on my mind.” “James came back well and he hung in there, but when your back’s against the wall you’ve got to come out fighting and get stuck in, and I did that. I was steady and I’ll have to be better in the final.” Adrian Lewis ensured the final would be an all Stoke affair as he ended the challenge of Michael van Gerwen. The Dutchman had been seeking a third major title inside twelve months, but Lewis, buoyed by his recent European Championship victory
between them. “It’s absolutely brilliant,” said Lewis. “It was always going to be a tough game and it was such a battle, and it means everything to me to be in the final.” “I didn’t think it could get much tougher than playing Andy in the quarter-finals, but Michael’s been the best player in the world for the last ten months and I dug in deep.” “It’s up there with the best games I’ve ever played. It was played at a fantastic pace, and I thought I
managed to average 102.28 to secure a 17-15 victory in what was the match of the tournament so far. The two-time World Champion had the better of the early stages as he landed four of the opening five legs, but van Gerwen landed a brace of maximums and an 84 checkout as he closed the gap to 4-6 at the second break. By the time the players left the stage for the third break the Dutchman had closed the gap further, thanks to a 164 checkout and another maximum. With only one leg in it at 8-7 to Lewis the match was set to come to a thrilling conclusion. This proved to be the case as van Gerwen came out after the break and levelled the match at 8-8, and although Lewis was throwing some of the best darts of his career, the Dutchman was able to land a superb 112 checkout to level up once more at 12-12. The pair traded the next four legs, and it looked as though van Gerwen may have done enough when he broke throw to lead 15-14. Lewis however has new found confidence after his recent European Championship victory and he won the remaining three Y?? ?????\? ??[? H?[?[ ?]?\?[?Y[?[??YX?H ?^ Y[?X^[][\?[? HX]? [? H Z\?X[?Y?Y ?] ?^ L
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