Gary Anderson to meet Taylor after holding off Steve West

What with seeds at the World Championship dropping like flies - only six remain, two of whom are outside the top 16 - Gary Anderson knew his third round clash with Steve West would not be a straightforward affair. And so it proved. The twice world champion held his nerve and rode his luck in a 4-2 defeat of Steve West, who will feel he could have claimed another huge scalp at the Ally Pally.
It was the Flying Scotsman who got off to the better start, and yet it could have been different. West, having missed a dart for a 1-0 lead, gave Anderson a chance to check out 104 to steal it. He made no mistake. The world number three - though likely to soon leap back to second spot - was then broken halfway through the second set as West checked out 80. The world number 37, who beat Benito van de Pas and Jermaine Wattimena to get this far, was not in a charitable mood. Two sets in, and the tie was still finely poised, with the pair posting similar averages.
The third set was easily claimed by the Scot, but he was made to graft in the fourth. A brilliant 170 from West forced a decider, but when tasked with repeating the trick, the Essex thrower was unable. That left Anderson double four. His first attempt, straight into the single 13, didn't inspire much confidence. It allowed West another set dart, but it was another squandered. Anderson chased doubles round the board briefly, before arriving in the madhouse. Double one was enough, and the 2015 and 2016 World Championship winner led 3-1. West was left wondering how the scoreline was not in his favour.
Set five seemed to be the endgame for Anderson, but it was not to be. West, into the last 16 for the first time, was not willing to exit without a serious fight. The pair were averaging 94; West throwing freely, Anderson hindered by a niggling back complaint. Two match darts went awry for the Scot, allowing his English counterpart to extend the match. Yet more drama awaited in the sixth set. Seven more attempts to get over the line failed, meaning West could once again take the set all the way. Anderson, having the advantage of throw, was down to 96 after nine darts, with West a full 160 behind. A 10th, 11th and 12th match dart then came and went. But double four finally saved a frustrated Anderson, as he booked a mouth-watering quarter-final tussle with Phil Taylor, in a repeat of the 2015 final.
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