Brisbane Dart Masters 2018
Night 3 Semifinals and Final
Final
Rob Cross 11 (103.81) Michael van Gerwen 6 (98.41)
Rob Cross defeated Michael van Gerwen for the first time in 2018 in the final of the 2018 Brisbane Darts Masters by eleven legs to six. In a match of huge momentum swings the World Champion turned around early setbacks against the world’s number one player to become the sixth winner of the six World Series of Darts events in 2018.
Cross started the match with a maximum but missed two darts at a check out to hand his opponent the leg with van Gerwen taking out a 68 check out with his last dart in hand. The Dutchman then checked out 114 to consolidate his early break.
In the third leg both players had a shot at a 170 check out but failed. Cross then seemed to hand another leg to his opponent when he missed a double 16 check out dart for the third time in the match. MvG lined up for a 111 check out and got the hard part out of the way but missed tops for the leg. Cross then hit double eight with the first dart of his next visit. The fourth leg then replicated the ending of the previous leg with Cross missing a check out (tops on a chase for 120), van Gerwen then stuffing up a 72 check out and Cross hitting double ten to break the Van Gerwen throw.
In the fifth leg Cross then collected a 130 check out with his opponent standing behind him needing just 54. An 11 dart sixth leg from Cross had him two clear, having won the last four legs straight. Just before the first break Van Gerwen hit a 170 finish to break the Cross throw, and go into the interval just one leg behind the World Champion.
After the break van Gerwen drew level after holding his throw and then broke his opponent’s throw thanks to a 130 check out after Cross missed two at double 16 for the leg. Van Gerwen then won his own fourth leg in a row as his opponent missed the bull for the leg and MvG secured the 24 required with two darts. At 6-4 it looked as if there would only be one conclusion for the match. Cross was able to hold his throw in the 11th leg to draw within a leg of his opponent. It took four darts but Cross then broke the throw of MvG, thanks in main to his first three visits of 180, 140 and 137.
He then held throw with another 11 darter before a remarkable leg before the break saw Cross miss tops before van Gerwen missed double 16 to hold throw. That left Cross with a shot at double ten which he got with his first dart to go to the break 8-6 up, having won another four legs in a row.
Post the second interval MvG looked to break straight back but his attempt at a double tops finish chasing 105 saw both his second and third darts miss their mark. Cross then looked to have blocked his chance at double 15 with his first dart but a remarkable second dart hit the appropriate bed and he moved to a 9–6 lead.
The 16th leg saw Cross take yet another break with a double five finish. Cross then threw for the match but his opponent had first shot at a check out. Van Gerwen missed only for both players to not take their chances at their next visit to the oche. Cross then finished a remarkable final with the most unremarkable finish, a one and double two. With that finish he was crowned 2018 Brisbane Darts Masters champion.
Semi Final 1
Rob Cross 11 (95.79) Peter Wright 8 (101.04)
Rob Cross proved once more that power scoring does not win matches but making the most of your double opportunities gets you over the line. Whilst Peter Wright secured an average over 100 for the first semifinal, Cross secured 11 of 15 check out opportunities to get him over the line by 11 legs to 8.
It was the world champion who threw first and despite missing a double 16 for the leg his opponent was too far behind to make him pay and on his follow up scored the required target with his first dart. That missed double 16 would be the only check out dart Cross would miss through until the first break.
The second leg was Wright’s as he threw a 13 darter, including a maximum and a 140. The third leg was the chance the Scotsman had to break the Englishman. Wright had a chance to check out 76 but missed tops and, thanks to a 177 visit prior to Wright’s attempt, Cross was able to convert 62 with his last dart in hand. Wright then held throw by checking out a 101 total.
The fifth leg saw Cross convert 74 to take a lead for the third time. Wright secured his second 180 of the match in the sixth leg but could not convert 76 for the third time in the match. Cross then stepped up and scored 86 in two darts for the first break of the match. He then held the seventh leg by hitting treble 16 with his first dart of his fifth visit to the oche with his opponent on 24.
Wright held his throw after the break to move to within two legs of his opponent and in the ninth leg Cross missed two at a check out, only his second and third misses of the match. Snakebite made him pay with a tops finish to break back. Cross then returned the favour as Wright busted a check out chance and Cross stepped up to take out 58 in two darts. The 11th leg saw Wright start with a maximum and then finish with a 48 to break back once more and this time he held throw straight after to draw the match level at six legs apiece.
Wright then missed the bull for a 170 finish and Cross checked out 68, despite hitting 8 instead of 16 with his second dart. Both players hit multiple hundreds in the next leg but from 201 down Wright had all sorts of issues with his visits and Cross was able to steal the leg after his opponent missed tops. An 11 dart leg for Cross then pushed his lead out to three legs and a second break in succession against Wright put him a leg away from the match at 10-6.
Snakebite fought back as he broke Cross in the 17th leg with a 13 dart leg. He then held throw despite missing six darts at a check out before he hit double two to reduce the gap in the match to two legs. He then had a shot at an 81 finish for the 19th leg but hit the wrong side of the wire chasing double 12 and then did the same for double six. Cross then hit 13 and double 16 to take the match out (he finished on seven out of eight check outs on the double 16.) 
Semi Final 2
Michael van Gerwen 11 (96.81) Raymond van Barneveld 9 (93.91)
Michael van Gerwen outlasted a defiant Raymond van Barneveld in the second semifinal as he progressed to the final against Rob Cross by taking out the match 11 legs to 9.
The opening leg looked threatening as MvG hit a 13 darter to lay his mark down on the match. He then missed two darts to break the Barney throw and van Barneveld pounced with his next dart to tie the match back up. MvG then hit his second successive 13 dart leg on his throw to move ahead once more. He had a chance at 170 on Barney’s next throw but only scored 56 as his more senior opponent hit double 16 with his last dart to secure the 68 required with a 100% check out record to that point.
It was Barney who then had a shot at breaking his opponents throw but he missed double eight for a 127 check out and watched as van Gerwen hit 109 for the leg. Barney then led the next leg comfortably but stumbled across the line with a one and double two visit as van Gerwen had come from the clouds and stood behind him needing 20. Both players then missed tops for the leg before the break but a double five with last dart in hand meant van Gerwen held throw. He then won against the throw after the break with a 106 finish and led the match five legs to three.
Not to be outdone van Barneveld checked out 116 after his opponent missed the bull for the ninth leg. Throwing to tie the match back up Barney was unable to stop his opponent from breaking him back once more. However there was more to come as Barney hit a 170 finish and then followed it up with a 13 dart leg to draw level at six legs all.
The next leg was critical as Barney stole the darts from van Gerwen only to miss double 12, 6 and 3 for a break of throw. MvG then took out tops and with his opponent taking time to recover he quickly took the next leg, breaking the Barney throw once more to lead 8-6. A 12 dart leg saw van Gerwen take a three leg lead for the first time in the match. Barney then held throw with his 14th dart after his opponent missed tops for the leg.
Remarkably Barney then broke the throw of his opponent once again with a last dart in hand double eight being enough to collect the 48 required. At 9-8 Barney looked to even the match up once again but could not check out 156 and watched as van Gerwen hit double ten with his last dart in hand to move just one leg from the match.
In the 19th leg van Gerwen missed four darts for the match and a double nine moved Barney a leg away from a deciding final leg. However some poor visits from van Barneveld in the 20th leg set his opponent up. Once more van Gerwen made it hard for himself as he missed three match darts. Barney scored 118 chasing a 138 check out and with his third dart on his next visit (his tenth match dart) van Gerwen was able to secure the 11-9 win and a position in the final of the 2018 Brisbane Darts Masters. 

Night 2 Quarter Finals
Quarter Final 1
Raymond van Barneveld 10 (93.6) Gary Anderson 8 (96.13)
In the battle of the former World Champions it was Raymond van Barneveld who came out on top as he defeated Gary Anderson 10 – 8.
The Dutchman started the match well by breaking his opponent in the first leg of the night. Two opening 140s were not enough for Anderson to hold his throw as visits of 140 and 143, matched with Anderson’s lack of success at checking out 103, gave Barney a shot at 16 which he duly collected. Anderson responded in style by winning the break of throw straight back after throwing an eleven dart second leg. He then held his own throw in 14 darts to lead the match 2-1, thanks to a 94 check out total.
The next leg was about missed opportunities for both players as Anderson missed the bull for a 130 finish then Barney failed to convert 56 before Anderson left four chasing 25. Barney then left nine chasing 18 for the leg before Anderson finally broke his opponent for the second time with a double two to take a 3-1 lead. Once more he consolidated his throw but not before he missed a double 12 for the leg and his opponent missed a 154 check out on the final dart. Two darts later and Anderson was leading four games to one. Van Barneveld then let multiple chances slip in the sixth leg as he was broken again by his opponent.
The leg before the break was Anderson’s throw and it became a turning point in the match. Barney watched as his opponent missed the bull for the leg and then stepped up to convert 44. It was his second leg of the match, neither of which had come from his throw. After the break he opened with a 180 before two century visits set him up nicely. Two visits later and he was back within two legs, at 5-3.
In the ninth leg Anderson opened with a maximum of his own and got to a check out requirement of 84. He could not convert that score with six darts and instead presented Barney with a chance, one that he took by throwing double 16. He then held throw the next leg by checking out 59. Four legs on the trot soon became five as his opponent could not convert 80, nor could he convert 40 in two visits and van Barneveld was able to punish him with a double eight. Both players got maximums at the oche through the next leg but it was Barney who got to a check out first and eventually secured 68 for a remarkable sixth leg in succession.
A 180 start from Anderson in the 13th leg, and then visits of 121 and 140 gave him a shot at 60 which he took out with last dart in hand for a 12 dart leg. Barney then opened with his own maximum and backed it up with another only to score only 30 on his next visit. He did, however, secure the leg in 12 darts as well. Anderson then failed with two attempts at a tops finish but Barney did not punish, moving from 98 to 40 instead, and Anderson held his throw with a 20 and a double ten to make the score 8-7 in his opponents favour.
A poor leg from Anderson saw Barney pull away in the 16th leg and he was soon just a leg away from the match. Despite a maximum from Barney, Anderson was able to hold on in the next leg and knew if he could break Barney in the next leg he would then have the darts for the match. Van Barneveld seemed to be concerned about that as starts of 59 and 50 left him well behind. He soon snapped out of it though as follow up visits of 140 and 180 put him in prime position and a 72 check out with a last dart in hand double six was enough to give the master Dutchman the match by ten legs to eight.  

Quarter Final 2
Rob Cross 10 (101.02) Corey Cadby 4 (90.8)
Rob Cross put pay to the challenge of Corey Cadby with a comprehensive display in his ten four victory over the young Australian.
Cross opened the match with some smaller visits and Cadby counted with some big numbers. The Aussie could not hit the bull when required after Cross had missed three darts for the leg but with his fourth he was able to hold his throw. Cadby then missed a dart for his throw in the next leg but his opponent missed the bull for a 2-0 lead and Cadby pounced at the second chance by throwing a double eight with his first dart on his next visit.
Both players then held throw, including a 12 dart leg from Cross in the third and missed check outs form both players in the fourth leg until Cadby secured 28 in two darts. Cross then held throw as Cadby missed another bull for a check out. Cadby held throw to make the match 3-3 before being unable to get a check out shot from 147 and watch as his opponent checked out double ten with his last dart in hand to have a 4-3 lead at the break.
Cross then took full advantage after the break by hitting Cadby with a combination of 180, 100, and 180 visits and taking the leg against the throw by scoring 41 in two darts. That 11 darter was consolidated as Cross held throw in leg nine before Cadby finally secured another leg with a 14 darter. Two visits of 180 then gave Cross a shot at a nine darter but his seventh dart went awry and he had to settle for an 11 dart leg and a 7-4 match lead.
Two bounce outs during leg twelve for Cadby were punished by his opponent as he hit double eight to take a four leg lead. Cross then opened with another maximum before securing 36 to hold his throw and move to a 9-4 lead. Cross then tried to finish the match with a 167 check out but missed the bull. Cadby failed to take out 43 and with two more darts Cross had taken the match, and his first win over Cadby in three attempts, ten legs to four.

Quarter Final 3
Michael van Gerwen 10 (98.44) Kyle Anderson 3 (91.6)
Michael van Gerwen dominated Kyle Anderson in the third quarter final with a ten three victory to move into the semifinals of the first edition of the Brisbane Darts Masters.
A 14 dart opening leg set down a strong standard and then a 12 dart leg with a bull finish (a target half blocked by his initial 25 on that visit) gave him a break of throw and 2-0 lead. The Aussie missed the bull in leg three and MvG pounced on that opportunity before Anderson had four chances to break his opponent in leg four, on his own throw, before van Gerwen finally secured the leg and a 4-0 lead.
In leg five Anderson was unable to finish off a 130 check out and his Dutch opponent secured 70 in three darts for a five leg lead. Anderson then threw a 12 dart leg to hold throw, thanks to 180s on his first and third visits. The leg before and after the break he also won, with players missing multiple chances in leg seven before Anderson hit a one and double one for his first break of throw for the match, and then MvG giving Anderson another chance after he missed the bull in leg eight, which ‘The Original’ took with his next two darts securing the required 25 to move him back within two legs of parity at 5-3.
For Anderson they would be his last legs of joy as MvG went on his second five leg run of the match. In leg nine he secured a 140 check out for a 12 dart leg before he checked out 145 in seven darts. An opening 180 in the 11th leg was followed by a 58 finish to give the Dutchman an eight legs to three lead.
Visits of 134 and 180 from Anderson were still not enough in leg 12 as he failed to check out 130 or 20 and van Gerwen checked out 136 to be just a leg away from victory. On his own throw MvG tried to check but only scored one hundred. Anderson then missed double ten for a 54 check out and was not given another chance to throw in the match as MvG hit double 18 with his first dart of the next visit to win the match ten legs to three, thanks to 5-0, 0-3 and 5-0 runs.

Quarter Final 4
Peter Wright 10 (101.91) Raymond Smith 4 (87.71)
Peter Wright put pay to anymore Australian involvement in the Brisbane Darts Masters as he defeated local hope Raymond Smith by ten legs to four.
It started so well for Smith as he held throw with a 107 check out. Wright then scored one hundred or more in three of his five visits as he secured the required 64 in two darts to draw level at one all. Smith then held throw just as comfortably with a 14 dart leg before Wright hit a double 18 to move the score to two legs all.
Smith then took the lead for a third time as he hit a maximum to move to 161 and despite taking nine darts, was far enough to head to take the leg. Once more consistent ton plus finishes helped Wright to get in a winning position on his own throw and a 62 finish drew him level once more.
The critical leg came in just before the break as Wright went on a run of 130, 121, 100 and 100 visits before missing three for the break only to get it with his next dart on his sixth visit to the oche. After the break Wright held throw thanks to an eleven dart leg (visits of 140, 140, 145 and 76.) Despite being in obvious pain Smith then held his own throw with a double 18.
Snakebite then went six four up as he stitched up a comfortable leg on throw with a double 16. The next leg was critical in the match as Wright secured a second break of throw. He hit the 56 required for the leg but just made the fat 16 before hitting tops with his next dart right in the middle of the target! He then held throw as both players were unable to convert 170 finishes at the first attempt with Wright coming closest, scoring 25 instead of the bull. With his opponent unsuccessful at the big fish, Wright was able to secure an eight four lead, scoring 25 without wasting a dart.
The 13th leg saw Wright’s first three visits secure over 130 points each time before taking four darts to gain the last 90 points required. On throw Wright scored a 140 on his first visit but this was matched by his opponent. Two visits later Wright scored the same total and then tried to check out 141. He was unsuccessful at that but on his next visit he took out the match, ten legs to four, thanks to a double eight with his last dart in hand.  
 
Night 1 Round of 16
Match 1
Raymond Smith 6 (98.35) Michael Smith 1 (87.62)
Raymond Smith showed all the fighting spirit of a true Queenslander as he won the very first match of the Brisbane Darts Masters in emphatic style, six legs to one.
The Queenslander opened the match with a 125 check out after his previous three visits had collected 96, 100 and 180 points. He then consolidated this start with a second leg break of throw against Bully Boy. He failed at a shot at 104 but after Michael missed out on 84 Guru was able to hit the double 32 to go two legs up. The Aussie then took a 3-0 lead despite Bully Boy opening with a 180 and having two darts at the leg. Guru missed tops for a 120 finish himself but a double ten was enough to put him the three legs up.
In the fourth leg most expected Bully Boy to respond but, despite getting into a good position, he missed one dart at double 18 and had to watch as his opponent stepped up to convert 71 with a successful shot at the bull. The Guru then racked up visits of 100, 134, 97 and 94 on his throw in the next leg before converting 76 with a double 8 as his last dart in hand. 5-0 to Raymond Smith.
Both players had a poorer start to the next leg until mid-leg when Bully Boy hit a couple of 140s. He missed a shot at converting 47 to leave 20 and with his opponent unable to convert 121, the man from St Helens finally took a leg with a double ten. He then had a shot at 161 in the next leg but scored only 65 and stood back and watched as the local Queenslander took out 80 with two darts to take the match six legs to one. It would turn out to be the largest win of the night and demonstrated the Guru talent that was on display against Phil Taylor in January, and on the various darting circuits in the last few years around Australia, and other parts of the world.

Match 2
Raymond van Barneveld 6 (90.54) Gordon Glenn Mathers 1 (75.35)
Raymond van Barneveld was not going to let another local Queenslander notch up a win as he defeated GG Mathers 6-1 in the second match of the opening night of the Brisbane Darts Masters.
The match started with some low scoring but a maximum put Barney ahead against the throw of his opponent and although he was unable to check out 139 he was well enough ahead to come back to the oche and throw tops with his first dart. He then consolidated the break by holding his own throw in the second leg. Along the way he did miss a double 18 and had to watch as his opponent tried to hit bull for the leg, but that was also unsuccessful and a double nine with last dart in hand was enough to give the Dutchman the leg.
GG then opened the next leg with visits of 140, 97 and 180. Despite this he managed to lose this most critical of legs. Needing 84 Mathers missed the double eight required with last dart in hand. His opponent was well behind so he had another shot at the target on his next visit. He missed the target altogether over the next two visits with Barney drawing slowly closer. He then had another go and busted the total. It gave van Barneveld a shot at 28, which he took in two darts.
Van Barneveld then threw for a four nil lead but in a defiant display Mathers broke throw despite the damage that would have been done to his mentality by the previous leg. Barney missed four of his own leg darts and GG was able to hit 52 with two darts to bring the match back to 3-1.
From this point it was all the Dutchman. In the fifth leg, against the throw, he checked out with a bull, then a miss and then a double 16 to collect 82 with GG on 73 behind him. In the sixth leg Barney hit a 180, missed tops whilst trying to convert 80 and then finished the leg off at his next visit (in two darts with a double ten.) Then in the seventh leg, again against the Mathers throw, he missed the bull for a classic 170 finish but managed to clean up the match at his next visit, thus taking out the match six legs to one.

Match 3
Kyle Anderson 6 (98.77) Barry Gardner 2 (78.48)
Kyle Anderson took out the man who defeated his own nemesis, Damon Heta, in the final of the Perth Premier League of Darts, in Barry Gardner. The final scoreline read six legs to two in ‘The Original’s’ favour.
The opening leg went on throw as Gardner converted 50 with his last dart in hand.  Anderson then returned the favour, securing his required 32 with last dart in hand in leg two. Anderson then had a chance to break his opponent but missed shots at 40 and 20 as Gardner stepped up to the oche and collected 54 in two darts. It was soon two all as Anderson converted a comfortable, if unspectacular leg, with an 80 finish.
The fifth leg would turn out to be critical as Anderson opened up with back to back 180s and despite being unable to put in the seventh dart to progress towards a nine darter, four darts later and he had secured a break of throw. He then consolidated this by holding throw, although it did take him seven darts to convert 147.
Gardner opened the next leg with a 134 but three poorer follow up visits put his opponent back in the leg. Gardner did have an opportunity at 100 for the leg, a score he normally eats up, but he only managed 90 this time around. Anderson then converted 76 with two darts to take a three leg lead.
In what would turn out to be the last leg of the match Anderson again hit back to back 180s, this time after an opening visit of 125. It took another two darts but Anderson secured the match six leg to two with a double eight.

Match 4
Peter Wright 6 (100.37) Justin Thompson 2 (89.9)
Peter Wright continued on his winning ways from Melbourne by defeating Justin Thompson six legs to two in the fourth match of the evening.
In the opening leg, and on throw, Thompson threw 72 when chasing 146 only for his opponent to miss tops with his last dart. Thommo then missed his own shot at tops only for Snakebite to miss all three on his next visit. With his second dart a double five finally secured the leg for Thompson. Wright was then able to hold his own throw although Thompson had a shot at 101, leaving tops. Wright secured a double 18 with his next dart to prevent Thompson from having a go at the 40 he had left.
Opening visits of 180 and 125 should have been enough for Thompson but he was unable to take out 141 with six darts and a double 14 for his Scottish opponent was enough to see the Aussie go a break down. Wright then took a two leg lead by taking out 62 in two darts on his fifth visit to the oche in leg four.
Both players attempted to check out 164 in leg five but Wright left 64 and Thompson 120. It took him three darts but Wright secured a second break of throw by collecting 64 on his next visit. At that point it looked a matter of time but there was spirit left in Thompson. With Wright unable to convert 138, leaving tops, Thompson threw a 94 to get one break back. Thompson needed to hold his own throw in the seventh leg but was unable to as visits of 140, 180 and 123 from Wright put him well ahead in the leg. His 12th dart cleaned up the 58 required and Snakebite had regained a four leg lead.
This time there would be no further heroics from Thompson on the Wright throw. He did attempt a 104 check out but left 60 as Wright stepped up to secure his required 76 with last dart in hand to win the match six legs to two.

​Match 5
Rob Cross 6 (95.8) Tim Pusey 2 (91.47)
For the third match in a row the PDC side of the draw secured a 6-2 victory, this time Rob Cross overcoming rising starlet Tim Pusey.
Pusey opened the match with a 140 but then threw a 47. His opponent built into the leg with visits of 96, 137 and then 180. With an 88 all that was required Cross broke his opponents in two darts on his next time at the oche.
The second leg looked to be one of missed opportunities for Pusey as he could not check out 138 or 52. However, he was given another chance as Cross could not convert 120 in six darts himself. Pusey then took out tops to break straight back. The third leg was also a break of throw as Cross hit right back after Pusey left 16 having chased a 139 finish. With his third dart a double four gave Cross the lead back against the throw. This time he took full advantage as he held his throw with a bull and double 16 taking out 82 in two darts on his fourth visit of the fourth leg.
Pusey opened leg five with a 140 only to be one upped by Cross as he hit a maximum. Cross then backed it up with a 174 but was unable to take out 147 on his next visit. In fact he would need three more visits to collect the leg and along the way Pusey would spurn the opportunity to hold his throw and get back within one leg of his opponent. The West Australian would take his opportunity against the Cross throw in the next leg though, as he took out a 104 finish, to move the match score to four legs to two.
For the second time in the match Pusey was unable to hold his throw coming off a break of throw. He missed double 16 for a 103 finish and with his last dart in hand Cross secured 76 and a five two match lead. Two visits of 140 then put Cross in a strong lead in leg eight and despite missing two match darts at tops for a 65 finish, and a defiant 140 from Pusey when he needed 148 for the leg, Cross was able to secure the six two win with the second dart of his next visit, landing it in the double ten bed.
 
Match 6
Michael van Gerwen 6 (99.15) Mark Cleaver 2 (85.16)
Michael van Gerwen put down a statement of intent in Brisbane as he dismissed Kiwi Mark Cleaver six legs to two, the fourth time the scoreboard read this score in succession.
The opening leg saw van Gerwen open with visits to the oche of 121 and 140 before his 14th dart locked out the leg with tops. Cleaver scored a 125 on his second visit on throw in leg two but a 112 check out from his opponent dashed his hopes of holding his first leg. The third leg saw visits of 96, 99, and 180 from van Gerwen and whilst he was unable to check out 120 his 114 set up his next visit. That hope looked dashed when his first two darts blocked 90% of the bed. However van Gerwen showed all his class by moving across a long way and then landing the dart in the very top corner of the double six bed.
The fourth leg did not go the way of the previous ones as Cleaver took the chance in the leg that van Gerwen presented him when he missed two darts at double 16. Cleaver instead stepped up to the mark and hit double 12 with his first dart in hand to move the scoreline to three one. Normal service resumed in the next leg although not without a fright for the world number one. Van Gerwen left 56 after attempting to take out 145 and Cleaver stepped up and with two great darts left himself 32 from a checkout attempt of 139. Cleaver could not hit the target with his third dart and with his last dart in hand MvG won the leg with his 56 check out total.
 Van Gerwen then threw a 12 dart leg thanks to visits of 100, 140, 140 and 121 to move to a leg away from the win. However Cleaver was not done and on the van Gerwen throw he tried to hit Shanghai for the leg. He missed but then so did his opponent trying to collect 59. With his second dart on the next visit Cleaver locked in his second leg of the match thanks to a double ten.
Van Gerwen lay down the gauntlet in the eighth leg with a 180 start which he matched two visits later. It took him four darts after this third visit to the oche, but a double ten secured the match for the mighty Dutchman, six legs to two.
 
Match 7
Corey Cadby 6 (96.2) Simon Whitlock 5 (93.61)
In the equal closest match of the night Corey Cadby got revenge over Australian number one Simon Whitlock with a 6-5 victory in the penultimate match of the opening night.
In the opening leg both players started slowly but with Cadby unable to convert a 132 finish Whitlock got 40 with his second dart to hold his throw. Cadby then opened with a maximum on throw and looked to close out the leg in 12 darts but missed the final dart. Whitlock then chased the big fish but left 65. Chasing 25 Cadby missed two at double eight to hand the chance for the Wizard to break, one which Whitlock took with his last dart in hand.
Cadby responded on the Whitlock throw with opening visits of 137 and 140. Both players could not complete big check outs and it was left to Cadby to score 60, and he did so in two darts. He then drew the match level after four legs. Both players missed the bull to win that leg but this time Cadby successfully cleaned up his remaining 25 in two darts.
Whitlock then turned the pressure up by easily holding throw before breaking the Cadby throw in the sixth leg. Cadby had his shots at holding throw but it was Whitlock who broke through to once more lead by two legs, four legs to two.
A 180 start from Cadby demonstrated another mini comeback was forming and so it proved as he missed double eight with his 12th dart for the leg. On his next visit Cadby secured that result with his first dart. With another break back under his belt Cadby then chased the equaliser. A 180 from Whitlock on his second visit to the board put him in with a strong chance of stealing the leg, and he soon threw for a 126 finish. He hit triple 20 twice only to with his last dart. In two darts Cadby scored 50 and put the match back into parity at 4-4.
Cadby then put the heat on his Australian opponent with two 100 visits and then a 140. Cadby then looked to have blown his chance as he could not check out 161 and Whitlock hit two treble 20s chasing 132. The third dart was off target though and Cadby stood back up at the line and threw 38 by splitting it with more success than at this stage the previous week in Melbourne, throwing six and double 16 in two darts to break once more and take the lead for the first time in the match.
To many the match seemed over but Whitlock demonstrated tenacity in fighting back off what looked to be the canvas. Visits of 100 and 180 handed the Wizard the darts only for him to score just 28 and hand momentum back to his opponent. However Cadby could not take full advantage and a visit later he failed to convert 138. Whitlock threw double ten with his last dart in hand at his next time on the oche to draw the match level.
After ten legs there had been six breaks so the last leg was anyones. Whitlock opened with a 61 and followed up with visits of 100 and 60. Cadby scored consistently higher to this point, with 92, 140 and 137 being his scores. Whitlock then threw 96 to leave 120 whilst Cadby moved from 132 to 78 after a disappointing visit. Whitlock scored only 64 chasing Shanghai and Cadby then stepped up to the line and used all three darts to score the required 78 for the match, winning six legs to five.
 
Match 8
Gary Anderson 6 (94.99) Damon Heta 5 (94.6)
Another comeback from Damon Heta against Gary Anderson almost caused a huge boil over in the final event of the night but in the end the two time champion of the world came through the tight challenge to win six legs to five.
Early on it was all the Flying Scotsman as he took a three nil lead thanks to a comprehensive opening leg, missed chances from Heta in the second leg handing his opponent a leg he should never have been in against the throw, and a second comfortable leg on throw from Anderson. Visits of 125 and 140 from Heta then helped set up an 81 out, which he collected in three darts to move the match to 3-1.
The fifth leg saw Anderson miss a double 14 to hold his throw (with a 148 checkout) and Heta stepped up to the oche and threw down 62 in two darts to move back within a leg of the match. Strong scoring from Anderson against the Heta throw in the next leg left him needing 12 after nine darts. He hit the bull with last dart in hand on his next visit to break Heta straight back and slow his momentum.
Heta then struck back once more as Anderson missed tops for a 111 out in the seventh leg as Heta checked out a magnificent 152 finish. For the second time Anderson broke straight back though, as Heta missed three darts at double 16 in the eighth leg and Anderson punished him as he collected 52 thanks to a double 20 with his last dart in hand. He was back out to a two leg lead, 5-3, and was just one leg away from the victory. The last four legs had been breaks, however, and leg nine would play out similarly. Both players had chances, with Anderson scoring 140 when chasing a 164 exit. He never got a shot at it though as Heta hit double four in one dart.
This time Heta could not afford to lose his throw straight away and with opening visits of 121 and 140 the favouritism for the leg sat with him. An Anderson 180 put some pressure on but after setting a target of 155 Heta completed it in five darts.
So the final match of the night came down to a decider. It was not a time for Heta to not hit a double in four visits. Anderson left 32 after chasing 154 and in two darts on his next, and final, visit to the oche, he was able to secure the closest of wins, six l