Thursday 29 May 2014 22:21, UK
Michael van Gerwen came through a final-leg decider against James Wade to book his place in the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters.
The world champion was at one point 8-5 up in a race to 10 legs but was forced to hold off a comeback before finally setting up a clash with Adrian Lewis.
The Dutchman, who took out 63 on double 16 to wrap up the 10-9 win, is bidding to retain the title he won last year.
“He played very well and put me under pressure straight away. I didn’t feel very confident at the beginning of game,” van Gerwen told Sky Sports.
“I was 5-3 down but after that I won five straight legs and played really well. I had also missed three chances at double 17 to make it 4-4, I wasn't happy with that and trying maybe a little bit too hard.
He added: “I’ve known James for a long time and I know him as a player – he never gives up. You need to fight very hard against him.”
Lewis reached the last four after easing to a 10-5 victory against newly-crowned Premier League champion Raymond van Barneveld.
The double world champion hit seven 180s as he eliminated last year’s beaten finalist from the competition.
The other semi-final will see Peter Wright take on Dave Chisnall after they clinched victories over Phil Taylor and Simon Whitlock respectively.
Taylor edged ahead at 5-4 in his clash with Wright before ‘Snakebite’ reeled off six legs in a row to take a 10-5 victory.
Chisnall, meanwhile, came through 10-8 in a high-scoring affair with Whitlock in which both players averaged over 100 and the beaten Australian hit nine 180s.
