Robert Thornton spikes Duff with brilliant fightback as Richard Eirig-Rowlands completes 2024 World Seniors Darts Masters semifinal lineup

The semi-final lineup at the 2024 World Seniors Darts Masters in Sunderland is now complete. Joining the earlier qualified Paul Hogan and John Henderson, Robert Thornton and Richard Eirig-Rowlands are also into the final four.

Robert Thornton was the dominant figure on the Seniors Tour in its early days, winning both of the first two World Championship titles. The Scot was put under pressure early on in this one by Neil Duff though as the former WDF world champion took the opening set in straight legs and then moved two sets clear by also winning the next.

Showing the battling spirit he has become famed for over the years though, Thornton refused to just accept his deficit and came roaring back to level terms, reeling off four of the next five legs, including a 12-darter, a 13-darter and a 15-darter. After Duff nudged back in front in set 5, Thornton levelled back up once again by taking set 6, sending the tie all the way to a decider in the process. In the 7th and final set, Thornton then sparked into life taking legs in 14 and 15 darts to seal the narrow 4-3 and reach the semifinals.

For the right to complete the semi-final lineup in Sunderland, fan favourite Tony O'Shea then faced off against Welshman Richard Eirig-Rowlands. It was Rowlands who started the better of the two, taking the opening set, but O'Shea then started growing into the contest, reeling off four of the next five legs to move 2-1 up. As the momentum the swung back in Rowlands favour, the Welshman squared the contest again at 2-2. From there it was all about Rowlands as he took the next two sets and the victory.