Peter Wright survived three match darts in reaching the Boylesports World Grand Prix Semi-Finals.
The World Champion defeated Dimitri van den Bergh 3-2 and gained a measure of revenge for his World Matchplay Last 8 defeat back in July.
The reigning World Champion will face Michael van Gerwen in the Semi-Finals, as the world number three booked his spot in the Last 4 after finding a 3-1 victory over Chris Dobey.
World Number 1 Gerwyn Price was the only player to reach Saturdays Semi Final session without dropping a set, averaging 91.28 and including two maximums in a 3-0 win over Latvian Madars Razma.
The Iceman will face Nathan Aspinall in the last 4 after he clinched a deciding last set victory over debutant Martin Lukeman in the opening match of the night.
Snakebite after missing the World Series triple header in Australia is also lacking a televised title since his victory over Michael Smith in the Final of the World Darts Championship back in January but looks in good stead in Leicester with five maximums recorded in his match with the Dream Maker.
The Scotsman despite losing the second set, found his highest checkout in the fourth leg after hitting a 144 checkout on double twelve, forcing his good mate from the Covid 19 lockdown period to throw for his first set of the match.
The Belgian has enjoyed a strong year in 2022, reaching the Semi Finals of the World Matchplay and winning World Series titles in Amsterdam and Copenhagen including a victory in the Final against back-to-back World Champion Gary Anderson.
However, it wasn’t meant to be against the Livingston thrower, missing three darts at double twelve for a place in the Semi Finals which allowed Wright to return and take double ten with his last dart in Leicester.
Michael van Gerwen averaged just shy of a ton in his 3-1 victory over Chris Dobey, missing just eight darts all match at the outer ring recording a checkout rate of 57.89%.
Hollywood had his moments in the tungsten tussle including a 122 finish on double seven to clinch the second set, with MVG waiting on a double should he have missed for a 2-0 lead. The Englishman threw more maximums on the oche hitting four of the seven over the course of the four sets.
The Winmau man threw two ton plus checkouts to win his second and third sets of the tie, hitting a 109 finish to break his opponent and win 3-1 in the second set to regain the lead in sets.
A 105-checkout sealed victory for the Vlijmen thrower who is on course for a third televised title of the year having already won the Premier League and World Matchplay in 2022.
Gerwyn Price dropped just two legs in his 3-0 victory over Madars Razma, breaking throw in the very first leg to put his opponent under pressure straight away.
The Latvian thrower didn’t come anywhere near to the World Number 1 in the second set, losing all three legs as the Welshman entered a 2-0 lead.
The Red Dragon star saved the finishing ability that has won him a World Title and the World Number 1 spot for the last set, taking out continuous ton-plus checkouts off 107 to break before a 115 finish sealed the third and final set in the fourth leg, as the Iceman hunts down his second Grand Prix title having won his first two years ago after a 5-2 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode.
The Markham ace will meet Nathan Aspinall in the Semi-Finals, as the Stockport thrower put what happened against Danny Noppert behind him to close out a 3-2 victory over Martin Lukeman in the opening match of Friday’s Quarter Final session.
Smash can be proud of his achievements this week in Leicester, reaching the Quarter Finals on debut having already made his maiden appearance at the Winter Gardens this year.
The Asp was the only player to throw a 180, hitting five and averaging 90.03 over the five sets played.
Two-time winner on the Pro Tour Aspinall missed 12 darts at double checking out at 52% and closed out victory in the fifth set breaking throw twice to reach the last four, hitting 71 with his last dart at tops to win in Leicester.
Saturday’s action gets underway from 8pm tonight on Sky Sports with Gerwyn Price taking on the Asp in the first Semi-Final before World Number 2 Peter Wright takes on World Number 3 Michael van Gerwen in the second clash at the Morningside Arena.
Boylesports World Grand Prix: Quarter Final Results
Nathan Aspinall 3-2 Martin Lukeman
Gerwyn Price (1) 3-0 Madars Razma
Peter Wright (2) 3-2 Dimitri van den Bergh
Michael van Gerwen (3) 3-1 Chris Dobey
Semi Final Order of Play:
Gerwyn Price (1) v Nathan Aspinall
Peter Wright (2) v Michael van Gerwen (3)
—ENDS—
Images: Kieran Cleeves/PDC
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