Michael van Gerwen had to survive a late rally from Jules van Dongen in a scare for the Green Machine who sealed a 6-4 victory after initially being 4-1 up at the US Darts Masters.
It was a 96.2 average for Van Gerwen but it was 16 missed darts at doubles which were the problem. He is through to face James Wade though in the Quarter-Finals as he looks for a second US crown.
Van Gerwen held on double 10 to open up. Van Dongen wasn’t at full flow and Van Gerwen was first to a finish on the former’s throw despite not being at his best himself.
He laid up double 20 which he sealed to go 2-0 up. Van Dongen looked to gain a foothold on Van Gerwen’s throw but a 180 saw MVG gain control again and he was soon 3-0 up with a 122 checkout.
Van Dongen finally got a leg on the board surviving the pressure of a 180 from Van Gerwen hitting a 13-darter on double 16 to make it 3-1.
A 180 saw Van Dongen roar and despite a slack second visit, he followed it up with 135 to leave 141. Van Gerwen was sat on 120 though which he missed.
Van Dongen slipped into single one on 82 and handed Van Gerwen a shot at double 20 which he pinned to hold and go 4-1 up.
Another leg saw Van Dongen pin a maximum to start on his own throw. This time he followed it up with a 140 and a 105 to leave 76 which he pinned for a 12-darter to go 4-2 down.
A 102 set up left 40 for Van Gerwen but he missed three darts and Van Dongen pinned 98 for a break at 4-3 down.
His doubling woes started to slip in but Van Dongen allowed him another chance to break back and Van Gerwen slipped in double eight at 5-3 up.
He started to turn on the afterburners hitting a fourth 180 to leave 125 after nine. He hit 73 to leave 52 but continued missing match darts and Van Dongen hit double 10 to break back as he looked to force a decider.
It was six perfect darts on the spin as Van Gerwen looked to finally move through and he had six darts at 84. He set up double 20 which he pinned with Van Dongen sat on 80.
Also through is Peter Wright who will face the vanquisher of Fallon Sherrock, Leonard Gates after sealing a hard fought 6-4 win over Danny Baggish who was resilient in pushing the World Number One and World Champion all the way.
Both held throw to begin the tie. Baggish left 46 and returned to go 2-1 up after Wright missed a break dart at 120.
Wright didn’t afford Baggish a break chance with a 121 checkout on double 18. Again Wright missed a break chance but Baggish didn’t answer the call this time and Wright finally sealed a 3-2 lead.
A 180 and 61 checkout on double nine saw Wright tighten his grasp at 4-2 up. He went one away at 5-3. He missed three match darts though and Baggish asked the question hitting double 10 for 5-4.
He was handed a chance at 104 but missed double 14 to send it all the way and Wright finally sealed it with a 45 checkout.
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