PDC World Darts Championship 2015: Quarter-Final Results and Updated Schedule
The semi-final line-up for the 2015 World Darts Championship has been finalised.
In the first match, 2014 champion Michael van Gerwen defeated Robert Thornton. Closing out Thursday's events, Gary Anderson knocked off Peter Wright.
Phil Taylor's bid for a 17th world title is still alive after Friday, courtesy of a 5-3 win over Vincent van der Voort, and Raymond van Barneveld completed the semi-final picture with a thrilling 5-4 win over Stephen Bunting.
Full Results for Quarter-Finals
1 of 4
Friday, Jan. 2
Phil Taylor 5-3 Vincent van der Voort
Stephen Bunting 4-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Thursday, Jan. 1
Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Robert Thornton
Peter Wright 1-5 Gary Anderson
Results courtesy of PDC.tv
Updated Draws and Schedule
2 of 4
Here's the draw for the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship:
Saturday, Jan. 3
7:10 p.m. GMT
Michael van Gerwen v. Gary Anderson
9 p.m. GMT
Phil Taylor v. Raymond van Barneveld
Schedule courtesy of PDC.tv
Friday Recap
3 of 4
Phil Taylor had to dig deep to get past Vincent van der Voort, winning 5-3, while Raymond van Barneveld needed a decider to get past Stephen Bunting, playing out a thrilling 5-4 win.
The Power, winner of 16 word titles already, took the first two sets against his Dutch opponents in comfortable fashion, before dropping three consecutive sets, winning just two legs in the process.
It was a complete collapse from Taylor, who could do nothing right and gave up nine out of 11 legs. Down 3-2, he nearly lost the sixth set as well, with Van der Voort missing several darts on the double and the Power needing 21 (!) in a decider.
That decider win seemed to reinvigorate Taylor, however, who pulled his average back to just over 100 in the final two sets thanks to a sensational 11-darter and sent Van der Voort back home with a finish on double 10.
The Dutchman fought bravely, nursing a bad back that had some doubting whether he would be playing at all on Friday. Speaking to PDC.tv, he refused to use the injury as an excuse:
"What can you say, I gave everything I had but it wasn’t good enough. I just gave it everything I had, I tried my hardest and I just wasn’t consistent enough in the end.
"
Of course it’s very difficult with a bad back but I don’t want to make any excuses because it makes his effort less than it was, he played well, he’s the best player there’s ever been and I just lost to the better man tonight.
For his part, Taylor was mighty impressed with his opponent:
"It was survival there, it really was. He played well tonight Vincent did, but that’s how he plays, people haven’t seen the best of him yet.
"
I’m shattered, I tried my hardest and that match has taken it all out of me. Vincent’s back had gone, he was hobbling he was in agony, he was in trouble and yet he still went up there and hit his scores, hit his 180s and did what he had to do.
Taylor will meet another Dutchman on Saturday, with Van Barneveld just edging Bunting after a decider. Both finished the match with identical 98.4 averages, but ultimately, Barney's experience shone through as he took a slight edge on the doubles.
The match went to 2-2 in a hurry, with just one leg being won by the losing party through the opening four sets. Van Barneveld shocked the crowd by coming out wearing glasses in the fifth, but they clearly didn't do much, as he missed four darts for the set to go behind 3-2.
He struck back in the sixth and won the seventh with a sensational 107 finish, but the young Bunting still wouldn't give up, winning the eight to set up a decider. In that final set, the Bullet had some bad luck, as a would-be 92 finish bounced out of the board, and Barney took full advantage, setting up a semi-final date with Taylor.
The two shared a long embrace after the epic match and Van Barneveld had nothing but kind words for his much younger opponent, reducing him to tears when he told the cameras he demands Bunting have a Premier League spot in 2015.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Thursday Recap
4 of 4
Michael van Gerwen made it three trips to the semi-finals in three years as the defending champion brushed aside Robert Thornton 5-2.
Van Gerwen ran out to a 3-0 lead early. He was particularly great in the opening set, nailing 180 in every leg. After that strong start, though, Van Gerwen's rhythm began to slip. Even with the cushion of that three-set advantage, Thornton was hot on his heels.
The 47-year-old answered swiftly, climbing to within a set of Van Gerwen, 3-2. Thornton also had a chance to level the match, narrowly missing the bull in the sixth set. Van Gerwen knew he avoided a potential disaster, and he didn't look back from there.
Van Gerwen closed out with a 170 to win and avoid a massive upset.
"I was playing very well but Robert fought back," he said after the match, per the Daily Mail's Rob Maul. "I was under pressure. I was a bit nervous. I thought to myself, 'This can’t happen, can it?' The 170 finish to win was such a big relief for me."
According to BBC Sport, Van Gerwen's 105.26 average was the highest in PDC World Championship history.
Gary Anderson had an easier time putting away Peter Wright, downing the Scottish star 5-1. Anderson built a 2-0 lead through the first two sets before Wright clawed his way back, halving the deficit. Anderson then reeled off three straight sets to secure the victory.
"I seemed to be in control most of the match, but I missed a few wee doubles and then, bang, I let Peter back into the game a bit," he said, per ESPN.co.uk. "It seemed like I was giving legs away at times so I was pleased to get over the line in the end."
The final numbers illustrate the difference between the two competitors. According to PDC.tv, Anderson averaged 102.12 with 11 maximums, compared to 95.66 and three, respectively, for Wright.
"Michael's the world champion, all the pressure's on him," Anderson said of his semi-final opponent, per ESPN. "I'll tell you what, he better play because I'll be right behind him."
Van Gerwen is the reigning champ for a reason, and with the way he performed on Thursday night, he'll be extremely difficult to beat in the next round.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
