In what has truly been a tournament of surprises, the semi-final stage of the World Matchplay from Blackpool's Winter Gardens features two of the top four in the world, the greatest player there ever will be and the most improved player of the year so far. The finishing post has been upped by 1 leg to 17, making it a best of 33.
The bottom half guarantees a new Matchplay finalist, and sees current UK Open champion Peter Wright take on the rapidly improving monster chinned Ulsterman Daryl Gurney. These two met in the semifinal of the aforementioned Minehead FA Cup where Clownman won comfortably on the way to his first major title. However, since that 11-5 defeat, Superchin has transformed as a player, picking up his first ranking title and steadily rising up the Order of Merit. His performances this week have been nothing short of stunning, with the fightback victory over Mensur Suljovic in the quarterfinals the latest in his run. Wright has been inconsistent and needed a six-leg burst to put away agitated midget Darren Webster; if Panto Pete isn't like that from the off, he will surely get pummelled.
The top half has the Stoke derby with 15 time champion Phil Taylor against half-injured protege Adrian Lewis. The dismantling of reigning champion Michael van Gerwen by the Prowler was nothing short of spectacular as the Autism Express didn't just fall off Blackpool's Golden Mile, but went straight off the rails and onto the beach in a crumpled wreck. Aidey's evening saw him struggle with his recent back surgery ramifications and had to slam in a 102 just to stop Alan Norris tying it up after being 13-5 ahead. With this being the final calling of Pheel in the Empress Ballroom, it is more than likely that Snackpot will bend over and take it from his Lord and Master with no lube; it won't be a repeat of 2013's stunning final between the two, that's for sure.
Coverage starts from 7:00pm UK time on the new-look Sky Sports Action channel.
>Tonight’s matches (Best of 33 legs) Daryl "Sweet C4-line" Gurney v Snakeshite Taylel v SnackP&Ot
All matches must be won by 2 clear legs, with up to 5 extra legs played to decide a winner. If the match is tied after 5 extra legs, a final sudden death leg will be played.
>mfw watching van Gherkin vs Taylel today What the fuck was that
Liam Taylor
Most bewildering match in a long time, and definitely the worst of MVG's career since winning his first major.
Aiden Walker
The manner of how Michael van Gerwen imploded yesterday cannot be overlooked.
His checkout rate of just 6 from 27 attempts (22.22%) was one of his lowest in his PDC major history and his whole demeanour yesterday was not his usual self: no strutting around after hitting 180s, no anger. It was as if he wasn't really bothered about losing like he did. Was it a case of the partisan crowd getting to him, as it did in the 2015 World Grand Prix final? Or has his mind been focused elsewhere with the impending realisation that he's going to become a dad?
In fact, his whole week has been weird. He let off when 7-0 up against Stephen Bunting and missed 22 darts at double, then in the post-match interview shrugged off Simon Whitlock as a nothing and then gave no shits about playing either of Phil or Barney. The match against Whitlock was the only remotely "normal" performance from him, yet he still went under a ton average after having averaged 100+ on TV for so many matches in a row.
In a bizarre way, it's both good and bad for darts that MVG has had this meltdown: good in that yesterday's match has shown opponents how to properly get at him, but bad in that it will only inspire an autism-fuelled rage for the rest of the season.
Josiah Stewart
It's a conflicting feel as well. It was kind of funny to see MVG get spanked liked that but it was Taylor doing the spanking.
Carter Sanders
A recent Tweet from Aidey:
>Hi folks, the reason why I'm going backwards & forwards from home because my bed is a lot more comfortable after my operation. I wonder why...
Jordan Gomez
I think Barry threatened to kill his unborn child if he didn't lose to Taylel.
Jose Perry
Taylor is the heel darts needs
Aaron Brooks
Hankey should take over from him desu
Josiah Perry
>implying it isn't roidlet due to pheel's retirement
Luis Jenkins
The character the PDC needs
>ywn be Lewis and eat in bed while Mrs Lewis cleans up after you
Kevin Perry
And we're on now.
Brandon Mitchell
>taylor is the first fucking clip
Gabriel Ramirez
Who fucking thought Taylor v RVB would be Pheel's last match?
Fuck you, Mardle.
Jonathan Smith
Had to laugh when Pheel tried to lecture Michael about sportsmanship post-match, when just last year, on this very same stage, with the roles reversed and Taylor getting spanked, he started acting like a complete retard on stage youtube.com/watch?v=xBMqgyGqo7A
Cameron Anderson
Hopefully taylor wins so he can fuck mardles shit up again in the interview
Jonathan King
Typical hypocritical Taylor.
Jason Sullivan
Backing the chin to win it all. Couldnt stand either Phil or the clown with another trophy
Aaron Powell
Crimson Chin > Lewis > Wright > Pheel
Dominic Gomez
Taylor should fuck off. Constant boing of his cucks against MVG was annoying AF. Not saying MVG would have won without it, but it was relentless even when he was down 3 - 9001 these faggots were still going.
Chase Parker
SWEEEEEEEEEET CAROLINE
Wyatt Wilson
A Peter Wright win will confirm September's Champions League of Darts line-up.
As it stands: >Taylor (C), MVG, Gando, Wright, Lewis, Chisnall, Mensur, RVB
Brody Green
It's hard not to respect Phil's darting skills, nut the guy is a cunt in every sense of the word
Parker Robinson
Yeah I get booing at first but why wouldnt you want him to get back in it at some point
Luis Young
>Gurney not repeating his UK Open antics with Clownman Good sign.
Matthew Ward
Wright's very similar: respectable skills, utter retard otherwise.
Brayden Adams
>Snakeshite
Justin Davis
>clowman
Aiden Perez
thread is pretty ded
disappointing.
Liam Adams
can gurney get in?
Josiah Myers
fuck off casual
Anthony Wood
Gurney gets in by winning the Matchplay at the expense of RVB.
Jace Carter
Trip fag filtered
Ian Foster
>spend whole day practicing with this set-up >change it after 2 legs
