Gary Anderson and Michael Smith, the only two members of the world’s top 10 left in a World Matchplay littered with shocks, both won to set up a mouthwatering semi-final on Saturday night.
Both men were forced to withstand a barrage of big finishes from Krzysztof Ratajski and Simon Whitlock before finally shaking them off to avoid the same fate that has befallen many of the sport’s biggest names.
Smith, a runner-up in five major finals, including last year’s Matchplay, beat Ratajski 16-13, while 2018 champion Anderson came through another gruelling affair to see off Whitlock and reach a fourth semi-final in seven years at this tournament.
Anderson was Smith’s mentor as ‘Bully Boy’ made his way in the game and the Scot, 20 years older than the man from St Helens, leads the head-to-head 9-7.
In the bottom half of the draw, Glen Durrant meets Vincent van der Voort and a resurgent Adrian Lewis takes on Dimitri Van den Bergh for the right to reach the second semi-final.
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World Matchplay: Thursday’s quarter-final results
Anderson sees off dogged Whitlock
Anderson had to dig deep and produce some of his very best darts to repel Australia’s Whitlock, who recovered from a slow start to give the Flying Scotsman a huge scare.
Whitlock had thrown the tournament wide open when he knocked out Van Gerwen on Tuesday night, but he fell 4-1 behind early on before finding the form that had stunned the Dutchman.
The Wizard seized his chance after a blistering Anderson start to pinch the eighth leg and stayed within touching distance before the Scot found an extra gear to lead 7-4. Instead of Anderson powering clear, the Wizard dug into his box of tricks to produces a pair of magical finishes.
After taking out 108 in style, Whitlock landed a sensational bull-bull finish for a 120 check-out before a missed dart at the same bullseye target cost him a chance to level at 7-7.
Anderson mopped up to stay two clear and as further chances went begging for Whitlock, Anderson established the biggest advantage of the match to move four clear.
There was time for another burst from the Aussie who reduced the deficit to 10-8 when he pinned 114, his fourth huge finish of the match, and an invigorated Whitlock claimed another two to draw level.
The pair shared the next four, with Anderson unable to shake his opponent but at 12-12, the 16th seed from Australia finally wilted as Anderson powered to the finishing line for an impressive victory and yet another major semi-final.
World Matchplay: Friday’s quarter-final matches
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‘Bully Boy’ stays in hunt for maiden major
Before last year Smith had not gone beyond the last 16 of the Matchplay, but on Thursday night he saw off a dogged Krzysztof Ratajski to book his place in the semi-finals for the second successive year.
‘Bully Boy’ was beaten by Rob Cross in last year’s Matchplay showpiece in Blackpool and he remained on course to at least match that performance following a 16-13 victory which featured 13 maximums and an impressive 48 per cent success rate on his doubles.
There was nothing in an enthralling contest until a five-leg burst from Smith took him into a 14-9 lead just as Ratajski’s determination faltered.
‘The Polish Eagle’ had reached the biggest match of his televised career on the back of the highest average of the eight players remaining and, while his scoring faltered a little, his big finishing did not desert him.
@BullyBoy180 has played 58 legs so far with 50% on doubles!! Impressive to say the least
An early 128 finish via the bullseye kept him in touch after a fast start from Smith, who led 2-0 and 4-2, but Ratajski showed the class that has brought him five ranking titles in a meteoric two years.
The Pole hit the front for the first time to lead 6-5 and stayed ahead when he hit the bullseye again, this time for a nerveless 161 finish and an 8-7 advantage.
Smith kept his cool to move back in front at 9-8 only for Ratajski to pin his third three-figure out-shot for a level contest before Bully Boy’s pivotal burst.
Ratajski hinted at a comeback when he closed to within two thanks to a double nine that came only after Smith had failed to punish five missed darts at double.
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