Brisbane Darts Masters results: van Barneveld's stunning comeback is highlight of a gripping quarter finals
Raymond van Barneveld has set up a semi-final showdown with Michael van Gerwen after an entertaining day two of the Brisbane Darts Masters.
The Dutchman produced a stunning comeback to beat Gary Anderson 10-8 in a gripping and thrilling quarter final in Brisbane.
After losing the first leg, Anderson then moved into a 5-1 lead and looked in full control. But van Barneveld fired back, winning the next six sets to jump ahead 7-5.
Anderson seemed to have stemmed the van Berneveld tide as he claimed the next. But the wind was blown out of his sails in leg 14 as van Berneveld fired six perfect darts before a 111 finish to move into an 8-6 lead.
A triple 20 and double 6 finished the job for van Berneveld and smiles and firm handshakes between the battle hardened pair highlighted the respect and drama they had both produced in front of an enthralled Australian crowd.
"Maybe now we have seen the natural throw of Raymond van Barneveld and you can see what I can do," said the 51-year-old after his victory.
"I think in the last seven or eight legs I hit maybe five or six 180s. I’ve struggled with my set-up a little but it’s starting to come together now. I am pretty confident now and happy with the win against the world matchplay champion."
That's set up an all-Dutch semi final on Sunday, as Michael van Gerwen cruised into the last four thanks to a comprehensive win over Kyle Anderson.
The Dutchman was victorious 10-3 as he built on a fine start, racing into a 5-0 lead. Anderson pulled back to 5-3 before van Gerwen took control again. A 136 checkout moved him to a 9-3 and he wrapped up the win by hitting a double 18 on dart one.
“He didn’t really give me a game tonight so it’s hard to take much from the match," said a bullish van Gerwen.
"I know I need to be much better against Raymond tomorrow but if I play my best game I will have the trophy at the end of the night.”
That means Rob Cross and Peter Wright will make up the other semi. Cross saw off home favourite Corey Cadby 10-4, as the world champion progressed with an average of 101.02, with 43% on the doubles.
The pair traded holds of throw until the first television break, with Cross leading 4-3. After that stoppage it was all one way traffic with the number four seed winning six of the next seven legs to progress.
“The break was really important for me. I saw I was averaging low 90’s and that gave me a kick up the backside," stated the world number three.
“After that I started to find my rhythm and didn’t waste many darts. “Corey is an incredible talent but if you give him and inch, he will take a mile so it was important that once I got in front I stayed in control.
“I want to win one of these before the end of the year and I’m still going strong and I know if I play as well as I can I will go very close."
He will be throughly tested on Sunday, as Peter Wright looked in equally fine form during his 10-4 victory over Raymond Smith, with an average 101.9.
Smith started brightly, leading 2-1 and then 3-2, but after that it was all Wright, who once moved into a 5-3 advantage only conceded one more leg as he comfortably moved into the semi finals as he looks to add the Brisbane title to his Auckland Masters success.
“I have changed the way I am approaching my games, there’s no point worrying about how tired you are, you just have to get on with it and play darts," said the number one seed.
“When the Aussie and New Zealand guys come over for the world championships we don’t want to hear them complaining, so let’s just play as well as we can and enjoy it.
“I have got to play more solid (against Rob Cross) but I believe I can up my game if I’m pushed."
Brisbane Darts Masters: Schedule & Results
Friday August 10
First Round (Best of 11 legs)
- Michael Smith 1-6 Raymond Smith
- Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 Gordon Mathers
- Kyle Anderson 6-2 Barry Gardner
- Peter Wright 6-2 Justin Thompson
- Rob Cross 6-2 Tim Pusey
- Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Mark Cleaver
- Simon Whitlock 5-6 Corey Cadby
- Gary Anderson 6-5 Damon Heta
Saturday August 11
(7pm local time, 10am UK time)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 19 legs)
- Peter Wright 10-4 Raymond Smith
- Rob Cross 10-4 Corey Cadby
- Michael van Gerwen 10-3 Kyle Anderson
- Gary Anderson 8-10 Raymond van Barneveld
Sunday August 12
(7pm local time, 10am UK time)
Semi Finals (Best of 21 legs)
- Peter Wright v Rob Cross
- Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Final (Best of 21 legs)
- Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2
World Series of Darts: 2018 Event Calendar
- German Darts Masters - May 25 (Winner: Mensur Suljovic)
- U.S. Darts Masters - July 3-7 (Winner: Gary Anderson)
- Shanghai Darts Masters - July 13-14 (Winner: Michael Smith)
- Auckland Darts Masters - August 3-5 (Winner: Michael van Gerwen)
- Melbourne Darts Masters - August 10-12 (Winner: Peter Wright)
- Brisbane Darts Masters - August 17-19
- World Series of Darts Finals - November 2-4