Taylor sees off Hamilton
Wade holds off van Gerwen as semi-final line-up is completed
Last Updated: July 27, 2012 11:34pm
Phil Taylor bounced back to form as he booked a place in the semi-finals of the Betfair World Matchplay with a 16-11 victory over Andy Hamilton.
Taylor reverted back to his old set of darts and the move paid off as he produced his best performance of the tournament so far against the world finalist.
J Wade bt M van Gerwen 16-13
'The Power' produced key early finishes of 126 and 127 and after edging 7-6 ahead produced a surge that did for his Stoke rival, winning six of the next eight legs to set up the win.
In a match dotted with 180s, Hamilton just had the early edge after moving ahead 2-0 and was still in the match when he overcame three missed doubles to make it 10-9 to Taylor.
He kicked off the next frame with a maximum but Taylor finished with double 16 before winning the next three to put daylight between the pair, including an 11-dart leg with an 86 finish.
Hamilton stopped the rot with a 108 checkout against the head to pull it back to 14-10 but by that time victory for Taylor was inevitable and he closed out the win with a 170 checkout, earning a date with Ronnie Baxter.
In the last quarter-final of the day James Wade held off a spirited fightback from Michael van Gerwen to win 16-13 and set up a date with Terry Jenkins.
Wade made the early running, winning five consecutive legs to ease into a 6-2 lead.
It took the Dutchman 10 legs before he nailed his first 180 and he hit another in the 14th but Wade hit back to take it on double 10 and lead 10-4.
It was at that point van Gerwen responded, taking five of the next six legs and then get within one when he polished off 88 on bull to make it 12-11.
Wade took the next after the Dutchman had missed double six in a key leg, the Englishman pulling away again with a 13-darter and then a 71 finish in two darts.
