Anderson edges out MvG to claim World Series hat-trick in Tokyo!

Gary Anderson won his third World Series crown of the year, edging out Michael van Gerwen 8-6 to win the Zipang Casino Tokyo Darts Masters at the Yoyogi Olympic Hall, in Thursday’s final.

Anderson, who won the opening two World Series events of 2016 in Dubai and Auckland, continued his impressive form to sink the world number one and claim his first ever title on Japanese soil. The world’s top two players put on a wonderful show in the final, both averaging over the 100 mark. Nevertheless, it was ‘The Flying Scotsman’ who prevailed.

Van Gerwen claimed first blood in the final, registering an early maximum and taking out 100 for the opening leg. Anderson levelled on tops, but the Dutchman regained the lead on D9, having hit a wonderful 168 in the preceding visit. The world champion was unperturbed through, drawing level at 2-2 with a clinical 70 checkout.

‘The Green Machine’ pinned D18 to edge ahead once more, but Anderson restored parity at three-apiece with a majestic 161 finish on the bull. Yet, it was Van Gerwen who held the lead at the interval, as he converted 45 on D16 for a 4-3 advantage.

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Tokyo Darts Masters- Day One Report!

Phil Taylor.jpg — Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Phil Taylor began the defence of his Tokyo Darts Masters title with a comprehensive victory over Japan’s number one Haruki Muramatsu, as all eight Japanese players were eliminated on the opening day of the World Series event at the Yoyogi Olympic Hall on Wednesday.

Taylor averaged 97.20 en route to a 6-2 victory against a dogged Muramatsu, who fought valiantly but was unable to produce his best game. The opening three legs went with throw, but Taylor secured the first break of throw with a clinical 106 finish in leg four, and ‘The Power’ was in cruise control from this moment onwards.

Last year’s finalist Peter Wright progressed to the last eight by virtue of a 6-0 whitewash against Chikara Fujimori. Snakebite averaged 92.97 and converted 66% of his double attempts to breeze through. Fujimori missed doubles for 96 and 154 finishes, but the Scot was in clinical mood, with the highlight being a majestic 140 finish in leg four.

Michael van Gerwen overcome a spirited performance from Masumi Chino to move into the quarter-finals. Van Gerwen averaged a modest 93.24, and Chino kept himself in contention with wonderful finishes of 140, 66 and 101. However, MvG produced a timely 14-darter in the ninth leg, to wrap up a 6-3 victory.

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July 6, 2016 0

2016 Tokyo Darts Masters Draw!

Tokyo Darts Masters.jpg

Reigning champion Phil Taylor will begin the defence of his Zipang Casino Tokyo Darts Masters title against Japanese number one Haruki Muramatsu, when the tournament begins at the Yoyogi Olympic Hall on Wednesday.

Taylor, who defeated Peter Wright 8-7 in the event’s inaugural staging last year, has prevailed in all three of his meetings against the 39-year-old Muramatsu. The 16-time world champion defeated the Japanese star in the 2012 World Championship, whilst he’s also edged him out on two separate occasions in the World Cup of Darts.

Last year’s finalist Peter Wright will take on Chikara Fujimori, who suffered a whitewash defeat to Michael van Gerwen in round-one twelve months ago. Van Gerwen, who claimed victory in the recent Shanghai Darts Masters, takes on Masumi Chino. Chino also appeared in last year’s tournament, losing 6-2 to eventual winner Taylor.

World champion Gary Anderson will go in search of his third World Series title of 2016 when he faces Seigo Asada tomorrow. Asada has competed in both the BDO World Championship and BDO World Trophy so far this year, and he could provide a stern test for ‘The Flying Scotsman’.

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld will begin his bid for a maiden World Series crown against Keita Ono. Ono made his World Championship debut against Phil Taylor last December, whilst he also represented Japan in the recent World Cup of Darts, along with Muramatsu.

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July 5, 2016 0

World Series of Darts Rankings

World Series of Darts Finals.jpg

Gary Anderson leads the way in the World Series of Darts rankings following his second successive World Series triumph in last weekend’s Auckland Darts Masters. ‘The Flying Scotsman’ followed up his Dubai Darts Masters victory over Michael van Gerwen with an 11-7 victory over defending Auckland champion Adrian Lewis on Sunday.

This leaves Anderson on a maximum 24 points, which is double that of his nearest challengers. Michael van Gerwen and Adrian Lewis are both on 11 points, having appeared in one World Series final each this year. Despite averaging 107 against James Wade, Van Gerwen was beaten in the Auckland quarter-finals for the second straight year.

Lewis was thrashed 10-2 by Dave Chisnall in the Dubai Darts Masters, but Jackpot produced a much-improved showing in Auckland. Lewis beat Raymond van Barneveld in last year’s Auckland final, and he reached the final once again with victories over Stuart Leach, Phil Taylor and James Wade, before losing out to the world champion.

Phil Taylor, James Wade, Dave Chisnall and Raymond van Barneveld are all locked on eight points apiece following the opening two events of 2016. Taylor and Chisnall both secured five points from their run to the semi-finals in Dubai, however they exited in the last eight in New Zealand.

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June 21, 2016 0