his lead to three legs by finding the same bed.

His ninth maximum couldn’t prevent Chisnall from closing the gap but his tenth helped him take the 19th leg.

Chisnall replied with a brilliant 144 but van Gerwen fired back with two more maximums as he moved four legs clear.

He then took out 76 to move 14-9 ahead and the next two legs were shared as the Dutchman moved within a leg of a place in the last four.

He had time to hammer home a 14th maximum in a leg which Chisnall won, before van Gerwen finished the job on double ten,

By Chris Murphy

See Michael van Gerwen in action at Millwall FC in the Millwall Masters in September – Click here for ticket information