Gurney punishes off-form Wright in Hasselt

Daryl Gurney’s fine form in 2017 continued as a 10-5 win over second seed Peter Wright sealed a spot in the European Championship semi-finals.
The opening session belonged entirely to Gurney, as the World Grand Prix champion raced into a 5-0 lead with two breaks. The resurgent Northern Irishman opened with a 100 checkout, before further finishes of 72 and 78 to leave Wright shell-shocked.
The world number three, who also fell behind early on against Jonny Clayton in the second round, was struggling to deal with Gurney’s 105 average and ruthless finishing. Wright’s profligacy on doubles finally ended with a much-needed double 8 in the sixth leg, but an ice-cool Gurney claimed the next leg to maintain his advantage, having hit the double with six of his nine attempts.
That sparked Wright into life, and the Mendham man reeled off three consecutive legs to reduce Gurney’s lead to 6-4. Wright failed to take the opportunity to make the score 6-5, though, and Gurney punished his missed dart at tops, then winning the 12^th leg against throw to go 8-4 up.
Though Superchin’s double success rate had fallen to a little over 50%, he still had the nerve to eke out a seemingly unassailable 9-4 lead. And unassailable it proved; though Wright claimed the 14^th leg, Gurney was able to hold out for victory in Hasselt after Wright busted on 64.
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