Melbourne Darts Masters Semi-Finals Preview

After the unusual semi-final line up, in Auckland, last week the last four in Melbourne is more conventional. Four tough Quarter Finals were played out on Saturday with the first three all ending in 10-9 victories. Peter Wright, Simon Whitlock and Phil Taylor were joined by Daryl Gurney who managed a 10-8 win over Gary Anderson from 8-7 behind.
The semi-finals will continue an old rivalry (Taylor v Whitlock) and provide the latest edition of an intriguing battle between two of those looking to take on the mantle of Taylor after his retirement.
Since their world championship final of 2010 Taylor and Whitlock have played more than 35 matches in all. Simon has won only a handful. Indeed he has not won a televised encounter in five years. However he is in good shape and usually pushes Phil into a good contest. In was in an Australian Masters final, 19th August 2012 , that he achieved his last televised victory over "The Power". A lucky omen for tomorrow?
Peter Wright and Daryl Gurney, for the seventh time during the 2017 season, will play the second semi. Although Wright leads overall, and this year, "Superchin" recently scored his first win, during the Las Vegas World Series event, and is in fine form. These two fought to a standstill recently, in a World Matchplay Semi Final, with "Snakebite" edging a 17-15 win. Wright seemed to dip in form after losing the Matchplay final, to Taylor, but may have just that behind him.
Sunday August 20 (7pm local time)
Semi-Finals
Daryl Gurney v Peter Wright
Phil Taylor v Simon Whitlock
Final
v
Best of 21 legs
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