Chris Dobey on Hunt for First PDC Major as he Advances to Masters Semi-Finals

Chris Dobey fought off the final unseeded test to advance to the semi-finals.

The final two unseeded players remaining opened the afternoon session for a place in the semi-final. After an even start, Dobey broke with a 140 checkout while Dirk van Duijvenbode was sat 40 after 12 darts, denting van Duijvenbode’s momentum for the match to come and cancelling out his own 10-dart break in the previous leg.

The Titan missed two darts at double-eight to break back once more, however instead of closing the deficit to 6-5, the match stretched to 7-4. It was routine work for the Geordie in the end, completing a 10-5 win and setting up a match with Michael Smith in tonight’s semi-final.

World number one, Smith, comfortably finds the evening session after a comfortable win over Danny Noppert.

After a slow start for Smith, six legs on the spin put daylight between him and Noppert with a double-double 100 checkout for 7-3 at the second advertisement break. The world champion never let the Dutchman settle despite a couple of breaks of throw, ‘Bully Boy’ kept coming back with one of his own to routinely secure a 10-5 win with an average of 103.33.

Jonny Clayton rued missed doubles as Peter Wright advanced with a 10-6 win.

The match was evenly poised with averages in excess of 105 in the early stages. Clayton missed six darts at double to take a 5-4 lead against the throw in the second session before Wright held on with a get out of jail free card on double two. The Ferret never got going again and a 121, finished on the bullseye from the Scot to lead 9-5 had him all but book a place in the evening session.

Rob Cross continued his winning form with victory over Michael van Gerwen.

Cross picked up where he left off against Gary Anderson in the previous round, racing into a 4-1 lead against the five-time Masters champion. Three darts missed from 36, had ‘Voltage’ kicking himself as van Gerwen stumbled to a hold of throw with a must-need 148 outshot. Despite an average of 99.02 for ‘Mighty’ Mike compared to Cross’ 96.02, the latter’s timing of winning crucial legs overshadowed his performance on paper completing a 10-7 win.

Published on DartsPlanetTV.