Aussie Anderson delivers yet another upset at Masters

Aussie Kyle Anderson continued his giant-killing ways to progress to the Auckland Darts Masters semifinals at Waitakere Trusts Stadium.

Twenty-four hours after ousting top seed and defending champion Gary Anderson, he held his nerve to defeat countryman Simon Whitlock in a 10-9 thriller, coming back from 4-1 down.

After the first break, Anderson took out three straight legs to steady the nerves and eventually edged ahead for the first time at 8-7. But he missed six doubles to set up match point and then could not capitalise on a 180 maximum in the next leg, as momentum swung back Whitlock’s way.

Under pressure, Anderson was better and finally closed out the game with a double 20.

In the final analysis, he only converted 10 of 33 chances, but that was enough to book a showdown with fourth seed James Wade at the next stage.

Wade will play his third Auckland Masters semi, after a 10-7 win over Northern Irishman Daryl Gurney. Wade is the last seed left in the tournament, after veteran Phil Taylor ousted third-ranked Raymond van Barneveld in another 10-9 nail-biter.

Taylor will face young Aussie Corey Cadby, who easily accounted for Englishman Michael Smith 10-5 in the final quarter-final.

The world youth champion had eliminated second seed Peter Wright in the opening round and quickly seized control over Smith, running out to an early 5-1 advantage.