Gary Anderson will face Gerwyn Price in the final of the 2021 PDC
World Darts Championship after seeing off Dave Chisnall in a 6-3 sets win and he will go on Sunday for a third World title against a familiar foe in 'The Iceman'.
Anderson averaged 100.03 with 13 180's and high checkouts of 124 and 116 and he is through to a fifth career World Championship final with two wins and two defeats. Also it sees the so called curse of Michael van Gerwen continue with Dave Chisnall becoming the latest player to fall in a major tournament after defeating the current World Number One.
Chisnall missed the chance to claim
an opening break and Anderson capitalised to hold. The latter made it two
maximums to leave 42 and despite Chisnall missing two to old, Anderson couldn’t
pounce and Chisnall pinned double five to tie it up.
A 180 followed by 124 on the bull
for Anderson to go 2-1 up. Chisnall got away with it on double 18 to make it
2-2 and send the first set all the way. Anderson nailed double 16 to go 1-0 up
in sets.
Chisnall returned and reeled in the
big fish in the form of a 170 checkout. From there, he went 2-0 and towards 1-1
in sets.
Anderson kicked off 180 to attempt
to claim a break back and Chisnall missed four darts for the set and Anderson
pinned double eight to make it 2-1. A 180 from Chisnall pressured
Anderson’s throw but he missed the bull for a 161 checkout. But Anderson made
it 4/17 as he missed two darts to hold but he was back after Chisnall busted when
given a chance.
It was a second 180 for Chisnall and
he pinned 78 for the set as he made it 1-1. A 180 and a 41 checkout saw
Anderson hit the front in the third set.
They both hit them on Chisnall’s
throw but the St Helens ace pinned 119 on the bull. Anderson continued to lead with
a last dart at double four. Anderson missed the bull for a 130
checkout and was punished with a 96 checkout hit by Chisnall to make it 2-2.
An 84 checkout saw Anderson hit the
front. A 55 checkout saw a break of throw for Anderson to begin the fourth set
and he followed that up on double 10 to go towards a clean sweep.
Anderson missed two darts at a 78
checkout for a let off and Chisnall got away with it on double 16 to hold throw.
The former missed double nine for a 138 checkout but Chisnall missed the chance
for an 82 checkout. Anderson went straight for double nine which he pinned
second dart in hand and Chisnall succumbed to a two set deficit.
Chisnall claimed a potentially pivotal
break to begin the fifth set with double 10 pinned. It was up to him now to
hold from here but he didn’t with Anderson hitting 76 on double four. A 124 checkout on the bull saw
Chisnall break again. It rained 180’s with Chisnall and Anderson teeing off. An
87 to leave a bogey number in 176 was a potential slip and ‘The Flying Scotsman’
likely had six at 124.
Chisnall missed double 20 for a 118
checkout and the set but he claimed it dodging a bullet in the form of a 68 checkout
missed on double 20 by Anderson before writing his wrongs by pinning double 20.
A 121 checkout continued Chisnall’s
brilliance on bull outshots to go 1-0 up. Anderson missed double 20 for a 125
checkout but returned to hold. Chisnall missed double eight for a
103 checkout but again Anderson missed double 20 for a 73 checkout to break and
the former was back for double four and to go 2-1 up.
He did pin double 20 next time
around off an 80 checkout. Anderson missed double 11 for a 124 checkout and hew
as hoping Chisnall didn’t hit an 84 or it would be a level game.
But Chisnall drifted into treble 11
and busted his score and Anderson was back to punish. A 180 and double 19 saw
Chisnall break to begin the next set as he looked to pull it back once more to
a solitary set.
A 72 checkout saw Chisnall lead 2-0
but Anderson saved the set for a 116 checkout to go 2-1 down. Anderson didn’t
get a shot at the 170 but was going to return for 72 to break back. Albeit with
139 for pressure and Anderson missed two at double from 72. This allowed
Chisnall another set.
A 78 checkout saw Anderson break to begin the eighth set and doubled his
lead with a 92 finish. He hit a 180 to leave 95 and was the first to a finish
on Chisnall's throw. He did all the hard work on the 95 but both were missing opportunity after
opportunity.
Chisnall though missed three more and Anderson stole it on double five to go
5-3 up. Anderson went one away though with a break in the form of a 50
checkout. He kicked off 180 on his throw and missed double 12 for a 101
checkout for the win. He pinned double six though from there to claim it.
2021 PDC World Darts Championship schedule
Saturday January 2
Semi-Finals
Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
Stephen Bunting (96.38) 4-6 (100.89) Gerwyn Price (2-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1, 1-3, 1-3, 3-2, 1-3, 0-3, 1-3)
Dave Chisnall (98.57) 3-6 (100.03) Gary Anderson (2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 1-3, 3-1, 2-3, 3-1, 0-3, 0-3)