Darts results: Simon Whitlock breaks 180s record in an epic win over Michael van Gerwen at the Grand Slam of Darts
Simon Whitlock survived eight match darts from Michael van Gerwen and set a Grand Slam of Darts 180s record in an epic Grand Slam of Darts quarter-final.
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On an evening of the highest drama - which also saw Dimitri Van den Bergh pip Nathan Aspinall 16-15 - the Wizard waited until the deciding leg to go ahead for the first time, but only after MVG spurned another five match darts to add to the three he blew when leading 15-13.
Whitlock had broken Adrian Lewis' record of 18 maximums for a single Grand Slam of Darts match at the start of the next leg and further scores of 140 and 123 helped him take the match the distance having brilliantly battled hard to stay in touch after trailing 9-5 earlier on.
There were initially no signs of nerves from the 51-year-old as he kicked off the decider with a 20th 180 but van Gerwen then took control when his second 140 reduced his score to 68 before Whitlock failed to take out 170 and left himself a testing 114.
The world number one, who was looking to win this title for a fourth time and first since 2017, then missed two attempts at double eight and a further three on his next visit before Whitlock held his nerve.
It was the Aussie's third victory in a row over MVG in televised majors having also beaten him at the World Matchplay (11-4) and the World Grand Prix this year - but on this occasion he was facing a much better performance from the Dutchman.
Van Gerwen averaged 100.32 compared to Whitlock's 96.3 - despite throwing 15 fewer 180s - although his finishing percentage of 33.33% was slightly inferior to the victor's 37.5%.
MVG did also produce a sensational match high 146 checkout to go 15-13 up only to ultimately buckle under pressure when it really mattered.
"I feel on top of the world," Whitlock told www.pdc.tv. "It's incredible - I think this is my best victory I've ever had in darts. To beat Michael when he's off his game is another thing, but to beat him when he's playing well - which I thought he did today - is amazing.
"This is becoming a nice habit - I've won three on the trot now but I'm playing good darts now.
"I was enjoying the moment but I didn't expect to get a shot. I was thinking it was all over but somehow he missed and gave me a chance, and I took it.
"I showed belief, guts and determination. The only time I was in front was when I hit the winning double - it's crazy."
Whitlock will now face Jose De Sousa, who earlier continued his dream debut by defeating Michael Smith in another superbly entertaining quarter-final.
The 'Special One' has become one of the most formidable players on the circuit since earning his first PDC Tour Card at the start of 2019 but he'd never previously ventured as far as a quarter-final in his eight televised majors.
You'd never have guessed, mind, as De Sousa blasted out of the blocks and stormed into a commanding 8-2 lead against an opponent who'd beaten him during the group phase.
However, Bully Boy bounced back in emphatic fashion by winning eight of the next nine legs to lead 10-9 while he also twice came close to nine-darters during this streak only to fall short in the third visits.
Eventually Smith ran out of steam and costly missed doubles allowed De Sousa to regain control and become the first player from Portugal to reach a televised major semi-final.
The 46-year-old 'rising star', who defeated Michael van Gerwen to land his third PDC title last month and his first on the European Tour stage, told www.pdc.tv: "It was an amazing game and it's a big win for me, the biggest victory for me. I'm really happy and I enjoyed it a lot.
"He is one of the strongest players in the world so I'm happy to beat him. I tried everything in my mind to keep my game stable. Michael has beaten me three times before so I knew I had to be solid, but he got stronger and stronger during the game and punished me. It was crazy, he missed two nine-darters.
"When I made it ten-ten, I knew I had to relax and play my darts, and I did that. I didn't give up and I had to be patient. It's the first time I've played in the Grand Slam and I'm so happy for everyone who supports me; my family, my friends and my team. It's a crazy year for me."
De Sousa averaged 98.52 compared to Smith's 95.74 despite hitting six fewer 180s than his opponent's barrage of 14 but he was crucially tighter on his finishing, with 16 attempts pinned from 47 as Bully Boy spurned a whopping 33 of his 47.
One of those was an agonising miss at double top which would have taken out 102 and forced a deciding leg and De Sousa made him pay.
James Wade kept alive his hopes of winning the Grand Slam title for the first time as he repelled Damon Heta's spirited fightback to run out a 16-13 winner.
The 2010 and 2016 runner-up raced into a 4-0 lead and continued to keep the Aussie debutant at arm's reach at 10-6 thanks to a 100+ average that he would never drop below throughout the contest as well as three 100+ checkouts of 152, 11 and 101.
The 2019 Brisbane Darts Masters champion, who won his maiden PDC ranking title at the Autumn Series before reaching another final at the Winter Series, refused to lie down and took out finishes of 108 and 142 before landing a 10-darter and a 101 checkout to level up at 13-13.
In typical Machine-like fashion, the unruffled Wade won the next three legs in succession to seal an impressive victory.
Wade, who reached the European Championship final earlier this month, said: "I'm so happy I won. I did the right things at the right times of the game. Even though I was well in front and I was probably the better player for the majority of the game, I believe I was lucky.
"I thought he would get nervous and cave in, but he didn't - he showed a bit of class and showed his resilience and I was fortunate he missed a few shots.
"The 96 finish was massive - if I'd have missed that, I'd have lost the game. I've played in one or two games before and I know what wins and loses games, and at that point I thought it was enough to keep me in the game, not win me the game.
"It was quite a good game and the better player on the day won. I'm grateful to still be in the tournament and I'm looking forward to my next game. I've been there and done it and I'm enjoying myself."
Wade averaged 101.66 compared to Heta's 98.26 while he hit one more 180 with six and pinned 50% of his doubles - which was actually inferior to his opponent's 56.52%.
Van den Bergh later set up a last-four showdown with Wade after edging out Aspinall in another tense showdown that was almost impossible to call until the final double.
The World Matchplay champion battled back from 11-8 to lead 14-12 but then had to stage another comeback at the death when trailing 15-14, winning the last two legs without allowing the Premier League runner-up a match dart.
Van den Bergh, who set a new tournament average record of 114.85 during the group stages, was unable to make it five 100+ averages in a row but it was still another superb performances as he edges closer to his second major title of the season.
The Belgian averaged 97.8 compared to his opponent's 94.92 and hit four more 180s with 10, while he managed both 100+ checkouts in the match including a superb 130 on the bullseye which reduced the gap from 11-9 to 11-10.
"I'm so chuffed that I'm through," said Van den Bergh. "It was a proper emotional rollercoaster and I'm still in that ride.
"I kept battling and never gave up because today was a such a struggle. I lost the first three sessions 3-2 and went down 9-6, but I kept digging in and believing in myself.
"We didn't perform the way we can but at least I have a chance to improve in the next round, and I will learn from this quarter-final. It's a lesson for me but this week is going very well and I'm playing strong."
Grand Slam of Darts Sunday results & remaining schedule
Sunday November 22
Afternoon Session (1pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)
- Jose De Sousa 16-14 Michael Smith
- James Wade 16-13 Damon Heta
Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)
- Dimitri Van Den Bergh 16-15 Nathan Aspinall
- Simon Whitlock 16-15 Michael van Gerwen
Monday November 23 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Semi-finals (Best of 31 legs)
- Simon Whitlock v Jose De Sousa
- James Wade v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Tuesday November 24
Afternoon Session (6pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Final (Best of 31 legs)
- Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2