Howson comeback stuns Duff as Taylor is knocked out by Harbour in World Seniors Darts Masters quarter-finals

Richie Howson and Dennis Harbour have become the first two players through to the semi-finals of the World Seniors Darts Masters in Yeovil, beating Neil Duff and Phil Taylor respectively.

In the first of the quarter-final of the day, Richie Howson took on Neil Duff. After winning all 8 legs played in his first round match, Howson kept the momentum going, taking the opening set in style. Duff fought back in the second set though and they went off to the break all square at 1-1.

Returning from the break and Duff began to take control, moving ahead at 2 sets to 1. After Duff missed a dart at tops to go 3-1 up, Howson stopped the rot, punishing ruthlessly with a 101 checkout and keep the set alive. It was nothing than a consolation however as a few moments later Duff did indeed increase his lead to 3-1.

A brilliant 121 finish then put Duff on the brink of victory. Standing on the edge of elimination seemed to awake something in Howson, and he threw some of his best darts of the match to keep Duff waiting and take the set to get back in touch at 3-2

A couple of legs later and courtesy of a brilliant 141 finish, the match all square at 3-3. Howson then opened the deciding set with a 139 checkout to move a leg away from a place in the final four. Duff held throw in the following leg meaning it all came down to a one-leg shootout. With Duff sat waiting on tops, Howson once again pulled a ton-plus checkout out his bag with a match winning 141.

Next up, with the winner set to face Howson in the semi-final, was Dennis Harbour vs Phil Taylor. It was the Harbour Master who started the brighter of the pair, racing through the opening set. Taylor though found his footing in the second set, levelling the match.

And Taylor continued that momentum after the break taking the third set in straight legs. Harbour would bounce back in the fourth set, levelling the match courtesy of a 144 checkout.

Then, a few moments later Harbour was in front at 3-2 and more ruthless finishing saw him a leg away from victory. Two match darts at double 16 came and went for Harbour in the following leg, with Taylor on hand to punish. But after Taylor then missed three darts to send the match to a deciding set, Harbour sealed a massive win.

Richie Howson take a bow 🦉

The Owl wins a classic in style with his second 1⃣4⃣1⃣ checkout in this game.#WorldSeniorsMasters pic.twitter.com/om0FPvhcwW

— World Seniors Darts (@SeniorsDarts) June 25, 2023