Day 1: Evening session

:00:44. > :00:51.The bright lights of Cardiff, it is Saturday night and we live at the

:00:52. > :00:57.Motorpoint Arena for the Champions League of Darts. Hello and good

:00:58. > :01:02.evening to you. We've already seen top performances this afternoon and

:01:03. > :01:11.we go again. Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to meet the players. Here

:01:12. > :01:16.we go, the first-ever Champions League of Darts. We are underway in

:01:17. > :01:25.Cardiff. There it is, the first maximum. Well done, Michael Smith.

:01:26. > :01:34.Excellent setup by the champion. He's not missing anything now. Easy

:01:35. > :01:41.as pie. Gary Anderson has done it. James Wade and Adrian Lewis clashing

:01:42. > :01:53.in group B. Look at this from Adrian Lewis! This would be a killer. It

:01:54. > :02:05.would be a killer. A killer bullseye! There it is! James Wade!

:02:06. > :02:15.Double -- double 5. Fantastic performance from James Wade. So,

:02:16. > :02:23.England against Scotland in Wales. Oh yes! Six perfect darts from Phil

:02:24. > :02:36.Taylor. They are exchanging maximums on the oche in Cardiff. Double 17 is

:02:37. > :02:46.left. Wow! 154 and that will hurt. Double 3. There it is. Phil Taylor

:02:47. > :02:52.beats Peter Wright 10-5. MvG has his sights set on the title. Why is it

:02:53. > :02:58.that every time he plays Thornton, it turns into a street fight?

:02:59. > :03:10.Michael van Gerwen is capable of silly, silly darts. Just like this.

:03:11. > :03:12.11 Darder four mpg. 10-5 win. This is how it looks after the first

:03:13. > :03:25.round of matches. Michael van Gerwen was not happy

:03:26. > :03:38.with his performance against Robert Thornton.

:03:39. > :03:46.I am delighted to be alongside Alan Warriner-Little and Paul Nicholson.

:03:47. > :03:51.Good evening. Are we right in saying the standout performance so far in

:03:52. > :03:56.this tournament is James Wade? Definitely. He played so well in the

:03:57. > :04:03.afternoon, kept his composure well, scored well. The feature was the

:04:04. > :04:10.finishing. The 121 Adrian was on the finish, but the 161 killed it.

:04:11. > :04:14.Steely determination from Wade. Yes, the 161 really did change the game.

:04:15. > :04:19.It took James into the lead and after that he didn't look back.

:04:20. > :04:23.Didn't allow Adrian to get anywhere near a performance that could match

:04:24. > :04:32.that. He was in a good place and he just wasn't going to let Adrian back

:04:33. > :04:35.into the game. Adrian couldn't find any form. The 161 was the catalyst.

:04:36. > :04:42.Phil Taylor was terrific. Michael van Gerwen came into the studio

:04:43. > :04:46.shortly after winning 10-5. 5-5 at the interval and I said good

:04:47. > :04:50.performance, but he wasn't happy. It is the mark of a world champion.

:04:51. > :04:55.It's the mark of the world champion and the current world number one.

:04:56. > :04:59.The standards he is set himself means a performance like that isn't

:05:00. > :05:05.good enough. The way he performed after the break, winning a bunch of

:05:06. > :05:12.consecutive legs, in the end it was very impressive. At 5-5, was it ever

:05:13. > :05:16.in doubt? Not at 5-5, but it could have been different because Robert

:05:17. > :05:21.missed some chances before the first break. Michael could have been 7-3

:05:22. > :05:26.down. It's always the mark of a champion, even when you play badly,

:05:27. > :05:30.you get over the line. For the moment, thank you. We have a

:05:31. > :05:51.cracking night of darts for you this evening. First up, Adrian Lewis

:05:52. > :05:55.needs to bounce back against Michael Smith. Following that, world champ

:05:56. > :05:57.Gary Anderson takes on James Wade. And then the new guard against the

:05:58. > :06:00.old guard as Michael van Gerwen takes on Phil Taylor. We wrap up

:06:01. > :06:03.with Peter Wright taking on the man who gave MvG a run for his money in

:06:04. > :06:06.Robert Thornton. Paul, have we got this right? Of the old guard against

:06:07. > :06:08.the new guard. I can't wait for it, thousands of people watching can't

:06:09. > :06:11.wait for van Gerwen against Taylor. We can't wait either. New guard

:06:12. > :06:16.against old guard, it is. Phil Taylor won his first World

:06:17. > :06:22.Championship in 1990. Michael van Gerwen was one-year-old. Michael van

:06:23. > :06:27.Gerwen is the now and the future. It is old guard against new guard. You

:06:28. > :06:32.saw those interviews as well when the boys came in after winning.

:06:33. > :06:37.Michael van Gerwen, the steel of a world champion, looking to win a

:06:38. > :06:41.tournament for the first time. Phil Taylor came in, having the time of

:06:42. > :06:47.his life, adored by this crowd, obviously wants to win as well. No

:06:48. > :06:53.pressure with him. You sometimes get that impression recently. It can

:06:54. > :06:57.backfire on occasions. At the World Match Play, he didn't get going.

:06:58. > :07:01.He's always giving himself challenges and this is a big

:07:02. > :07:06.challenge. Not just this tournament, but getting back to winning a TV

:07:07. > :07:10.event. He's not done it in a while. He did it at the World Series

:07:11. > :07:15.against Michael, which was big for him. Gary Anderson got off to a

:07:16. > :07:21.flyer, which other matches are you looking forward to? Anderson against

:07:22. > :07:26.Wade is intriguing. It's all about Taylor and van Gerwen. If James Wade

:07:27. > :07:31.turns up tonight the way he did this afternoon, he will cause the Flying

:07:32. > :07:36.Scotsman some problems. Caroline is alongside Dan Dawson at the side of

:07:37. > :07:40.the stage. You can tell the atmosphere has

:07:41. > :07:45.ramped up another notch. Not only do we have the singers and beautiful

:07:46. > :07:53.choir, in Wales, there is a man with a chicken on his head. Dan is with

:07:54. > :07:58.me. It has turned again, one more level of atmosphere. Yeah, and it

:07:59. > :08:02.brings different pressures. Those guys who lost this afternoon though

:08:03. > :08:07.they could be pushed to the brink this afternoon -- this evening.

:08:08. > :08:11.Those guys who have won are not completely safe even if they winter

:08:12. > :08:15.night. Different pressures to handle and they will have to handle these

:08:16. > :08:23.guys as well because they won't be quiet! They won't be quiet. They

:08:24. > :08:29.have their allegiances. They can turn during the match. Completely.

:08:30. > :08:36.They will turn bad macro cheer on one player, but suddenly they will

:08:37. > :08:43.change. They are fickle, fickle people! You're all fickle! This

:08:44. > :08:51.evening, we talked about Taylor and van Gerwen, but you like Anderson

:08:52. > :08:56.against Wade. You don't often see James Wade winning by such a large

:08:57. > :08:59.margin, he can lose interest. He looked focused and very, very

:09:00. > :09:07.dangerous. If he plays like that this weekend, he could well win the

:09:08. > :09:20.whole thing. You are the Iceman of commentating, despite all this going

:09:21. > :09:24.on. They are ready, are you? We are. Wonderful crowd in Cardiff

:09:25. > :09:28.this evening. The wonderful thing about this Champions League of Darts

:09:29. > :09:39.is the top eight players, but it's all about Adrian Lewis first. Can he

:09:40. > :09:50.bounce back? Adrian Lewis, Jackpot. Crackpot! He's the class clown Andy

:09:51. > :10:00.Love the Joker. -- and he loves a joke. He loves a bit of fun. He's a

:10:01. > :10:08.big lad, he gets hot on stage. As a darts player, fantastic. He makes

:10:09. > :10:12.darts look easy. He's a very good player. Probably the biggest talent

:10:13. > :10:19.in the world, but his weakness is himself because sometimes he thinks

:10:20. > :10:26.too much about the game. But he's a fantastic darts player. He's funny,

:10:27. > :10:32.he will speak to anyone. He's an amazing guy away from the oche and

:10:33. > :10:37.on it. He throws a dart like he doesn't care, very heavy scorer and

:10:38. > :10:42.some big finishes. He's a one-off. He is not always the happy, cheeky

:10:43. > :10:47.chappy you see on TV. Sometimes he does get down. He's never nasty, but

:10:48. > :10:54.sometimes he gets a bit low, but he never lets anyone that. His

:10:55. > :10:59.strengths are his power scoring and the amount of 9-darters he's done on

:11:00. > :11:09.TV. Great player. I think he's either all in all mediocre. My

:11:10. > :11:13.biggest weakness is my mindset going into matches. Sometimes I'm laxer

:11:14. > :11:21.days ago where I should be a bit more unforgiving. Just four winds

:11:22. > :11:26.for Lewis against Smith. Will he be affected this evening? It's who can

:11:27. > :11:30.get over the defeat this afternoon better. Adrian has a get more

:11:31. > :11:35.experience because Michael is not in a good place at the moment with his

:11:36. > :11:40.game. I thought this weekend might be a good opportunity to get that

:11:41. > :11:44.back, but it didn't happen this afternoon. Adrian is a bit of a

:11:45. > :11:48.clown, he'll do what they're like it's just another game. That's the

:11:49. > :11:53.reason why this tournament is so cut-throat. He's lost a match, he

:11:54. > :12:03.can't afford to lose this one. He can't. What we're going to find out

:12:04. > :12:06.tonight is where their games are at. Michael Smith's game has not been

:12:07. > :12:08.there over the last few months. I think Lewis's experience might tell

:12:09. > :12:12.tonight and I think you might play a few tactics to get the crowd on

:12:13. > :12:17.side. Will the nerves be jangling for Lewis given there's so much at

:12:18. > :12:21.stake? I'm not sure. This afternoon he was involved in a proper game of

:12:22. > :12:25.darts and I'd like to think the nerves will have settled. He's used

:12:26. > :12:29.to the Heat and the atmosphere and I think he should winter night, but

:12:30. > :12:35.Michael Smith won't give it to Adrian Lewis. The man trying to stop

:12:36. > :12:41.Adrian Lewis is Michael Smith, a man with a passion for darts and

:12:42. > :12:49.farming. Michael Bully Boy Smith. I used to work on a forearm when I was

:12:50. > :12:54.13 or 14. -- a farmer. I've been throwing darts for 11 years now. I

:12:55. > :12:58.was too lazy to get a job, I like the easy life and playing darts was

:12:59. > :13:07.a passion, something I laughed. I aways knew I wanted to be a

:13:08. > :13:11.profession. In my exams, I knew I wanted to play darts. What drives

:13:12. > :13:17.meters exceed is seeing my family happy and knowing my boy will never

:13:18. > :13:25.struggle. He will never have to do the hard work. I spent four weeks at

:13:26. > :13:32.home now, but I like travelling. I know when I get back home they've

:13:33. > :13:40.missed me. They are happy with the money. Every darts player wants to

:13:41. > :13:47.be the best. If you're not great at something, there's no point playing.

:13:48. > :13:50.You need something about you. Fan girl in, Anderson, Taylor, they are

:13:51. > :13:57.the best in the game at the moment and that's what I'm striving for. --

:13:58. > :13:59.van Gerwen. The players are in, the crowd are in, let's say hello to

:14:00. > :14:08.John McDonald. Ladies and gentlemen, you join us

:14:09. > :14:15.live at the Motorpoint Arena in the great city of Cardiff!

:14:16. > :14:19.APPLAUSE Welcome to the Champions League of

:14:20. > :14:22.Darts, brought to you by the Professional Darts Corporation and a

:14:23. > :14:30.fairly warm welcome to viewers joining us across the BBC. Ladies

:14:31. > :14:36.and gentlemen, it is time to meet the players. Please welcome the

:14:37. > :14:47.former world youth champion, ladies and gentlemen, Bully Boy!

:14:48. > :15:06.APPLAUSE Michael Smith!

:15:07. > :15:34.# Walk the Moon: Shut Up And Dance #.

:15:35. > :15:55.And from Stoke-on-Trent, the former two-time back-to-back champion of

:15:56. > :16:07.the world! Jackpot! Adrian Lewis! APPLAUSE

:16:08. > :16:36.# Perfecto Allstarz: Papas Got a Brand New Pigbag #.

:16:37. > :16:43.Adrian Lewis against Michael Smith, very good evening to the match

:16:44. > :16:47.commentators, Vassos Alexander and Mark Webster.

:16:48. > :16:55.The beauty of this, both players know this is basically a straight

:16:56. > :16:59.knockout, they simply cannot afford to lose again, Adrian Lewis last

:17:00. > :17:04.seven legs in a row against an inspired James Wade, we know that

:17:05. > :17:08.Jack is better than what he threw this afternoon and the good news is

:17:09. > :17:13.he has another chance to show us and the same could be said of Michael

:17:14. > :17:18.Smith, Gary Anderson, his men tour in many ways, beating him 10-5 any

:17:19. > :17:22.first-ever Champions League match, Smith capable of much better. Let us

:17:23. > :17:28.hope they do find their top game here in Group B. An amazing

:17:29. > :17:35.atmosphere here in Cardiff. The first leg, Michael to throw

:17:36. > :17:46.first. Game on! Scotland against England once again

:17:47. > :17:53.and this is essentially for the right to stay in Wales. Be tough.

:17:54. > :17:58.Interesting to see how Michael settles down in this, he needs to do

:17:59. > :18:03.this quicker than the first game. The loser are certainly will not go

:18:04. > :18:07.through to the semifinals, the top two go through in each group and

:18:08. > :18:15.this is a race to ten legs with a break after the ten. In the

:18:16. > :18:21.commentary box, two of us, 7500 at the Motorpoint Arena. We hope you

:18:22. > :18:26.are very excited about this, and that is why! Adrian Lewis has

:18:27. > :18:28.settled very well, he will put the pressure on Michael very early, by

:18:29. > :18:38.the looks of things. It is down to only 81 after nine

:18:39. > :18:44.darts. Adrian will be looking at treble 19,

:18:45. > :19:14.double 12. A break of throw. To kick off this

:19:15. > :19:19.match for Adrian Lewis. Michael needs to respond. A big leg to get

:19:20. > :19:27.himself back into this game. It is early days. But he was not want to

:19:28. > :19:34.fall too far behind. He is just not missing! Close to the second maximum

:19:35. > :19:40.already, Adrian Lewis, that one just hit the wire and website. That

:19:41. > :20:07.underwent side. Still trailing. Six darts, if he needs them. For the

:20:08. > :20:14.two leg lead. Treble 10 leaves double 16. Oh yes! 11 direct, 12.

:20:15. > :20:22.Leg and the two leg lead. Superb start. He can adore treble 18. He

:20:23. > :20:26.took that I'd brilliantly. -- ignore.

:20:27. > :20:35.What is of like playing in front of an atmosphere like this? It is hard

:20:36. > :20:38.to describe. Adrian will be feeding of this, great start, but it can be

:20:39. > :20:44.very lonely for Michael at the minute. He has not started too bad,

:20:45. > :20:45.Adrian has just come out of the blocks fantastically. No need to

:20:46. > :21:17.panic just yet. Two treble 20s and their double ten,

:21:18. > :21:21.he cannot finish but he will be back. The last thing he wanted to go

:21:22. > :21:43.away with was by letting him back. He thought that was then! He was on

:21:44. > :21:57.his way to collect! Another chance, no! Part of his first game, he was

:21:58. > :22:04.chasing doubles. He will want to put this straight in, just to settle him

:22:05. > :22:15.a lot better. He is in The Game. It took five darts and the double body

:22:16. > :22:22.finally find one. And only one leg down. You don't want to go with the

:22:23. > :22:33.double break, it is a long way back, if you can stay in touch. Stand up,

:22:34. > :22:34.if you love the darts, they are singing, and everybody is on their

:22:35. > :22:57.feet. Adrian is doing his damage with the

:22:58. > :23:17.first six darts. He is pulling away. A big score from Michael...

:23:18. > :23:31.That was a good last start. Michael back on 278. He needs to pressure

:23:32. > :23:38.this shot, this will help. Treble 17. For the 88. Yes! He has not

:23:39. > :23:55.missed any double yet. Michael needs to get his scoring

:23:56. > :24:05.going because Adrian is not missing anything.

:24:06. > :24:14.Adrian Lewis averaging almost 110. And Michael Smith, you can see, just

:24:15. > :24:21.over 90, better than this afternoon but still not good enough. Not

:24:22. > :24:28.against an inspired Jackpot. Adrian is not relenting. Michael is feeling

:24:29. > :24:32.the pressure. I feel that he needs this leg, the double break and he

:24:33. > :24:51.will be in real treble. He has a good chance, Michael, he

:24:52. > :24:57.will want to set this up. He will not be happy with that. Adrian will

:24:58. > :25:02.hope to pile on the pressure. He does not hide his feelings, Michael

:25:03. > :25:07.Smith, you can see how disappointed he was for them. He wears his heart

:25:08. > :25:12.on his live, at times it is his downfall, but that is because he

:25:13. > :25:21.loves The Game. That was a better visit. Much better. We have had 161.

:25:22. > :25:30.He might go for the bull's-eye anyway. He went for 18s.

:25:31. > :25:39.What a great finish. A lot better. He needed that. Still in touch.

:25:40. > :25:50.Michael Smith. He is really hanging in and while it

:25:51. > :25:52.is only one break he still has a very good chance, he still has to

:25:53. > :26:04.get his scoring going. How hard is it to turn things around

:26:05. > :26:11.when you are struggling on that stage? Battle saying, you tried too

:26:12. > :26:16.hard, Michael is passionate and he is landing log, but he has stayed in

:26:17. > :26:21.touch, he has a chance, he has to give himself together and not show

:26:22. > :26:27.signs of weakness. Shrugging his shoulders. And landing log, is that

:26:28. > :26:35.something specific he is doing wrong? I cannot think. That is

:26:36. > :26:39.better. And there way his darts land, if they land lower, you must

:26:40. > :26:46.be realistic and go down the board, so it blocks the target.

:26:47. > :26:56.It can be done and it has been done. It cannot be done now.

:26:57. > :27:09.Michael has not really pressured this shot. Bull's-eye. He needs

:27:10. > :27:13.bull's-eye, not far-away! So, this, 119, to break back and possibly

:27:14. > :27:22.treble 20 and top to change the momentum of this match and he has

:27:23. > :27:27.done it! Superb finish from Michael. For all of his big scoring, Michael

:27:28. > :27:38.has stayed in touch and he took his chance. Parity again.

:27:39. > :27:48.What will Adrian Lewis be thinking? Obviously he is playing well. There

:27:49. > :27:53.is no need to be alarmed but he will have hoped to have pulled himself

:27:54. > :28:01.away at that bar, he has let Michael in. But he is unfathomable, he will

:28:02. > :28:04.not panic just yet. There is most 13 points between these players as far

:28:05. > :28:14.as the average is concerned. But the bad. Three legs each. Exactly.

:28:15. > :28:26.Michael has been hanging in. Still well in The Game.

:28:27. > :28:35.He has not hit his maximum yet but he does have the honour of the

:28:36. > :28:43.first-ever Champions League 100 80. -- 180. That was a great last dart,

:28:44. > :29:00.but in the pressure straight back on Michael here. This is a big score,

:29:01. > :29:02.looking at treble 18. Two darts, 32? There is a chance for Michael.

:29:03. > :29:22.Well... No. He pulled that. Great composure from Adrian Lewis to

:29:23. > :29:49.get the break back. We have not had a close match yet.

:29:50. > :29:59.Maybe this is the one in the Champions League.

:30:00. > :30:06.Again, as solid leg from Aidy. He has got himself in the low 200s. He

:30:07. > :30:14.is increasing the pressure on Michael.

:30:15. > :30:28.Back in the red bits. 87 after nine darts. Aidy will settle for that.

:30:29. > :30:36.What a response from Michael. There is pressure on Aidy.

:30:37. > :30:50.This would heart. This would really hard. Two darts and double 12.

:30:51. > :31:03.Michael has got to take his chances. It was a great first dart. He is

:31:04. > :31:10.just starting to miss them. He has missed eight of his last nine darts

:31:11. > :31:12.at the double, Adrian Lewis. That missed by a distance. He still has

:31:13. > :31:25.double six. Aidy can punish those misses.

:31:26. > :31:59.Michael will be disappointed. He did very well. He has got to respond.

:32:00. > :32:10.Adrian Lewis, two times world champion.

:32:11. > :32:19.The first PDC born and bred world champion, if you like. Yes, he made

:32:20. > :32:24.history in his first final, hitting a nine darter. I think it was the

:32:25. > :32:37.second leg of the match, beating Gary Anderson back in 2011. Nine

:32:38. > :32:41.darts, the perfect leg of darts. It cannot be done in fewer. We would

:32:42. > :32:49.quite like to see one this weekend. If anyone is offering. Michael van

:32:50. > :32:56.Gerwen hit two in Barnsley this week. He did indeed. He is probably

:32:57. > :33:03.disappointed he did not have five. That is the ambition of the man,

:33:04. > :33:08.like a man possessed. Michael Smith is struggling in this leg. He is

:33:09. > :33:25.back on 227. He has lots of options. This shot could really exist --

:33:26. > :33:35.could really inspire him. He is low again. That was a bit unlucky.

:33:36. > :33:46.He has blocked it. He is right over to the side of the oche. Can he

:33:47. > :33:50.squeeze it in? He can. What a dart. I am sure that Michael Smith was

:33:51. > :33:56.preparing himself for three more darts. Again, it is the double

:33:57. > :34:03.break. You will feel that Michael has got to win this now. He will not

:34:04. > :34:10.want to go win 3-1 down. It is a good start from Adrian Lewis. If he

:34:11. > :34:17.holds his darts, he moves 7-3 ahead. Maybe he is just finding some

:34:18. > :34:28.rhythm, Michael Smith. We just perched on the nine darts as well,

:34:29. > :34:36.Vassos. -- just touched. He will be disappointed with that. He had a

:34:37. > :34:39.stranglehold on this leg. He has let it go a couple of times. It was a

:34:40. > :34:48.great last dart. He has not left a finish. He will be

:34:49. > :34:58.disappointed with that. 264. He has given him a glimmer of hope

:34:59. > :35:23.with a big score. I think they will both be looking

:35:24. > :35:32.forward to the break after ten legs. It has got scrappy, the last six or

:35:33. > :35:42.seven darts by the pair of them. Here we go. Will it be 7-3, will it

:35:43. > :35:50.be 6-4. Back to Michael Smith. This is big. You want to take this in two

:35:51. > :35:58.darts. A great finish. He needed that. Lots of pressure. The match is

:35:59. > :36:03.still very much anyone's to win. It is pretty much a knockout. Adrian

:36:04. > :36:14.Lewis leads 6-4 as the head backstage.

:36:15. > :36:40.Just how significant well that leg beaver Michael Smith? You may have

:36:41. > :36:44.spotted that, a little shake of the head from Adrian Lewis. Lewis got

:36:45. > :36:50.off to such a great start. It was a fantastic start. 11, 12 darts. It

:36:51. > :36:57.does not get much better about the inconsistency that has crept into

:36:58. > :36:59.his game, it has become a somewhat consistent frailty with his

:37:00. > :37:03.performances over the last few years. If he can fix that, and it is

:37:04. > :37:07.the same with Michael Smith, they are mirroring each other's careers

:37:08. > :37:12.in that sense, if he can fix that he will be more dangerous and reach

:37:13. > :37:17.more finals, like the back end of last year. In any sportsman's mind,

:37:18. > :37:21.you can read so much. The body language, the little shake of the

:37:22. > :37:27.head, and the work behind the screen. He will be disappointed. His

:37:28. > :37:31.average at one point was 14 points ahead of Michael Smith and it was

:37:32. > :37:37.3-3. Michael will be thinking he has been battered but he still has a

:37:38. > :37:41.chance. He will feel the better of the two, but Adrian will be

:37:42. > :37:47.disappointed with the start he had, the scoring. He was playing so well

:37:48. > :37:52.early. All of a sudden it is close. Mark in commentary said it has got

:37:53. > :37:56.scrappy in the last couple of legs. Do you agree? Absolutely. It seems

:37:57. > :38:00.like Adrian was trying to fall over the line and keep his lead going

:38:01. > :38:05.into the second half of the match. He should be more in front, the way

:38:06. > :38:11.he started the match. Michael Smith has not taken all of his chances. He

:38:12. > :38:14.is fortunate to be two legs behind. I have been putting these boys on

:38:15. > :38:20.the spot, saying, you have got to nail your colours to the mass, who

:38:21. > :38:24.will win? It has got to be Michael van Gerwen. All the other players

:38:25. > :38:28.need to get to his level to beat him over the long distances. If there

:38:29. > :38:34.was a raffle in your club, he would win that. He wins everything. He has

:38:35. > :38:39.the winning mentality and the game. Everyone else has to get to that

:38:40. > :38:44.level. I have to tell you at home that in the studio we have a dart

:38:45. > :38:49.board. These experts very often show you how difficult this is. Amazing

:38:50. > :38:55.shots. I swear that this man during that match got up and said, that was

:38:56. > :39:01.incredible by Adrian Lewis. He blocked the double two. He somehow

:39:02. > :39:08.got it with the third dart. You got it in. If only the cameras were

:39:09. > :39:15.recording. It was lucky. It was a trick shot. Fantastic. The players

:39:16. > :39:22.are back. Whose matches this? Who do you

:39:23. > :39:28.fancy? Adrian Lewis, Michael Smith? Jackpot started better but there are

:39:29. > :39:37.only two legs in it. Lewis leads Smith, 6-4. The loser knows that

:39:38. > :39:48.pretty much the right. -- they are out. The last three warm up darts.

:39:49. > :39:56.It is Smith with the darts. Smith has got to be positive. If he does

:39:57. > :39:57.not do it now, he will not do it. It is effectively knockout in this

:39:58. > :40:17.game. Earlier on, when Michael was playing

:40:18. > :40:21.Gary, he had the darts. He missed and he never really recovered. It is

:40:22. > :40:29.vital that he gets his leg on the board and he is still in touch.

:40:30. > :40:38.His body language, Michael Smith, has not been positive all day. This

:40:39. > :40:45.will help. It is a steady visit. He is on 206 after nine. He has been

:40:46. > :40:51.chasing round the board too much. He wants a tight leg. 15 darts, to

:40:52. > :41:06.settle him back in. It was a good last dart.

:41:07. > :41:19.So, six darts from 166 to close to within one leg. He could have gone

:41:20. > :41:29.treble and double mike 19 having strayed. -- double 19. He will want

:41:30. > :41:47.to put this leg to bed. Double ten when he comes back, if he

:41:48. > :41:56.comes back. He will be coming back. An important dart in the match for

:41:57. > :42:01.Michael. He has done in the same as in the game with Gary Anderson. He

:42:02. > :42:11.has missed five darts for that leg. Adrian has missed two. Make that

:42:12. > :42:15.three. He just needs to steady himself, Michael. Both players are

:42:16. > :42:21.missing doubles. It can affect your throw.

:42:22. > :42:39.Still just the one break between them. There we are. There we are.

:42:40. > :42:44.They are on their feet. With the mess doubles, the arena was getting

:42:45. > :42:51.quiet and edgy like they are and the stage, but that 180 is helping.

:42:52. > :42:56.These are helping. Unfortunately the last one deflecting. Adrian will

:42:57. > :43:10.settle for that. Enough to restore the two leg lead. I think that is

:43:11. > :43:16.his fourth mess of the match. Another 140. Nine darts and he is

:43:17. > :43:31.down to 140 already. A lead of over 300. Aidy has gone off the boil a

:43:32. > :43:32.little bit on his doubles. He has given himself some time with Michael

:43:33. > :43:42.Way back on 305. He will want to hit it this time. He

:43:43. > :44:05.does. He has missed 18 out of his last 22

:44:06. > :44:15.darts at the double, Adrian Lewis, but he still leads 7-5. At this

:44:16. > :44:20.point, his scoring is really good, he just has to tidy up that back end

:44:21. > :44:31.of the leg. Maybe it is nervous? Who knows? That is what you are used to,

:44:32. > :44:35.knockout games. Of course but obviously these guys, less than

:44:36. > :44:43.three hours ago, have lost games, so that might affect their confidence.

:44:44. > :44:47.We should stress it is unusual to be playing two matches in such close

:44:48. > :44:54.bricks and two. Twice in one day on a stage like that. We do that a lot

:44:55. > :44:59.on the professional tours and the other group format is the Grand Slam

:45:00. > :45:07.but you do not play two in one day. So this is a bit alien to the men.

:45:08. > :45:17.He has left himself on double top. Michael Smith. That is going to

:45:18. > :45:25.pressure it! His third maximum of the match, his seventh of the

:45:26. > :45:29.tournament. Double ten? Yes! That was better from Michael, conviction

:45:30. > :45:35.with both darts, he fell a little bit log with the top body straight

:45:36. > :45:42.on that up with the double ten. He just needs to hold his throw, three

:45:43. > :45:47.more times. Adrian Lewis... Michael Smith needs a break from somewhere.

:45:48. > :45:53.That is going to help, the first time in a while he has gone off with

:45:54. > :46:06.his throw. Just have a little thing. Lots of room. -- think.

:46:07. > :46:17.That was a good last dart, we talk about that load that but he covered

:46:18. > :46:25.well. -- that low died. He just knew he was following those two in. You

:46:26. > :46:28.get the feeling Michael will have to pull out something special. He is

:46:29. > :46:39.getting himself down to the finish with nine darts in most legs. Double

:46:40. > :46:46.16. 12 dart leg. The first time since the fourth leg he has said

:46:47. > :46:53.double at the first time of asking. -- he has hit. Nice start from

:46:54. > :46:56.Michael Smith, coming back, plenty of room to the right. He is in the

:46:57. > :47:09.mood! He has lost seven darts, in fact,

:47:10. > :47:19.Adrian Lewis, that I find the target. -- but have found. Lovely

:47:20. > :47:23.last dart. Michael needs a big scoring here. Maybe should have gone

:47:24. > :47:45.downstairs, he cannot finish. He just needs to bring this died.

:47:46. > :47:47.Adrian has left himself with 81. You would feel this is a virtual match

:47:48. > :48:11.point. Bull's-eye. For the 9-6 lead. Tops, again. Low. He must head this

:48:12. > :48:20.55. He does not! -- this double five. Five four double four. Just

:48:21. > :48:27.one that at the double, double four. Careless. He is affording Michael

:48:28. > :48:47.chance, he has had plenty of chances to kill off. Surely now? Yes!

:48:48. > :48:54.Eventually. The break of throw. 9-6 lead and Lewis has the darts. You

:48:55. > :49:05.really feel that Michael had to win that leg. Massive ask.

:49:06. > :49:15.Three out of four to play, Adrian Lewis. Is that resigned look from

:49:16. > :49:21.Michael Smith? As he gets his darts out of the board? He is not

:49:22. > :49:27.comfortable in this game, he has not had the best year but he has been

:49:28. > :49:31.rising up the rankings so quickly, it was always going to be difficult

:49:32. > :49:36.this year. This was a great visit. Just enough to keep himself in it.

:49:37. > :49:48.Three down with four left to play. Effectively, he has taken the darts

:49:49. > :49:54.in this one, he really needs a treble. He has not left himself with

:49:55. > :50:09.the finish. Very frustrated last dart from

:50:10. > :50:16.Adrian, he seemed to want to force that through. Michael can put

:50:17. > :50:31.pressure on him, here. He cannot finish. One of those breaks of throw

:50:32. > :50:36.could be coming back. Double top. And struggling again, struggling

:50:37. > :50:41.again. Must be the fourth or fifth time that Michael has chased doubles

:50:42. > :50:45.around the board, lacking conviction on the doubles. Not very confident

:50:46. > :50:59.at the minute, results not going his way. Another chance. 22. -- double

:51:00. > :51:10.two. He needs double one. That is what you call the skin of his teeth!

:51:11. > :51:15.If he can hold his throw here... All of a sudden, it is 9-8 and the

:51:16. > :51:23.pressure is on. Superb last dart, he was getting fed up and he threw that

:51:24. > :51:31.in a carefree way. He is starting on 140, put some pressure on, here.

:51:32. > :51:37.Good darts. The scoreboard has loosened up his arm, really.

:51:38. > :51:46.Just before Michael head that finish, Adrian through the dart, not

:51:47. > :51:55.in frustration but annoyed that he was going Lewis -- low on the 20.

:51:56. > :52:04.The closest of the Champions League so far. And that is really good. He

:52:05. > :52:37.needs treble 20. 65. For 9-8. 25, tops is the likely.

:52:38. > :52:42.Bull's-eye. He has done it! All of a sudden, food for thought for Adrian

:52:43. > :52:52.Lewis. He only has one break. Still all to play for. Pressure, here. And

:52:53. > :52:59.all of the pressure on Adrian Lewis. Who is your money on? If you ask me

:53:00. > :53:04.two minutes ago it was easy but Michael has found energy from

:53:05. > :53:11.summer, he is not dropping low. -- from somewhere.

:53:12. > :53:20.The curse of the commentator, not dropping low, and his darts dropped

:53:21. > :53:25.below the treble 20. He will have a chance. He has not had the match

:53:26. > :53:43.dart yet, Adrian Lewis. Six from 142? Surely. Just stay

:53:44. > :53:49.sensible. Michael is way back on 258. Just try to pile in. Adrian

:53:50. > :53:56.putting on pressure. For the match... Two darts at double top, he

:53:57. > :54:01.needs just one of them and he does! He falls over the finishing line,

:54:02. > :54:05.Adrian Lewis, the closest match of the Champions League so far. Jackpot

:54:06. > :54:07.has his first win of the Champions League so far, Adrian Lewis beats

:54:08. > :54:36.Michael Smith 10-8. # Hey Baby... #. What a great match,

:54:37. > :54:43.the tightest of the Champions League. Adrian Lewis, the world

:54:44. > :54:47.champion 2011, 2012, holding his nerve to get his first win of the

:54:48. > :54:52.Champions League. What a terrific contest. It was a little bit scrappy

:54:53. > :54:57.at times but what we have to do is look past the black and white, there

:54:58. > :55:00.was a lot of grey areas but it was very good and Michael Smith started

:55:01. > :55:04.to come back into that match at the end and of Adrian Lewis did not take

:55:05. > :55:07.that much dart out, you got the feeling that Michael Smith was

:55:08. > :55:12.creeping up on him and creeping up and eventually, Adrian gave himself

:55:13. > :55:17.the match that and did not mess around. It did get scrappy at the

:55:18. > :55:21.interval but in terms of drama, the crowd and the viewers have loved it

:55:22. > :55:27.but that had a bit of everything? It did, sometimes we do not need 110

:55:28. > :55:31.plus averages for a dramatic game, sometimes ugly games can be magnetic

:55:32. > :55:34.and I could not take my eyes off that because I genuinely did not

:55:35. > :55:38.know who was going to win. In the context of Adrian Lewis, his

:55:39. > :55:43.recovery, he was hammered by James Wade in the first match, what do you

:55:44. > :55:47.think he did this afternoon in order to know what he

:55:48. > :55:53.Adrian is very thick skinned, the video we saw about Adrian Berger, a

:55:54. > :55:57.lot of people say he has got thick skin and in the sport you have to

:55:58. > :56:01.have that, playing two games in one day it is essential that you have to

:56:02. > :56:05.have that in your locker and he is a joker and a character and he will

:56:06. > :56:10.have given himself 34 minutes to say, I didn't play great today.

:56:11. > :56:12.James Blake better but now I can switch off, next game, I will be

:56:13. > :56:40.ready. As for Michael, it was too late? It seems that way,

:56:41. > :56:43.Michael is just not on his top game, he did try to scrap and we must give

:56:44. > :56:45.them big credit. Absolutely, valiant effort, without bull's-eye checkout?

:56:46. > :56:48.He found himself in No Man's Land but he got himself out of jail and

:56:49. > :56:51.gave himself a chance to kick against Adrian at the back end but

:56:52. > :56:53.he didn't given that opportunity. Looking at the bull's-eye checkout.

:56:54. > :56:56.The problem for Michael, the problem he left himself with too much to do,

:56:57. > :56:58.you cannot allow that in this tournament. The best of 19, you

:56:59. > :57:01.cannot flip a coin and play another three or four legs, you have a

:57:02. > :57:03.certain structure and you must kick at the right time and Adrian

:57:04. > :57:06.essentially was not in much treble because he was always in front.

:57:07. > :57:09.Adrian has one night a rest before the final match and he is still very

:57:10. > :57:16.much in it. He is, you have to be in it to win it and Adrian Lewis can

:57:17. > :57:18.definitely win this. And he is with us. Good evening to you.

:57:19. > :57:22.Congratulations. Good to meet you. Take a seat. We said a few moments

:57:23. > :57:29.ago that that was a lifeline, back in it? Yes, obviously disappointing

:57:30. > :57:33.with my form and I still have to get over the line in the end but it was

:57:34. > :57:39.one of those things. Not all of the plays, layers are 100% record

:57:40. > :57:44.confidence and that is all I am feeling. Why is that? After the

:57:45. > :57:49.World Series events, I have had a couple of weeks of my family, but

:57:50. > :57:56.putting the work in. And that has cost me. What did you do, and was

:57:57. > :58:00.asking poll, this afternoon, James Wade played so well, he did not give

:58:01. > :58:04.you a chance. And the boy said, I wonder what Adrian Mole do this

:58:05. > :58:10.afternoon in order to refocus on what he needs? I have brushed myself

:58:11. > :58:17.off and I thought, I have to have a crack at the cherry and try my best,

:58:18. > :58:21.really. In parts it was good and another patch as it was not so good.

:58:22. > :58:28.At the start of the game you started well. Those 12 darts, we thought,

:58:29. > :58:32.here he comes. Do you think, maybe, and we hear about the hard work, do

:58:33. > :58:37.you think hard work over the course of the next week or so might bring

:58:38. > :58:42.you into more consistent territory? Without a shadow of a doubt, I

:58:43. > :58:46.kicked over 11, fell over 12 but that shows that I have not put the

:58:47. > :58:51.work in as much because my consistency has dropped, and

:58:52. > :58:55.normally, if I put the working, that would not have happened. There are a

:58:56. > :59:02.lot of good signs, you did not play badly against James. He was

:59:03. > :59:07.fantastic. Another one match that hit, that is a good sign? I didn't

:59:08. > :59:13.fancy that myself! To be honest! I gave myself the lifeline and what I

:59:14. > :59:14.will do is able to relax tonight, early night and make sure I'm ready

:59:15. > :59:23.tomorrow. You have got a victory on the board.

:59:24. > :59:28.Two defeats and you're out of this tournament. It is Gary Anderson

:59:29. > :59:33.next. Thoughts on tomorrow? I am looking forward to it. He beat me in

:59:34. > :59:36.the world final. If I can get revenge tomorrow, that is what I

:59:37. > :59:42.will be aiming for. Will you do any practice? I will probably have some

:59:43. > :59:48.tea, and maybe about half an hour, to sharpen up. That will be my aim.

:59:49. > :59:53.I know what these Cardiff rascals are like. They will probably see if

:59:54. > :59:59.you fancy it. It is a fantastic read. What is it like out there?

:00:00. > :00:04.They are singing the songs and I am thinking, I getting bored? They are

:00:05. > :00:09.getting into it. Fair play to them. Well done. You have got your

:00:10. > :00:13.victory. That is the most important thing.

:00:14. > :00:17.It is no time for us to focus on the next match. Adrian just about to

:00:18. > :00:22.burst out of her studio. It is Gary Anderson and he has been talking to

:00:23. > :00:27.Caroline Barker. This is a bit of history, heading

:00:28. > :00:33.into the weekend. Does it get the heart going? Yes, it has been a long

:00:34. > :00:37.time since I have played darts in the PDC. Every time I have done that

:00:38. > :00:41.I have failed miserably. I am older and wiser and looking forward to it.

:00:42. > :00:44.There have been times when I have enjoyed playing darts. I have

:00:45. > :00:53.enjoyed playing in the past couple of years. It has made a big

:00:54. > :00:56.difference. My son was born which to quake my shoulders. You have the

:00:57. > :01:04.tattooed with his name. There you go. On the end of your hand. Space

:01:05. > :01:09.for one more? Not yet. Does that put pressure on you, you have a young

:01:10. > :01:14.family coming through? We know there is ?100,000 on offer this weekend,

:01:15. > :01:18.does it drive you forwards? It did about three years ago. I am just

:01:19. > :01:23.back and enjoying it. If I play well, I will play well. I have not

:01:24. > :01:37.thrown a dart for about three weeks. It will be fun and games, seeing how

:01:38. > :01:39.it goes. It may be a struggle, but I will get the in the end. It is

:01:40. > :01:42.intensive darts over the two day period. Do players like Michael van

:01:43. > :01:44.Gerwen who have been playing back-to-back, does it give them an

:01:45. > :01:47.advantage? The schedule is busy. I had to get away because the

:01:48. > :01:53.schedule, in the last couple of years, I think I have had 80 days at

:01:54. > :02:00.home in three years. The way Michael is playing, here's something else.

:02:01. > :02:04.He seems to be winning everything. He has the kind of hunger that Phil

:02:05. > :02:08.Taylor had, Eric Bristow, the three of them are very similar. They have

:02:09. > :02:12.an appetite and hunger for the game and they take some beating. If

:02:13. > :02:17.you're standing there on Sunday, holding up the trophy, yours is the

:02:18. > :02:21.first name on it, what will be going through your head? I would be trying

:02:22. > :02:26.to book another holiday for another two weeks. I could not tell you what

:02:27. > :02:32.I have one and what I have not one. If you win a tournament, great.

:02:33. > :02:37.Tomorrow is a different day. It is strange that way. What would it mean

:02:38. > :02:42.to the family? They like it. It is always good to lift the title,

:02:43. > :02:46.especially a new one. I know that Michael will be up for it, but Phil

:02:47. > :02:52.Taylor and the rest of the boys will have something to say. You have got

:02:53. > :02:56.to love the honesty of Gary Anderson, Scotland against England,

:02:57. > :03:00.and two great competitors. They got off to a great start. I am very

:03:01. > :03:04.impressed with games. His performance bodes well for the

:03:05. > :03:09.match. Gary Anderson has not touched a dart in a while, he has taken a

:03:10. > :03:13.well-deserved dress, but when he is rested, he is like Adrian Lewis.

:03:14. > :03:18.When they prepare the way they want to come away from the circuit, they

:03:19. > :03:30.can come back fresh, hungry, and be gunning for their

:03:31. > :03:34.sections on the board. How do you see this going? If you go in the

:03:35. > :03:37.afternoon's performances, you have to go for games. He was composed

:03:38. > :03:40.through the match. Gary did not look like he was playing on all cylinders

:03:41. > :03:42.but he still averaged 96. The only thing missing from Gary's game this

:03:43. > :03:47.afternoon was the maximums. He played pretty well. Gary also told

:03:48. > :03:50.us this afternoon that it depends on which Gary turns up if he is going

:03:51. > :03:58.to succeed and lift the title in Cardiff. Which Gary has turned up

:03:59. > :04:04.for you? A refreshed Gary. Good enough to win the title? Absolutely.

:04:05. > :04:07.If you put Michael van Gerwen in front of Gary Anderson, you see a

:04:08. > :04:12.totally different animal to what you see playing in front -- against the

:04:13. > :04:18.other guys. I do not know what it is. Why is that? I think it is the

:04:19. > :04:21.motivational factor. There was a game at the World Championships a

:04:22. > :04:26.couple of years ago. Gary was flying, up by three sets. Michael

:04:27. > :04:29.was the favourite, he came back and beat him and won four sets on the

:04:30. > :05:03.spin. Gary was very upset. He thought,

:05:04. > :05:06.that could have been my world title. The following year, he took out van

:05:07. > :05:09.Gerwen and took the title. I think that game has sparked this two and a

:05:10. > :05:12.half years stretch of unbelievable form. You find that in many sports,

:05:13. > :05:14.when a team player is doing well in tennis, you look at Roger Federer,

:05:15. > :05:17.and they become the player to beat. It fires everyone else up. It does.

:05:18. > :05:20.There is lots to play for. Michael van Gerwen is playing at such a good

:05:21. > :05:23.level. There are probably only two people that can beat him, Gary

:05:24. > :05:26.Anderson and Phil Taylor. You do not get many chances. You have to be on

:05:27. > :05:28.top form all the way through. He had problems against Robert this

:05:29. > :05:30.afternoon at 5-5, but he came out in the end. The most ferocious

:05:31. > :05:32.competitor when it comes to results this afternoon was James Wade. What

:05:33. > :05:44.do the players say about him? Games The Machine weight. He is a

:05:45. > :05:51.very good player. He is very dangerous. The only thing he is

:05:52. > :05:56.missing is the World Championship title. He is a very solid player.

:05:57. > :06:06.Probably the best finisher in the world. When he is around the AT- 100

:06:07. > :06:15.mark, he is very good. Strengths, he never gives up. His finishing. When

:06:16. > :06:20.he has his finish, he can be out in three darts. He is a steady player.

:06:21. > :06:25.I can remember him, 15, 16 years old. He was a great player back

:06:26. > :06:33.then. He will keep going and keep going. If he gives you a chance, you

:06:34. > :06:37.have got to take it because if you give him a shot, he will take it. He

:06:38. > :06:43.and his wife are really nice people. You cannot see a bad word about

:06:44. > :06:47.them. His double tops, double tense, he rarely misses. He can put you

:06:48. > :06:51.under pressure, but knowing then he does not finish as well, and then

:06:52. > :07:00.you have to take advantage. You have no choice, years a good finisher.

:07:01. > :07:07.Myself. That is my weakness. Me. He is a bit of a screwball. He likes to

:07:08. > :07:11.laugh and joke, and carry on. I have lots of respect for games. James

:07:12. > :07:20.Wade, self-conscious, perhaps a little bit paranoid. He is talented.

:07:21. > :07:26.And very happy in life as we speak. It is obviously showing in his

:07:27. > :07:32.darts. He has won 13 matches against Gary Anderson. Anderson has the

:07:33. > :07:36.upper hand. 27 victories in the matchup, three draws. That was a

:07:37. > :07:43.fascinating interview. Robert Thornton put it eloquently. He is a

:07:44. > :07:48.bit of a screwball. That is my best Scottish accent. James, he has been

:07:49. > :07:55.an enigma to many people. On the dartboard, Phil Taylor was the most

:07:56. > :07:59.elegant person. -- the most eloquent person. If you wanted someone on

:08:00. > :08:06.planet Earth to fight for tops and tense, it would be James Wade. Lots

:08:07. > :08:10.of these fans have come to see folder Power Taylor against Michael

:08:11. > :08:16.van Gerwen. This is the perfect build-up. -- to see Phil Taylor.

:08:17. > :08:21.Yes, we have been looking forward to this since we saw the draw for the

:08:22. > :08:26.evening session. James Wade will be ready. Gary, as laid-back as years,

:08:27. > :08:31.he will be ready as well. I am looking forward to this. Who is

:08:32. > :08:37.going to win? I am going to go for Wade. He is switched on today. We

:08:38. > :08:43.could have a close one. I will have to go for Gary. For the moment,

:08:44. > :08:49.thank you very much. The players are standing by. There is a wonderful

:08:50. > :08:53.noise inside the Motorpoint Arena in the capital city of Wales. I am

:08:54. > :08:58.pretty sure the John McDonald is enjoying it as well. Welcome back to

:08:59. > :09:07.the action. The Champions League starts. Time to meet the players.

:09:08. > :09:12.Ladies and gentlemen, from Aldershot in England, the winner of seven

:09:13. > :09:28.major titles, time to meet The Machine.

:09:29. > :10:15.MUSIC: "The Boys Are Back In Town" by Thin Lizzy.

:10:16. > :10:32.Now, ladies and gentlemen, from Scotland, the reigning two-time

:10:33. > :10:44.champion of the world, The Flying Scotsman, Gary Anderson.

:10:45. > :11:15.MUSIC: "Jump Around" by House Of Pain.

:11:16. > :11:23.Look at that smile. Gary Anderson is loving it. In 2007, the

:11:24. > :11:28.International darts league, the first televised meeting, Anderson

:11:29. > :11:31.16-3 and the way to his first major title. Listen to the noise. That is

:11:32. > :11:36.what it is like in Cardiff on Saturday night.

:11:37. > :11:40.It certainly is. Quite frankly, wherever you go in the world, Gary

:11:41. > :11:47.Anderson gets this kind of reception. This year, he has won

:11:48. > :11:55.titles in Dubai, Auckland, Tokyo, Wigan and Barnsley. Slightly less

:11:56. > :12:00.exotic, but everywhere in the world, darts fans have massive, massive

:12:01. > :12:04.love for The Flying Scotsman. As for James Wade, you do not win what he

:12:05. > :12:09.has won in his career, and illustrious career, seven major

:12:10. > :12:16.titles, you do not win that without at least winning respect. Respect

:12:17. > :12:21.from the wider darting public. These two both winners this afternoon,

:12:22. > :12:32.fighting it out for the number one spot in Group B. James Wade won the

:12:33. > :12:37.bull in the practice room. He will our medal first. A big contrast to

:12:38. > :12:41.the first game of the evening tonight. These guys both had

:12:42. > :12:46.victories this afternoon so they will be full of confidence. I expect

:12:47. > :12:50.to see plenty of conviction. It is an interesting game. Gary scores

:12:51. > :12:57.well, but James scored well this afternoon. He finished well. A 103

:12:58. > :13:00.average for James Wade against Adrian Lewis. James Wade does not

:13:01. > :13:08.often beat people by massive margins like that. He seems to turn the

:13:09. > :13:12.intensity on when he needs to. I think you touched on it in

:13:13. > :13:21.commentary. If his opponent has an 85 average, he will average 86. 101,

:13:22. > :13:25.102, he gets the job done. He looked confident and composed, taking out

:13:26. > :13:31.the big finishes and he will hope for the same tonight. It is fair to

:13:32. > :13:37.say that Wade has not really got going in his first three visits to

:13:38. > :13:45.the board. Anderson very well placed for an early break off throw.

:13:46. > :13:49.He will not panic, it is against the throw in the first leg, long way to

:13:50. > :14:06.go. 32. Confident start from Gary

:14:07. > :14:10.Anderson. You know what it is like playing group stage darts, these

:14:11. > :14:18.games, but as Anderson still looking for the first 180. When you have won

:14:19. > :14:24.the game already, is the pressure off slightly? You don't want to be

:14:25. > :14:28.messing about tomorrow, you want to get the job done, knowing you are

:14:29. > :14:33.preparing for the semifinals, you don't want to go into different

:14:34. > :14:34.permutations with averages. Both players will want to get the job

:14:35. > :14:42.done tonight. You would think he was playing back

:14:43. > :15:12.in Scotland! He is a popular guy! There been a popular in Aldershot at

:15:13. > :15:19.the minute! -- maybe not popular. Gary Anderson is not a man, by his

:15:20. > :15:27.own admission, who does a lot of practice. I have literally been

:15:28. > :15:31.entered its third Gary Anderson has offered his darts to me, I will not

:15:32. > :15:34.be using them, just give them back to me half an hour before I am on

:15:35. > :15:46.the stage tomorrow! When we both made our debuts in the

:15:47. > :15:51.PDC championship, Gary asked me to practice with them and I went down

:15:52. > :15:59.one week before and I want the best of an 11 match. He has put the

:16:00. > :16:07.effort in! 16 for double top. He loves double top. Absolute

:16:08. > :16:14.perfection. From the world champion. It is 2-0 and Wade is not even at

:16:15. > :16:16.the races at the moment. He will need to get onto the board quickly,

:16:17. > :16:32.don't let Gary run away with it. This is ominous for James, Gary

:16:33. > :16:41.chipping away. He is not messing about with his doubles. Gary will

:16:42. > :16:46.tell you he was a much better player back when he first made the switch

:16:47. > :16:52.over to the PDC. He basically wanted to take on Taylor and test himself

:16:53. > :16:57.and he will tell you, that is when I was a proper player. I am not sure I

:16:58. > :17:04.believe in, I think he said better player now, which is why he has got

:17:05. > :17:09.titles. This is more like it, James! He really needed that, they game was

:17:10. > :17:14.starting to get away from him. All of a sudden, Gary is starting to

:17:15. > :17:18.miss. James has a chance to put a leg on the board, here. He just

:17:19. > :17:26.wants to stay straight at the very least. Not messing any of the 20s,

:17:27. > :17:35.just 60 but that is where he would not need to use the bull's-eye. You

:17:36. > :17:40.would expect James To chip this away.

:17:41. > :18:07.These left-handers are good at double ten. So I am told. Double

:18:08. > :18:09.ten! No drama yet. There are bigger. You just think it is going to happen

:18:10. > :18:21.with James Wade. He did not really get going with his

:18:22. > :18:27.first two legs, that is a lot better. Still the break of throw

:18:28. > :18:34.line. It doesn't matter, if you lose a leg doesn't matter if you score

:18:35. > :18:37.450 or 45, you have lost, James Wade does not care about averages and

:18:38. > :18:42.numbers and things like that. He just cares about winning at the end

:18:43. > :18:47.of it. If he loses nine legs playing dreadfully and wins ten of them, he

:18:48. > :18:51.will be happy enough. It is all about winning with James and that is

:18:52. > :18:55.how it should be with every player, if you look at the stats, you must

:18:56. > :18:59.concentrate on the positives and that is what James does and that is

:19:00. > :19:05.why he wins major titles, don't dwell on bad throws and bad legs,

:19:06. > :19:11.just get on with it. Decent response from the world champion. Nine darts

:19:12. > :19:14.thrown to the finish, these guys are always aiming for this sort of stuff

:19:15. > :19:20.but this is better from James Wade, not quite down to the finish.

:19:21. > :19:28.Definitely settled. He has found his range. That was a slip from Gary,

:19:29. > :19:42.you would think James is going to put a big hole in this. There will

:19:43. > :19:52.be pressure. Gary Anderson, 104, going to get the dart, just a case

:19:53. > :20:00.of what he wants. Double top. You fancy him to get at least one dart.

:20:01. > :20:09.Two at double 19. That is good. Great finish, back on throw. Great

:20:10. > :20:13.response from James. And after being absolutely nowhere for the first two

:20:14. > :20:19.legs, Gary Anderson might as well be on his own, James Wade has done what

:20:20. > :20:25.James Wade does and has just done enough for the next couple of legs,

:20:26. > :20:31.it is all tied up at two age and James has got himself into this

:20:32. > :20:36.game. He certainly has. It sounds daft but James is not beaten until

:20:37. > :20:48.he is beaten. He will keep chipping away. And Gary knows that. Mervyn

:20:49. > :20:55.King knows that. My-2, the final of the Masters, the last major title

:20:56. > :21:05.that Wade one. The response when he apologised was, really? I don't

:21:06. > :21:13.think James was sorry either. Never apologise per winning tournaments.

:21:14. > :21:17.This is significant for any player but James Wade was not even sure

:21:18. > :21:23.whether he had the game any more to do it. Three years since he had won

:21:24. > :21:26.a very big TV tournament and he had three well-publicised trebles with

:21:27. > :21:32.mental health and all sorts of stuff but he did work his way back and he

:21:33. > :21:37.is now a genuine contender, as he used to be in all of the big events.

:21:38. > :21:46.He needs the treble. He gets it, bull's-eye for the world champion.

:21:47. > :21:51.3-2! He is sometimes overlooked just because of how powerful Michael van

:21:52. > :22:04.Gerwen and Gary have been. You can never write James off.

:22:05. > :22:16.Good finish from Gary. He missed the one dart in the last leg. To allow

:22:17. > :22:24.James back in. Gary Anderson reasserting himself on this contest.

:22:25. > :22:29.Five titles this year. Just one of them per James Wade but it was a big

:22:30. > :22:36.one on the European Tour, in Hamburg. He beat Michael van Gerwen

:22:37. > :22:43.in the semifinals and then beat Dave Chisnall, another big name, just

:22:44. > :22:52.outside the top eight players. He is still waiting for 180 but 177 will

:22:53. > :22:59.do. Back-to-back European event, I'm sure that was Gary on the way as

:23:00. > :23:08.well. He will hope that plays on Gary's mind. He is playing catch up

:23:09. > :23:20.a little bit. The first low -- 180 of the day? Yes, it was only a

:23:21. > :23:27.matter of time, wasn't it! Almost 20 legs to get his first 180, almost

:23:28. > :23:33.unthinkable. Gary Anderson is missing big numbers all over the

:23:34. > :23:37.shop, 177 and 180 in this and then missing two big numbers to leave

:23:38. > :23:46.double 13 and this leg is not quite over yet. Because Wade is very

:23:47. > :23:57.dangerously poised. He has gone inside, one dart... You do not want

:23:58. > :24:09.to hit James Webb the sort of shots. -- James Webb. 14 four double top.

:24:10. > :24:13.They are the sort of finishes that James Wade playing well takes out

:24:14. > :24:20.routinely but he has given Gary Anderson and opportunity, and double

:24:21. > :24:30.two is good enough. For Dashti. Anderson wins two, then Wade, now

:24:31. > :24:35.Anderson, will this trend continue? James will not want to go one break

:24:36. > :24:44.of throw line. It is always difficult to get back. He had a big

:24:45. > :24:48.break, James Wade, in the quarterfinals, all set up for what

:24:49. > :24:53.we thought was going to be a fascinating battle. And Gary blew

:24:54. > :24:57.him away, 5-1. Wade was various after that, he said I could have

:24:58. > :25:02.given my darts to some bloke down the pub and he would have done

:25:03. > :25:11.better. I remember that. He blew the field away to get that game. Making

:25:12. > :25:21.light work of everyone and it just did not happen for him. Since then

:25:22. > :25:24.they have shared their various meetings, there was obviously that

:25:25. > :25:27.win in Hamburg that we have mentioned, winning in Shanghai,

:25:28. > :25:39.James Wade, the decider in the World Series. Gary can really pressure

:25:40. > :25:53.this shot. It looks like he might do it, as well. Level pegging. Who can

:25:54. > :25:59.see this off? Double ten. He should still be able to nestle alongside it

:26:00. > :26:10.but it needs to go into that little red part and that didn't. Anderson.

:26:11. > :26:16.20 four double top. And it is there! That is a big moment in this game.

:26:17. > :26:23.The break of throw, 5-2, Anderson. Wade has not been in this position

:26:24. > :26:27.so far today. Massive dart from Gary. James did not want to go

:26:28. > :26:35.double break down. He is chasing. He needs to get this break back

:26:36. > :26:42.straightaway. You have been in this position, you have played a game on

:26:43. > :26:47.the big stage and you win and you play really well and then you can be

:26:48. > :26:55.a completely different player when you go back later on in the day and

:26:56. > :26:59.it must be infuriating as a darts player? It is frustrating. It

:27:00. > :27:03.happens to all of us, you cannot put your finger on it, you feel great

:27:04. > :27:11.and the preparation is great and what better of preparation for James

:27:12. > :27:15.Wade than beating Adrian Lewis. Gary is punishing him, finishing every

:27:16. > :27:21.chance he gets. That is a difference at the Bennett. The finishing has

:27:22. > :27:26.been good from Gary Anderson. Five out of 11 doubles in this, getting

:27:27. > :27:32.more than half of them over the course of the day. And that has been

:27:33. > :27:38.the key thing. Over the last three years or so, Gary Anderson becoming

:27:39. > :27:45.two-time world champion, he will not leave double one? This is a great

:27:46. > :27:52.leg. When you break you don't want to throw a sloppy leg. 32 left. 6-2

:27:53. > :28:09.deficit, really. It is a long way back for James. He

:28:10. > :28:11.has to get the scoring going. James Wade will keep plugging away and

:28:12. > :28:21.will keep trying to turn this around. And that will help! The

:28:22. > :28:26.second 180 for The Machine. James will not go away.

:28:27. > :28:35.As game plans go, going 6- to down as the world champion is not what he

:28:36. > :28:42.would have had in his mind taking to the stage? He will be looking at

:28:43. > :28:51.plan be. He has thrown a very good six darts. Talking about double and

:28:52. > :29:10.treble breaks of throw. There is a chance of knocking him back.

:29:11. > :29:17.That does apply serious pressure to James Wade. Playing well, these are

:29:18. > :29:29.the sorts of finish he takes out all the time. He needs the treble 17.

:29:30. > :29:40.Jaaskelainen into the two. -- he has gone into the two. He has made a

:29:41. > :29:51.mess of that. He has given James a chance.

:29:52. > :30:09.James. That is so unlike James. He has given Gary a chance. 7- to know.

:30:10. > :30:18.-- 7-2 now. It is a very tedious display from James Wade. He is not

:30:19. > :30:22.playing like himself. But -- I am sure Adrian will be watching this

:30:23. > :30:27.game as well. He would have thought it would be a simple shoot out

:30:28. > :30:34.between him and Gary. It will get complicated tomorrow. Yes, all kinds

:30:35. > :30:43.of permutations. Wade may be thinking already, I have won 10-3. I

:30:44. > :30:46.do not want to wipe out my leg difference in the next game.

:30:47. > :30:51.Something has got to change for that to happen. He has nowhere near the

:30:52. > :30:59.standard we saw earlier against Adrian Lewis earlier. James being

:31:00. > :31:03.7-2 down, at least if they can stem the leg difference, it would help

:31:04. > :31:05.and give him order of an advantage tomorrow. It is not looking likely

:31:06. > :31:23.at the minute. 180 is not the finish. Gary Anderson

:31:24. > :31:35.is on 66. All kinds of problems for James Wade at the moment.

:31:36. > :31:43.It is The Flying Scotsman's turn to miss a big number. It gives Wade a

:31:44. > :31:49.chance. It is one he is not going to take. It is very, very strange to

:31:50. > :31:58.see a man playing so well earlier on this afternoon and getting what

:31:59. > :32:03.appears to be a bit of a hiding from the world champion. He has just

:32:04. > :32:15.offered up another chance for Wade. This has to go. He still has a lot

:32:16. > :32:21.to do. 7-3, Gary Anderson leads. Gary Anderson only needs three more.

:32:22. > :32:48.It is a long way back for James Wade. Tanzi? -- can he?

:32:49. > :32:55.They are all smiling and James Wade was all smiles as he walked out, but

:32:56. > :32:59.no Gary Anderson has the smiles. We did not expect this to happen,

:33:00. > :33:04.especially after James Wade was so good in his first match. Every game

:33:05. > :33:10.is so different. This afternoon, he was clinical on his finishing,

:33:11. > :33:14.composed through the match. This is so different. Gary has done his own

:33:15. > :33:17.thing. No matter how well you play, if you come up against someone like

:33:18. > :33:23.Gary Anderson who is playing so well, throwing so well, it is really

:33:24. > :33:27.hard? It is hard to beat a world champion when they are still world

:33:28. > :33:28.champion. When you win a title like that, you will always be regarded as

:33:29. > :33:56.that. It will give you you are a current champion,

:33:57. > :33:59.holding onto a title for two, three years, he will bring that confidence

:34:00. > :34:01.to the game, even when it is scrappy. You have been impressed by

:34:02. > :34:04.Gary Anderson's smooth flowing style. We have a board in the studio

:34:05. > :34:06.for these guys to show us. They are the professionals. What have you

:34:07. > :34:09.picked out specifically? What Gary does with his first dart, you will

:34:10. > :34:12.see it when he comes back, it is a sighting dart, he uses it more

:34:13. > :34:14.deliberately. When it comes up towards his eye, he will prod it

:34:15. > :34:19.forwards and take more time. It will be like this. He will do that. Then

:34:20. > :34:24.what happens? The next two, he does or continuous action. He does the

:34:25. > :34:29.pride dart, and then it is straight back and forwards. The only time

:34:30. > :34:35.that changes is if there is a deflection or an unexpected dart.

:34:36. > :34:39.Then he will use a site dart again. Go and collect your darts. James is

:34:40. > :34:46.under real pressure now. Yes, he's too far behind. He has not performed

:34:47. > :34:53.as well as this afternoon. He needs to dig deep. In many ways, Gary

:34:54. > :34:57.Anderson, people have been talking about Michael van Gerwen and Phil

:34:58. > :35:01.Taylor, but Gary Anderson is setting down a marker. You get the feeling

:35:02. > :35:07.that now he has had a break, he probably wants another crack at van

:35:08. > :35:11.Gerwen. He might hope that he gets by Phil tonight. He seems to find

:35:12. > :35:17.that extra 5% in motivation when he plays. He might find himself over

:35:18. > :35:19.the line tonight, get some sleep and come back even hungrier tomorrow.

:35:20. > :35:24.Thank you. Let's go back to commentary.

:35:25. > :35:28.The world champion only needs three more leg to book his place in

:35:29. > :35:37.tomorrow's action. He is the group leader. And under par James Wade. It

:35:38. > :35:41.has not been very good from The Machine. We know that these little

:35:42. > :35:49.breaks can change the course of games. Definitely. James needed the

:35:50. > :35:55.break. It was key that he got the leg before the break. Again, James

:35:56. > :36:02.under pressure on his throw yet again. It is only his second 180

:36:03. > :36:06.today, Gary Anderson, but kicking off right after the break is exactly

:36:07. > :36:24.what he would have wanted. Tanzi follow it up? I think he quite

:36:25. > :36:30.fancied it. A good last dart. James will need a big score. They are not

:36:31. > :36:36.landing for James like they were this afternoon. He will be

:36:37. > :36:44.frustrated. How important is it for these guys, Anderson, how important

:36:45. > :36:49.is that first dart, consistently, if you get it where you want it, you

:36:50. > :36:56.can build on it. That one for James makes it difficult for him. These

:36:57. > :37:01.players like the first dart to sit nicely in the treble 20. They are

:37:02. > :37:10.not landing for James at the minute. He is frustrated. Nearly a sneaky

:37:11. > :37:15.way through for Gary Anderson. It could be yet another break of throw.

:37:16. > :37:25.James Wade has only managed to hold his throw once in this game.

:37:26. > :37:39.If there is every game changing finish for James, this is it. He

:37:40. > :37:47.needs a lift. This would do it. Coetzee? He could. He took out 161

:37:48. > :37:56.earlier on today. Out of nowhere, James Wade produces 164. Could that

:37:57. > :38:03.be the moment that sees James Wade challenge the world champion? His

:38:04. > :38:07.161 earlier got him the victory against Adrian. He has revitalised

:38:08. > :38:26.no, James. -- he is revitalised now. James Wade

:38:27. > :38:34.may have sparked into life. Four perfect darts. This is encouraging

:38:35. > :38:42.from The Machine. He is finding that treble 20 with his first dart. Gary

:38:43. > :38:45.has left himself 145 after nine darts. That is giving James and easy

:38:46. > :38:57.leg. The 145 will not go. Having already

:38:58. > :39:07.taken out 161 and 164 in the previous like, -- previous leg, it

:39:08. > :39:14.would be ridiculous for Wade to take this. It would be ridiculous. I told

:39:15. > :39:19.you it would be ridiculous. He has made Gary think about this finish.

:39:20. > :39:26.It is not easy, 98. That is a great first dart. It is a great finish.

:39:27. > :39:34.Gary is letting James know that the 164 did not rattle him. As

:39:35. > :39:44.spectacular as those big checkouts are, he needs just one leg. We have

:39:45. > :39:49.seen from the play over the rest of the legs, at the start of the legs,

:39:50. > :39:54.the scoring power from James Wade has not been sufficient. He has only

:39:55. > :40:01.had eight darts at double in this match. Gary Anderson has had 23. So

:40:02. > :40:09.uncharacteristic of games, especially after this afternoon. He

:40:10. > :40:10.has not been landing them. -- James. He has been giving Gary

:40:11. > :40:25.opportunities. James Wade has been working, seeking

:40:26. > :40:30.the advice of five-time world champion Eric Bristow over the last

:40:31. > :40:33.few months. He says that Eric Bristow and his straight talking

:40:34. > :40:41.helps him focus on what needs to be put right in his game. That is a

:40:42. > :40:49.great setup shot from Wade. That leaves double 12. Just what James

:40:50. > :40:56.needed. He can feel better about himself if he can just get this leg

:40:57. > :41:05.on the board. He has got to club bag one of these breaks. It could be

:41:06. > :41:16.another. It is another. Number three for Gary Anderson. Going back to

:41:17. > :41:19.Eric Bristow, he will tell him to forget about it if it is not good

:41:20. > :41:25.enough. James will live to fight another day. Should he lose this

:41:26. > :41:31.game, he has not lost it yet, but he will be ready to fight another day.

:41:32. > :41:32.It is looking very difficult. Difficult but not impossible. We

:41:33. > :41:46.have seen more unlikely comebacks. It is a long way back. Especially

:41:47. > :41:54.with Gary Anderson finding the trebles. His average has crept up to

:41:55. > :42:07.over 98. He is just keeping James at arms length in pretty much every

:42:08. > :42:12.leg. He has six darts for 137. He will not be worried about that. He

:42:13. > :42:14.will not panic. James will be looking for a big one to pressure

:42:15. > :42:26.the shot. That is not enough to apply the

:42:27. > :42:37.pressure to Gary Anderson. We know that he can take out the 164. Is he

:42:38. > :42:43.going to get a go at it? Years. For the second time. He did that, and

:42:44. > :42:50.then that. But he did not quite do that. Missing the bull for a second

:42:51. > :42:56.164. That could have been a game changer. It might still be a game

:42:57. > :43:00.changer if Anderson does not take out the double ten. The world

:43:01. > :43:08.champion is one leg away. Good composure from Gary. Now it is a

:43:09. > :43:21.four leg deficit. He has got to one every leg. It is a big ask. -- to

:43:22. > :43:27.win. It is simple for James Wade, he has got to win five consecutive legs

:43:28. > :43:40.against the man who has won the world title. He has just got to take

:43:41. > :43:58.one leg at the time. You would fancy him to take this leg.

:43:59. > :44:06.105 left for the world champion for the match, unless Wade can take out

:44:07. > :44:14.81, he has to go 12, and the bull's-eye... And he misses that by

:44:15. > :44:21.fractions again. Anderson, with 105, looking at the bull's-eye first...?

:44:22. > :44:31.Tops is the route. Very nearly pulled that off. Wade, five four

:44:32. > :44:44.double ten. He needs that right by. Double five. And that might be bad.

:44:45. > :44:52.James lives to fight another day. Three match darts missed by Gary

:44:53. > :44:59.Anderson, Wade, to stay alive for at least another leg. 55. -- double

:45:00. > :45:17.five. James needs to make Gary think. They

:45:18. > :45:28.always say the wedding that is the hardest. -- winning dart.

:45:29. > :45:34.They have both been in the Premier League for a number of years. And

:45:35. > :45:40.both meetings this year in the Premier League finished in draws. As

:45:41. > :45:43.tight as you can get. You don't have many formats in darts where you

:45:44. > :45:51.don't have an eventual winner. Both of those matches finished six

:45:52. > :45:58.apiece. Gary two locations and James, I was -- they know the

:45:59. > :46:03.round-robin format and very successful in the Grand Slam, I

:46:04. > :46:07.think Gary has never been eliminated from the group and James on one

:46:08. > :46:09.location. He doesn't have a lot of love for the Grand Slam of darts,

:46:10. > :46:27.Gary Anderson. He is going to get another shot to

:46:28. > :46:33.win. That is a great dart. He will make Gary have a little thing.

:46:34. > :46:41.Anderson on the 18th. For the match! And it is another missed doubtful

:46:42. > :46:53.and he missed that by a yard. -- missed that. He is going to get

:46:54. > :47:04.another go. Straight at it? Definitely. The last dart. There is

:47:05. > :47:11.a chance for James to make Gary have a real think.

:47:12. > :47:19.Tops, and that is a careful last dart, less pressure than they might

:47:20. > :47:34.have been, Anderson, to finally get over the line. It just goes on!

:47:35. > :47:50.Gary has got to keep his composure. Gary is under severe pressure. I

:47:51. > :47:55.make it nine darts for a match that Gary Anderson has missed so far. I

:47:56. > :48:03.might have lost kind, I think it is nine. Earlier on we said the doubles

:48:04. > :48:11.with the problem and he was solid in the early part, but he has gone way

:48:12. > :48:20.word. You don't want to give James this left. He was 7- to down in this

:48:21. > :48:27.one, but a hold of throw would make it 9-8. And then it is anybody's

:48:28. > :48:32.game. I remember in the European Championship final Gary Anderson had

:48:33. > :48:42.a 9-7 lead against Michael van Gerwen. Did Michael Wynne on the

:48:43. > :48:45.last leg? Four legs on the spin on that occasion, Michael van Gerwen.

:48:46. > :48:54.And that is a great response from The Flying Scotsman. The fourth 180

:48:55. > :49:02.of this match. This might be a handy one. Very handy one. To think when

:49:03. > :49:06.it was 7- to be with thinking about damage limitation for James, and he

:49:07. > :49:14.is right back in the game. He certainly is. He looks down on the

:49:15. > :49:27.board. 15, 14 four double top. He only gets one dart. Bull's-eye.

:49:28. > :49:36.Great finish from Gary Anderson. Gary Anderson flies around the board

:49:37. > :49:40.and finishes on double seven, he missed handfuls of darts and he

:49:41. > :49:45.could have won this a lot earlier but James Wade unable to follow his

:49:46. > :49:46.performance this afternoon, he goes down tender seven, Anderson topping

:49:47. > :50:14.the group. -- ten - seven. Another win Gary Anderson, no repeat

:50:15. > :50:20.of the victory for Wade in the European matchplay in 2016. That was

:50:21. > :50:27.his first win of Gary Anderson in 14 matches over an 18 month period but

:50:28. > :50:32.Gary Anderson, yes he has one but he did miss a lot of darts? Especially

:50:33. > :50:36.those doubles? He did and I don't think that is down to one of his old

:50:37. > :50:41.weaknesses, he used a lot of doubles even in scoring well. After what we

:50:42. > :50:43.spoke about with Gary after his victory this afternoon against

:50:44. > :50:47.Michael Smith I think it is just the fact that he has come back from a

:50:48. > :50:51.break, has not had enough time to put in the practice he needs. He

:50:52. > :50:55.wants to play well but sometimes you need days to get sharp on the

:50:56. > :50:58.doubles after such a break and you get the feeling after that that he

:50:59. > :51:02.might put in some work tomorrow morning on those doubles. James must

:51:03. > :51:07.be really disappointed, especially after playing so well in the first

:51:08. > :51:13.his performance this afternoon was like a poster board performance, I

:51:14. > :51:17.will remember that, I played well. He did not turn up tonight but there

:51:18. > :51:21.are flashes of billions, like Adrian earlier on, there are positives and

:51:22. > :51:26.if he can take that into tomorrow he will not have a problem. One flash

:51:27. > :51:34.of brilliance was that checkout, the highest tournament, 164, beating his

:51:35. > :51:40.own 100 61. He got them both. I tell you what, tomorrow if he is leaving

:51:41. > :51:44.these big checkouts, he is more likely to hit them land missed them.

:51:45. > :51:48.The magic thing about the tournament is James, winning one of them and

:51:49. > :51:52.losing one of them but he will be bitterly disappointed about how he

:51:53. > :51:56.has played this afternoon? James as good at forgetting what has happened

:51:57. > :52:00.and moving on. When he plays Michael Smith tomorrow, I get the feeling he

:52:01. > :52:04.will probably want to put all of this right behind him. And he will

:52:05. > :52:08.want to banish Michael Smith to the bottom of the group and he will want

:52:09. > :52:13.to do that quickly. You know what it is like to be on the circuit and

:52:14. > :52:16.playing instruments like this one. When you see some body playing as

:52:17. > :52:20.well as Gary Anderson, if you are there as one of the favourites, are

:52:21. > :52:25.you looking at the television screen, thinking, it could be his

:52:26. > :52:29.day? You could be. Or do you concentrate on your own game? It

:52:30. > :52:33.depends on how strong you are mentally in that moment. Some guys

:52:34. > :52:38.are very good at staying in the moment, some not so good. At the

:52:39. > :52:43.moment Gary is very relaxed and we are about to find out because he is

:52:44. > :52:50.with us. , N! Gary is here for a chat. Did the bouncer stop you?

:52:51. > :52:57.Really? That is the floor manager! You are smiling. I was going on

:52:58. > :53:04.right, making a mess of some silly legs, I could have had that wrapped

:53:05. > :53:08.up 10-3 but like I said, six hours practice in the last four weeks. I

:53:09. > :53:12.am happy. We saw an interview a few days ago when you said it depends on

:53:13. > :53:16.which Gary has turned up and also there were lots of suggestions you

:53:17. > :53:21.are missing the doubles and we were tired you missed nine of them, are

:53:22. > :53:29.you bothered by that? Just some rustiness? I put myself off by

:53:30. > :53:34.hitting that 180! No, the scoring is coming back and finishing has been

:53:35. > :53:40.good, it has been good in that game and the last couple of legs when I

:53:41. > :53:45.needed to kill that offer sloppy. Having a break has that allowed your

:53:46. > :53:48.mental state to refresh itself? Over the course of the next week or so

:53:49. > :53:52.when you have a little more time to practice, things will sharpen? I

:53:53. > :53:59.don't know, I will be walking round Disneyland with the little fellow!

:54:00. > :54:02.It has been good but none for weeks, three and a half weeks, that is too

:54:03. > :54:07.long without throwing any darts. The holiday was but a long time before

:54:08. > :54:12.this tournament was put in so I had to go. We will get back, I have

:54:13. > :54:16.three weeks in front of me to get back so I am looking forward to

:54:17. > :54:20.that. And we know you will see bar tonight because you are undoubtedly

:54:21. > :54:24.the world champion sleeper as well as the Darts Champions League not

:54:25. > :54:28.for the last three or four months! About three hours every night. That

:54:29. > :54:32.is not enough for you! There is usually a number one in front of

:54:33. > :54:36.that, I struggled over the last three months with sleep. And at four

:54:37. > :54:41.o'clock and was still awake and I was up again at half past six. You

:54:42. > :54:46.seem to be thriving off the scribe, it is very noisy, do you agree, I do

:54:47. > :54:52.all the players so far, he seems to be loving it? And as a darts player,

:54:53. > :54:58.is that so important? To handle the pressure of big events? Hugely

:54:59. > :55:01.important, smiles go along way, will not like me telling anybody this but

:55:02. > :55:07.he used to be called Smiler or Smiley? He does smile a lot. Very

:55:08. > :55:10.infectious and the crowd notices that on the big screens and it shows

:55:11. > :55:14.are lot that when you are in the pressure you can still smile as well

:55:15. > :55:18.as take on the pressure. Wonderful stuff, thank you very much, Gary.

:55:19. > :55:24.Letters hear from James Wade with Caroline. Obvious disappointment for

:55:25. > :55:29.you, what happened at the start? I feel like I have done this interview

:55:30. > :55:35.before! I was not good enough. I did not play well. I let Gary out of the

:55:36. > :55:42.traps quickly. General disappointment towards my own game.

:55:43. > :55:47.I was not good enough. You like to analyse your own game but at what

:55:48. > :55:51.point do you put that behind you? So rapid into tomorrow? It is hard when

:55:52. > :55:56.you play like that. If you play well you can put the game behind you, you

:55:57. > :56:00.can analyse it more but when you play as pretty as that, it is so

:56:01. > :56:05.hard. But, you know, I was not good enough and I did not play well

:56:06. > :56:13.enough. I know I am good enough. But talk is cheap. One in each corner,

:56:14. > :56:22.win and lose, against Michael you must flip that around? It is not if

:56:23. > :56:26.I am good enough, it is, does the right James Wade come out? If the

:56:27. > :56:30.right one comes out, it is done and at the wrong one turns up and

:56:31. > :56:36.Michael van Gerwen turns up, I am in treble. James Wade talking to

:56:37. > :56:42.Caroline Barker. This is how we look in Group B in the Unibet Champions

:56:43. > :56:47.League of Darts after two matches each, Gary Anderson leading, then

:56:48. > :56:53.James Wade, Adrian Lewis and Michael Smith. Looking good for Gary? Very

:56:54. > :56:57.good. Getting two wins on the same day will put him on the front foot,

:56:58. > :57:02.he knows he can go back to the hotel and get some more rest and if you

:57:03. > :57:05.can get the right rest, he will come out firing tomorrow. Mark has

:57:06. > :57:12.rejoined us after the commentary box. We impressed with Gary?

:57:13. > :57:16.Fairplay on getting the job done, he missed nine match darts? Just to

:57:17. > :57:20.regroup and get over the line was a good job, and there is no over

:57:21. > :57:25.conjugating tomorrow, he knows he will go through, there are no

:57:26. > :57:28.calculations, he will be pleased. I am very happy with the way Gary has

:57:29. > :57:33.played, it is very difficult after the break to feel those darts in

:57:34. > :57:39.your hand, they feel almost alien. To be able to come here and put in

:57:40. > :57:43.that kind of performance when he has not had much practice is very

:57:44. > :57:48.commendable. Thank you both very much. Next up, the matches keep

:57:49. > :57:49.coming and this is a very big one, the English legend taking on the

:57:50. > :58:04.Dutch masterpiece. Who is as? Michael van Gerwen, Dutch

:58:05. > :58:10.lad. He has beat me too many times! He is a pain in the neck but he is a

:58:11. > :58:16.very good player. This is Phil Taylor. He loves to win. He loves to

:58:17. > :58:25.show you that he lost to win. Very exciting to watch. He made darts are

:58:26. > :58:30.worldwide global start. -- sport. He did fantastic things for darts and

:58:31. > :58:34.also a major player. He is mentally strong and is very good in front. If

:58:35. > :58:40.he gets in front, you have a battle and you must get in front of

:58:41. > :58:46.Michael. Six world titles, that says it all. His mental game is very

:58:47. > :58:52.strong. He doesn't actually have a very easy throw but he believes in

:58:53. > :59:00.himself. Like no one else can. That makes them very, very top darts

:59:01. > :59:07.player. This is probably my hardest opponent. He is impressive, very

:59:08. > :59:14.good as a young kid. 15, 16 years old, breaking records. And he did

:59:15. > :59:19.have his apprenticeship, everybody has to learn the trade and used to

:59:20. > :59:26.being on TV and he has done that. He is a fully qualified player.

:59:27. > :59:35.Forget the dancing on the other side, this is where it is at. Live

:59:36. > :59:40.darts. Two magnificent names in sport, two massive names in darts.

:59:41. > :59:47.This has the makings of a real classic. It certainly has. You are

:59:48. > :59:53.looking at big-name sports people in different generations. Van Gerwen is

:59:54. > :59:59.no. It is all about the man in green. Phil Taylor does not like

:00:00. > :00:03.that. He likes this to be his sport. This is his stage. Michael van

:00:04. > :00:11.Gerwen has taken his career to read it is. He has stolen the stage from

:00:12. > :00:16.Taylor. The only thing missing from van Gerwen is an additional world

:00:17. > :00:21.title. I love the way you have just talked up this match. It is going to

:00:22. > :00:29.be incredible. He makes a good point about van Gerwen. He is the man to

:00:30. > :00:34.beat. He is box office. He has been hammering tailored in tournaments

:00:35. > :00:40.recently. Phil got revenge in Auckland. I think Phil needed that.

:00:41. > :00:45.He was very defeatist in the World Matchplay final. That last victory

:00:46. > :00:50.gave him believe. It has spiced up this victory. On the oche, they do

:00:51. > :00:56.not like each other. Phil wants to put him in his place. 29 years

:00:57. > :01:00.separates these two. Michael van Gerwen, given how good he is, he can

:01:01. > :01:08.overtake everything that Phil has done. He could do that. Phil Taylor

:01:09. > :01:13.won his first major tournament when he was 30. Michael van Gerwen is not

:01:14. > :01:20.30 yet. From that statistical point of view, yes he could. He is 27

:01:21. > :01:23.years old. He has lots of time to work with. I get the feeling that

:01:24. > :01:30.Michael van Gerwen does not want to play darts as long as Phil Taylor.

:01:31. > :01:35.Van Gerwen will explode for the next ten years and he will retire on top.

:01:36. > :01:41.Phil Taylor is in his mid-50s. What do you think? It will be tough for

:01:42. > :01:46.Phil Taylor. He does not have time. He plays all the events. If anyone

:01:47. > :01:52.can bring back the titles, it will be Michael. Does he want to keep

:01:53. > :01:57.playing until he is the age of Phil? If so, no doubt he will win the

:01:58. > :02:03.titles. It is how long van Gerwen wants to play darts at the top

:02:04. > :02:08.level. It is taxing? Yes, very, but what he wants to do is ride the wave

:02:09. > :02:12.of confidence, ride the wave of form, win as much as he can, and if

:02:13. > :02:17.his form drops, he has the confidence to fall back on. He can

:02:18. > :02:24.say, I am still good enough, maybe I can drop off, come back and do more.

:02:25. > :02:31.The crowd or in full voice in Cardiff. What can we expect? Is it

:02:32. > :02:36.about who gets in front early? It is important that Phil gets in front.

:02:37. > :02:42.When Michael gets going, he can reel off five legs in five minutes. There

:02:43. > :02:46.will be no way back for Phil. The early exchanges are more important

:02:47. > :02:52.for Phil than Michael. We are seeing a pattern. The player who goes into

:02:53. > :02:58.the interval in front, apart from the match between van Gerwen and

:02:59. > :03:03.Thornton, it was 5-5, if you go in the in front at the interval, the is

:03:04. > :03:15.every chance you will go in front. This will definitely be 10-0. --

:03:16. > :03:19.definitely not be. Van Gerwen is the best post-break player in the world

:03:20. > :03:24.that there will ever be. If he is down, he will have the fortitude to

:03:25. > :03:30.come back. The Netherlands or England? I said Phil early on but I

:03:31. > :03:34.am starting to go the other way. I think it will be van Gerwen. I

:03:35. > :03:40.agree, I think it will be van Gerwen. Here we go. A wonderful

:03:41. > :03:48.atmosphere in Cardiff. Listen to the crowd. Let's get ready for this.

:03:49. > :03:58.Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. It is the Champions League starts. Now,

:03:59. > :04:05.it is time to meet the players. Ladies and gentlemen, from

:04:06. > :04:09.Stoke-on-Trent, England, here's the record breaking, history making, 16

:04:10. > :04:27.times the champion of the world, it is filled the Power

:04:28. > :05:21.Taylor. -- Phil the Power. Now, ladies and gentlemen, from the

:05:22. > :05:27.Netherlands, the world number one, and the former champion of the

:05:28. > :05:41.world, Michael van Gerwen. MUSIC: "Seven Nation Army"

:05:42. > :06:37.by The White Stripes. Honestly, honestly, this is the

:06:38. > :06:42.match we have especially been looking forward to. It is the best

:06:43. > :06:49.player in the world against the best player of all time. Michael van

:06:50. > :06:54.Gerwen against Phil Taylor in the Champions League starts in Cardiff.

:06:55. > :07:02.Van Gerwen has hardly put a dart wrong. Frankly, all year. 19 titles

:07:03. > :07:07.in 2016. He has won his last six tournaments, his last 36 matches,

:07:08. > :07:14.and in the past week alone he has hit two nine darters. He has won

:07:15. > :07:18.?80,000 in prize money. The last man to beat him in the other side of the

:07:19. > :07:23.world in Sydney in August, the man on the other side of the oche in

:07:24. > :07:31.Cardiff. Phil Taylor has been on holiday well van Gerwen has been

:07:32. > :07:33.cleaning up. He has focused on eating healthily, doing exercise and

:07:34. > :07:39.putting in extra hours on the practice board. Taylor says he is

:07:40. > :07:44.fresh, motivated, up for the fight. This is a match that both players

:07:45. > :07:50.can probably afford to lose. Both will be desperate to win. The

:07:51. > :07:54.27-year-old from Holland against the 56-year-old from Stoke. The best in

:07:55. > :08:00.the world against the best of all time. It is a clash of the Titans.

:08:01. > :08:11.The atmosphere in this auditorium is electric. The noise is bouncing.

:08:12. > :08:15.This is what they have come to see. 7500 noisy, rockets, fancy dress

:08:16. > :08:20.wedding fans. They are in the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. You

:08:21. > :08:25.almost had to put your fingers in your ears as they walked on stage.

:08:26. > :08:31.The atmosphere is that good. Let's hope the darts match the atmosphere.

:08:32. > :08:39.You can build it up, but these two players normally produce the goods.

:08:40. > :08:42.Van Gerwen one this week. He is keeping clinical for this

:08:43. > :08:51.tournament. Phil Taylor played really well this afternoon. This

:08:52. > :08:55.always has the makings of a fantastic match. It does not always

:08:56. > :08:58.work out that way but I am sure there will be plenty of tension.

:08:59. > :09:07.They have played 53 times in the past. Four times already this year.

:09:08. > :09:13.Taylor has won two of those, van Gerwen has won two. There is the

:09:14. > :09:24.first maxim of this match. I am sure it will be the first of many. The

:09:25. > :09:32.first in leg one goes to Taylor. He will be licking from 203 to set up a

:09:33. > :09:41.good finish. It should stay there. 63 if he gets the treble.

:09:42. > :09:50.63 for a break of throw in the first leg. It is the first to ten legs. If

:09:51. > :10:01.he does not take the treble, he may only get one dart at the double.

:10:02. > :10:10.That was a crucial last dart from Phil Taylor. Van Gerwen hit 134 when

:10:11. > :10:15.he did not seem to be in the leg. He will know are important it was. He

:10:16. > :10:20.needed to get his nose in front in this match. The chances you have got

:10:21. > :10:26.to take, similar to that one. Van Gerwen is so capable of taking out

:10:27. > :10:29.that 92. All of a sudden you're in command of the leg and you have

:10:30. > :10:33.lasted. Back in play negatively on your mind for the rest of the game.

:10:34. > :10:44.-- that can play. Phil Taylor, when he won his first

:10:45. > :10:50.world title in 1990, Michael van Gerwen had yet to celebrate his

:10:51. > :10:57.first birthday. That shows you how long Phil has been on top of the

:10:58. > :11:01.game. This man has taken it to new levels. Incredible levels from the

:11:02. > :11:10.Green machine. He gets his first maximum. 140, and 181. It looks very

:11:11. > :11:23.likely that MVG will break right back. Two fantastic visits. You have

:11:24. > :11:36.got to keep at it. That is not bad. He leaves himself 47 after nine. No

:11:37. > :11:45.finish, 179 four Phil Taylor. He crashes the 47.

:11:46. > :12:00.Again, the last dart, this time from van Gerwen. He break straight back.

:12:01. > :12:08.A 12 dart leg from van Gerwen. Only 42 at the start of the third. The

:12:09. > :12:11.level these two player, neither wants to give his opponent any

:12:12. > :12:19.distance in this match. It will be so hard to club back. The crowd are

:12:20. > :12:23.singing all the way through. They are really enjoying this. They have

:12:24. > :12:25.been looking forward, as we have, to this encounter. The two biggest

:12:26. > :12:44.names in world darts. That was a good cover shot. He still

:12:45. > :12:55.looks as focused as ever, Phil Taylor. He is talking about starting

:12:56. > :13:00.to wind down. But an average of 103 in the tournament so far. He is

:13:01. > :13:05.still right at the top of the game. He certainly is, even when he has

:13:06. > :13:13.the Big garages and plays well, van Gerwen and some of the other

:13:14. > :13:18.players, they can lose. People have said that Phil Taylor is finished.

:13:19. > :13:26.He is far from finished. He is still playing at that high standard. This

:13:27. > :13:35.would be for 167 for a third break in a row. Yes. 167. You cannot be

:13:36. > :13:43.bad. 167 from Phil Taylor. The crowd loved that one, we loved that one.

:13:44. > :13:45.Phil Taylor love that one. What a great start to this match. It is not

:13:46. > :14:03.shabby. It is so unusual when you see

:14:04. > :14:08.players of this high standard. Van Gerwen fires in another maximum. The

:14:09. > :14:17.first three legs have gone against the throw. Hold onto your hats. He

:14:18. > :14:18.has had two nine dart legs already this weekend, both in Barnsley. Let

:14:19. > :14:33.slip. Taylor looking to leave the finish

:14:34. > :14:43.and he should do if he can stay in the middle. He has already taken out

:14:44. > :14:55.167. He took out -- Wade took out 161 earlier. Six darts from 161.

:14:56. > :15:04.Will he go for it? For the bullseye... He didn't need to go for

:15:05. > :15:10.the bull but the reason he did is because he is on the game. He has

:15:11. > :15:17.taken out 167 and he wants to pound van Gerwen but he has to tidy up.

:15:18. > :15:41.-- double 8. 111 average at the moment for Phil Taylor. He is really

:15:42. > :15:49.on the mark. Again, the first dart in the treble, and the second. Still

:15:50. > :15:57.a good visit. That was the first holder of throw of the match. From

:15:58. > :16:07.either player. Van Gerwen certainly looks a little bit flustered. Can he

:16:08. > :16:14.flick one over the top? Not quite but still a good visit. You feel van

:16:15. > :16:23.Gerwen, despite having a couple of 180s, has not fired consistently.

:16:24. > :16:31.Taylor has taken command. But a long way to go.

:16:32. > :16:44.Really consistent scoring from Phil Taylor. On a finish for another

:16:45. > :16:48.break of throw. Van Gerwen not on a finish as we saw in the previous

:16:49. > :16:55.leg. He doesn't need to go over this. It looks like he is tidying up

:16:56. > :17:04.this time. Positive thinking from Taylor. Nothing van Gerwen can do

:17:05. > :17:15.about Taylor having three dart at a double. He only needed one.

:17:16. > :17:33.Look at that focus. The 16 time world champion, he means business.

:17:34. > :17:44.Van Gerwen knows it. He will have to step it up. Is there an argument

:17:45. > :17:50.that MVG has played too much darts? Maybe, but he has youth on his side,

:17:51. > :17:55.he wants to play everywhere and win everything. He really has an

:17:56. > :18:00.incredible and continual desire to win anything he plays in. Yes, we

:18:01. > :18:05.are still early in this and Taylor is in command. But there is still a

:18:06. > :18:13.long way to go and man this can hit the mustered when he wants. That is

:18:14. > :18:18.his third of the match and the ninth -- his ninth of the day. Taylor

:18:19. > :18:27.under pressure here on his own throw. And the game can turn around

:18:28. > :18:30.so quickly, as we saw Taylor coming out of the blocks really quickly and

:18:31. > :18:37.all other sudden, if you went against the throw, you are back in

:18:38. > :18:43.the match. It turns around quickly. They have got to be aware of that.

:18:44. > :18:47.Four more legs after this before the break, will it be in their minds?

:18:48. > :18:53.Certainly, you don't want to be too far behind going into the break.

:18:54. > :18:59.Within a couple of legs is the minimum. He has missed treble 19 so

:19:00. > :19:07.he is still leaving himself a lot to do in this leg. He wanted a decent

:19:08. > :19:14.finish on 18s. Taylor can continue to put the foot on the gas. He

:19:15. > :19:15.stayed there, I thought you might have moved, there was not a lot of

:19:16. > :19:31.room. Van Gerwen! He breaks the Taylor

:19:32. > :19:38.throw. Just when you thought it was safe, he pops in with a little 122

:19:39. > :19:43.on the bull and that is why he is world number one and wins all the

:19:44. > :19:51.tournaments that he has won. This is turning out to be a cracker.

:19:52. > :20:03.Those are both in and he fills it up! Another maximum for Phil Taylor.

:20:04. > :20:16.He really is in the zone. Look at that concentration. He means

:20:17. > :20:23.business. Can he flick another over the top? Just slightly to the left.

:20:24. > :20:28.He is smiling, looking calm and collected, focused when he is

:20:29. > :20:34.throwing. This is what it's all about, isn't it, the big match, the

:20:35. > :20:36.big stage, the big audience. This is what they live for. But we like to

:20:37. > :20:51.see them sweat! There is still plenty to go on in

:20:52. > :20:54.this match. Still leaves himself a lot to do with 140. Taylor has

:20:55. > :21:15.another chance here. For 5-2! And 5-2 it is. 101 finish,

:21:16. > :21:22.he has had a 167, maximums are flying in everywhere. This is what

:21:23. > :21:33.we want to see. The last two legs have been won on the bullseye. Phil

:21:34. > :21:44.Taylor averaging 108. And Michael van Gerwen relatively low at almost

:21:45. > :21:49.97. He was very disappointed with the first half display against

:21:50. > :21:53.Robert Thornton. He got over the line and played better in the second

:21:54. > :21:57.part of that match but Roberts put him under a lot of pressure. But

:21:58. > :22:02.this is different pressure -- Robert put him under. He knows what Phil

:22:03. > :22:08.Taylor can do. Without a doubt these are two of the biggest names in the

:22:09. > :22:11.sport. He seems to want the perfect match of darts, Michael van Gerwen,

:22:12. > :22:16.but when you are playing Phil Taylor, surely a win is a win. You

:22:17. > :22:20.would take anything, whoever you are. We all know what he is capable

:22:21. > :22:27.of and what he has achieved and what he can do and continues to do. He

:22:28. > :22:32.has left a bogey here but van Gerwen is a long way behind. That will

:22:33. > :22:38.help. He was apparently furious after winning a final 6-1 recently,

:22:39. > :22:43.MVG, because he had chances to win it 6-0. That is the level he played

:22:44. > :22:47.at. He doesn't just want to beat you, he wants to beat you well. The

:22:48. > :22:54.way he looks at it, the next time you play him, you think about that

:22:55. > :23:07.last defeat. How about this? 130 64 van Gerwen but 108 and Phil Taylor

:23:08. > :23:14.goes 6-2 up. -- 136 four van Gerwen. He has missed his opportunity. He

:23:15. > :23:26.seemed to throw that last dart away. He needs it and he gets it. The mark

:23:27. > :23:31.of a good champion is coming back, coming back against somebody playing

:23:32. > :23:35.so well is a bit more difficult because you don't get many

:23:36. > :23:46.opportunities. But if he can hold throw here, he is back within one

:23:47. > :23:54.leg. Both players have been basically struggling to hold their

:23:55. > :24:07.throw. That has been the story. Some good finishes, 101, 122, 167. Van

:24:08. > :24:17.Gerwen yet to hold his throw. It is an important two legs going into

:24:18. > :24:22.that break. Van Gerwen needs to take this one on his own throw and see if

:24:23. > :24:29.he can attack the Taylor throw to go into the break level.

:24:30. > :24:40.He will want another. And he gets it. Van Gerwen will feel he might

:24:41. > :24:48.have to take this out, double 10 for 134. Now then... Will that make a

:24:49. > :25:04.difference? On the wire, can he flick it in? He

:25:05. > :25:12.certainly can! And he gives a salute to the ground, van Gerwen missed

:25:13. > :25:15.double 10. Taylor leads 6-3 and throwing first before the break. And

:25:16. > :25:22.still Michael van Gerwen has not held his throat. If Taylor can hold

:25:23. > :25:25.here, if he wins this leg, he goes 7-3 up in a race to ten -- held his

:25:26. > :25:36.throw. I'm sure he won't be thinking it yet

:25:37. > :25:40.but the saving grace for van Gerwen is that he knows he is playing

:25:41. > :25:44.another game tomorrow. But he will not want his big adversary beating

:25:45. > :25:49.him on the big stage because it gives Taylor the confidence the next

:25:50. > :26:00.time they meet. The last time van Gerwen lost was way back in August,

:26:01. > :26:09.35 matches ago, 36 matches ago. And Phil Taylor was the man who beat

:26:10. > :26:17.him. Where did that come from? 170 scored. Surprised he did not stay on

:26:18. > :26:22.the treble because it still does not leave a finish. I think he was

:26:23. > :26:27.hoping for the minimum of 25 to take off the odd number. He needs this

:26:28. > :26:41.leg, he really needs it and he knows it. 55 remaining after nine darts.

:26:42. > :26:55.170, and 180 so far from MVG in this leg. 15 and double top. It is still

:26:56. > :27:16.anyone's game, Phil Taylor leading Michael van Gerwen 6-4.

:27:17. > :27:23.STUDIO: Utterly brilliant start from Taylor and van Gerwen. The first

:27:24. > :27:29.time they played in 2006, van Gerwen was just 17 years old and Taylor won

:27:30. > :27:32.3-2 in set in the players championship in the Netherlands and

:27:33. > :27:36.now would you look at them, absolutely brilliant stuff. I'm very

:27:37. > :27:40.happy with the way the game has gone so far, it has not let us down, we

:27:41. > :27:44.are talking about big averages, it has been a finishing clinic so far

:27:45. > :27:51.from Phil Taylor. Really good stuff, I think Mark would agree. Look at

:27:52. > :27:55.those averages. It has been unreal. The only is advising thing is that

:27:56. > :28:00.Michael has won four legs and they have all been against the throw.

:28:01. > :28:04.That is ridiculous, but he is still in the game and he has a big chance.

:28:05. > :28:09.And we have seen James Wade with the two highest checkout but this was

:28:10. > :28:10.one of the 67 from Phil Taylor, now the highest Champions League

:28:11. > :28:23.checkout. -- 100 67. -- 167. It just goes to show, these

:28:24. > :28:30.guys do want to get one up on each other. And who is going to hit 170?

:28:31. > :28:34.Do you think Phil Taylor is playing off the energy of the crowd?

:28:35. > :28:41.Definitely, he looks great, relaxed. Even a few legs after he had the

:28:42. > :28:46.shot at 161 but he was in such a good place that he went for it when

:28:47. > :28:52.he did not needed to. He is looking to get everyone. A number of tweets

:28:53. > :28:57.people saying they are loving Paul's demonstrations. He is now going to

:28:58. > :29:04.show you Michael van Gerwen's style. It looks rather different to unlock

:29:05. > :29:08.the players on the circuit. His throw is very continuous, like

:29:09. > :29:13.Gary's but when it comes to his stance, that is where him being

:29:14. > :29:16.unorthodox sits. As you can see, Michael is very side on to start

:29:17. > :29:22.with but he actually shift his weight further back so his back is

:29:23. > :29:26.arched and when he throws his darts, he is actually pushing from the back

:29:27. > :29:30.foot which gives him a lot of stability. I actually feel quite

:29:31. > :29:34.painful do it so you have to think that in his career in the future

:29:35. > :29:36.there are possibilities for him to get injuries but he is comfortable

:29:37. > :29:49.doing it at the moment. Who is going to win? You would have

:29:50. > :29:54.to say Phil. 6-4. Michael needs to hold his throw. He has not held it

:29:55. > :30:00.once. That must be unheard-of in a session like this. He has got to

:30:01. > :30:06.hold his own throw and then have a go on Phil's. It is living up to the

:30:07. > :30:10.billing? Yes, we have big averages. We have got the game. Michael van

:30:11. > :30:16.Gerwen is the biggest post-break player. We are about to find out

:30:17. > :30:27.whether I am wrong. It is a race to ten. What a first

:30:28. > :30:36.half that was. Can the second half continue with the billing? The big

:30:37. > :30:41.finishes? As the lads said they are, it will be concerning Michael that

:30:42. > :30:44.he has not helped his throw. This is a big leg for van Gerwen for lots of

:30:45. > :31:00.different reasons. 137, a decent start. If Phil Taylor

:31:01. > :31:04.breaks again, he got 7-4 ahead. The finishing line starts coming into

:31:05. > :31:10.view. If Taylor takes this one, you really feel that he will win the

:31:11. > :31:16.match from there. Van Gerwen has plenty to say, two good visits. That

:31:17. > :31:20.is in the back of his mind. He has not played badly. Phil Taylor has

:31:21. > :31:29.taken a big finishes at crucial times. It is the timing of the

:31:30. > :31:33.finishes as well. It is well placed, van Gerwen, to hold his throw for

:31:34. > :31:42.the first time. That is a good last dart.

:31:43. > :31:50.That is why these two players are in the positions in the world of darts,

:31:51. > :32:09.because the intensity is consistent. Taylor missed bull for 161 earlier.

:32:10. > :32:15.Not this time. Michael van Gerwen with three darts at double top, too

:32:16. > :32:22.close to within one leg. That was a long way north. And that one is

:32:23. > :32:32.below. The first dart was so far away he had to readjust. It did not

:32:33. > :32:39.work out. This is a massive dart for Phil Taylor. He increases the pain

:32:40. > :32:47.for van Gerwen. He had a chance to hold his throw but he did not take

:32:48. > :32:55.it. Is that the match? Is that the crucial moment of the match? Phil

:32:56. > :33:03.Taylor, with the darts, with the 7-4 lead, and straight in the treble 20.

:33:04. > :33:08.When you have missed three darts that the double to get in one, your

:33:09. > :33:16.opponent comes out and starts the next leg with a maximum, you know

:33:17. > :33:22.you're running uphill. He still has not helped his throw, Michael van

:33:23. > :33:24.Gerwen. It is incredible, really. When you think they are both

:33:25. > :33:38.averaging well into the 100s. Mind you, Phil has only held his

:33:39. > :33:48.throw once. If he can do it again, he is the heavy favourite. Van

:33:49. > :33:59.Gerwen has got to watch. 302. He cannot leave a finish. At least two

:34:00. > :34:04.visits. As we saw earlier, when he wanted the 1619 van Gerwen was not

:34:05. > :34:13.on a finish, he still went for it. He cannot go for it this time. He is

:34:14. > :34:22.still in a good place in the leg. As we have said so often, it can change

:34:23. > :34:35.quickly if you miss a double. This is for 8-4. Two fours for Phil

:34:36. > :34:46.Taylor. Well, well. He is mad at himself. He has to get this. Double

:34:47. > :34:50.nine. It is not happening for van Gerwen. This is something you do not

:34:51. > :35:02.see often. Phil Taylor in the madhouse. That target has got a bit

:35:03. > :35:11.smaller. He has hit the double one. He is two legs away. The double one

:35:12. > :35:15.was as good as the 167 in the sense of how the game is going. It is

:35:16. > :35:24.slipping away from van Gerwen at an alarming pace. Those three darts at

:35:25. > :35:34.double are preying on his mind. Now he is four behind. He has missed

:35:35. > :35:41.five in a row at double now, MVG. He still has not helped his throw. He

:35:42. > :35:48.may only get one more chance. Incredible, really. He can have that

:35:49. > :35:58.purple patch. We have seen it so often. He needs to do it now. Here

:35:59. > :36:16.he comes. Here it comes. As easy as you like. Back comes Taylor. Back

:36:17. > :36:25.comes Taylor. It also sends a message, it really does.

:36:26. > :36:33.He needs to get the treble 20 with the first one to leave him options.

:36:34. > :36:38.He may stay with double nine. He has increased the pain for van Gerwen.

:36:39. > :36:43.We get the Phil Taylor Road. Van Gerwen cannot believe what is

:36:44. > :36:56.happening. He is four ahead, one leg away. Well, that is what it means.

:36:57. > :37:04.It is not a victory yet for Phil Taylor. I thought he was meant to

:37:05. > :37:12.conserve energy up there. I think it is a vague assumption to say that he

:37:13. > :37:27.enjoyed that moment. -- a fair assumption. One of 774 van Gerwen.

:37:28. > :37:32.-- 177 for van Gerwen. But it is the Miss doubles that have cost him.

:37:33. > :37:40.Look at this from Taylor. Taylor responds. Here goes van Gerwen. So

:37:41. > :37:46.close. It is all kicking off. The scoring is incredible from both

:37:47. > :37:52.players. Taylor is homing in. He may go for the bull with the last one.

:37:53. > :37:59.That leaves him south Shanghai. And that is for the match. And what an

:38:00. > :38:04.incredible magic has been for Phil Taylor. Van Gerwen has had his

:38:05. > :38:11.chances. Phil Taylor has not given him any. This is for an incredible

:38:12. > :38:25.victory for the Power. Double top for a 10-4 victory. He has done it.

:38:26. > :38:30.That sends some statement. Phil Taylor, 10-4, against van Gerwen.

:38:31. > :38:36.MVG is still in the Champions League, but Phil Taylor is right

:38:37. > :38:42.back to his best. That was incredible from Phil Taylor. He

:38:43. > :38:49.deserved it. He played fantastic in that match. He looked composed. He

:38:50. > :38:50.has got the victory. Van Gerwen has another match tomorrow. Tonight is

:38:51. > :39:11.Phil Taylor's night. An unbelievable standard of darts.

:39:12. > :39:16.He loves it. Absolutely brilliant. Phil has got the Power. You just saw

:39:17. > :39:22.that on the sign. They are right. He has the Power and another victory.

:39:23. > :39:30.That was sensational. It was a great game. 107.5 average for Phil. Van

:39:31. > :39:36.Gerwen brought a good game, but tonight, Phil was clean and crisp,

:39:37. > :39:43.clinical and his finishes. That was summed up by the big finish on

:39:44. > :39:47.double nine. Incredible stuff, look at the averages. Phenomenal from

:39:48. > :39:54.Phil. He never gave Michael a chance. He was taking a big

:39:55. > :40:00.finishes, 167, one 32. 104, 102 at the end to finish the game. He did

:40:01. > :40:05.not relent. Michael did not get the chance to have a sport. Vassos is

:40:06. > :40:10.right. If people were thinking, Gary Anderson, possibly could challenge,

:40:11. > :40:14.and here we have Phil Taylor allows roll back the years. Yes, and he has

:40:15. > :40:19.got a habit of wanting to be the first name on trophies. When he won

:40:20. > :40:23.the European Championship for the first time, he gave the trophy away

:40:24. > :40:28.to a worthy cause, but he wanted to be the first European champion. He

:40:29. > :40:42.wants to be the first Champions League champion. He has been

:40:43. > :40:46.keeping low profile, we know his preparation. He has been working on

:40:47. > :40:49.his game and he wants to win the title. He said the whole month this

:40:50. > :40:51.is what he was preparing for. He has not played any of the players'

:40:52. > :40:53.championship events. He has had his mind focused on the Champions

:40:54. > :40:56.League. He has sent a massive message, not just a Michael in the

:40:57. > :41:00.bag rim. We will hear from Phil Taylor shortly. In the meantime,

:41:01. > :41:12.let's hear from Michael. He is with Caroline. How do you feel about this

:41:13. > :41:19.one? Do I need to answer that question? It was rubbish. I did not

:41:20. > :41:23.play well. I tried my best. I Miss doubles. I was not focused enough.

:41:24. > :41:28.It was not my day. Never mind, tomorrow we have another day. I know

:41:29. > :41:34.you generally do not like to analyse your game, because you're winning.

:41:35. > :41:39.What do you put it down to today, focus? Yes, that is just the way it

:41:40. > :41:43.goes. Today was probably not my day. It does not really matter. I am

:41:44. > :41:52.still in the tournament. I have everything in my own hands. It is

:41:53. > :41:55.not about tonight, it is about tomorrow night. Fair play to Phil,

:41:56. > :41:58.he had good finishing but I did not turn up. I can only blame myself.

:41:59. > :42:03.You have played lots of darts in the run-up to this, has that affected

:42:04. > :42:09.you? Maybe, but it is easy to complain. I do not like to blame

:42:10. > :42:12.anything. It is myself. I was not focused enough. I will have a nice

:42:13. > :42:18.sleep and make sure I am ready for tomorrow. I am getting the hand. I

:42:19. > :42:20.will let you go in a minute. Finally, very rarely do you lose two

:42:21. > :42:36.in a row. That is the positive to take into tomorrow? Exactly.

:42:37. > :42:39.Tomorrow is just a knockout. What is going to happen? I am probably going

:42:40. > :42:43.to play Peter to go through. If I win that, I am there. It does not

:42:44. > :42:50.really matter. It is one of those things. Things happen in darts. It

:42:51. > :42:54.is not always about winning. Sometimes you also lose, the other

:42:55. > :42:57.side of life. There is disappointment. I am glad it is not

:42:58. > :43:00.in a different tournament, and it is in this one. We will see you

:43:01. > :43:06.tomorrow. Good luck. There is a very different

:43:07. > :43:11.vibe at the Motorpoint Arena. Michael is very sad about losing.

:43:12. > :43:15.Now we have this man. I do not know if you can hear behind me, the fans

:43:16. > :43:20.are singing when they saw him come up. Thousands of people are doing

:43:21. > :43:25.the Icelandic thunderclap. They are singing his name as well. This is

:43:26. > :43:30.what this man means to this crowd in Cardiff. How does that feel, not

:43:31. > :43:35.only having this. Singing your name? Is wonderful. The lovely part is to

:43:36. > :43:41.see people enjoying themselves. Everything you put on the telly

:43:42. > :43:49.likely, it is all miserable, Jeremy Kyle. This is lovely. This is

:43:50. > :43:53.pantomime. One thing that is pantomime as well, in that match,

:43:54. > :43:58.you did not allow Michael van Gerwen to hold his throw 1s. I do not know

:43:59. > :44:03.anyone who can say that over the last couple of years. That must make

:44:04. > :44:07.you confident. The secret with Michael is to put him under

:44:08. > :44:13.pressure. If you can do that, he might miss. That is what I did

:44:14. > :44:21.before. How much did you enjoy the 138 check out? It was a cracker. You

:44:22. > :44:26.have hit that against me in the European Championships.

:44:27. > :44:38.Have a look at the screen, this was the 167. What a good-looking fella!

:44:39. > :44:51.Bullseye. That was a good shot. Highest of the tournament so far.

:44:52. > :45:00.James Wade will be looking for you. And this is how you finished. This

:45:01. > :45:07.was 120 to win the match. Lovely, could have been a bit to the left. A

:45:08. > :45:13.bit disappointed with the last dart. A win is a win. I know, I'm only

:45:14. > :45:21.kidding. And Cardiff has embraced it. I can tell you, I'm from the

:45:22. > :45:27.city, I know what sport means of these people, they will turn up for

:45:28. > :45:30.absolutely anything. If you give them top notch entertainment like

:45:31. > :45:35.you and Michael have done, they will respond. They are all singing your

:45:36. > :45:43.name now. Absolutely brilliant. He is lapping it up! I want to come to

:45:44. > :45:47.the rugby here one day, you must invite me! If this is what it's like

:45:48. > :45:51.for darts, what about England against Wales in Cardiff! It is

:45:52. > :46:02.pretty good if the result goes one way! We will see what happens. As

:46:03. > :46:07.far as the tournament is concerned, you must be feeling good about

:46:08. > :46:12.lifting the trophy. I've got to play Robert Thornton tomorrow, you are

:46:13. > :46:15.still not through so tomorrow I've got to concentrate on playing

:46:16. > :46:24.Robert, get up and do my business. Get on the state and try your best.

:46:25. > :46:31.Fantastic. -- on the stage. They are chanting for you now! I think it's

:46:32. > :46:38.being a local boy. Do you think we could have the dream final? Me and

:46:39. > :46:43.Michael? Yes. I don't know what happens from here, if I get through,

:46:44. > :46:51.if it could be us in the final. I don't know. We will check it. There

:46:52. > :46:55.are many permutations. I didn't know who I was playing until about six

:46:56. > :47:00.o'clock last night! I'm terrible, Bob will tell you. Am I in the

:47:01. > :47:09.final? Can I play van Gerwen in the final? You can. We have done the

:47:10. > :47:13.maths, we filled in our wall chart. You can get the dream final. He's

:47:14. > :47:18.just a Coventry fan, that's the only downfall! We will turn our attention

:47:19. > :47:23.to the next match, thank you for coming in, Phil. It is Robert

:47:24. > :47:24.Thornton up next, the man who ran Michael van Gerwen really close

:47:25. > :47:37.earlier. Robert Thornton, good blue blood. I

:47:38. > :47:44.need to shave my head! Very nice man. He is quite quiet, more on his

:47:45. > :47:49.own, does his own thing that that is also his strength. Very solid, good

:47:50. > :47:53.all-round game, good scorer, good finisher and a likeable character.

:47:54. > :47:58.He has struggled in the last five or six months but he is showing to come

:47:59. > :48:03.back and play proper darts. He is never not smiling, always fun to be

:48:04. > :48:10.around. Knocking on a little bit like myself. How can I explain

:48:11. > :48:13.Robert? Quiet, gets on with his practising, doesn't seem to wind

:48:14. > :48:18.anybody up, doesn't do wrong by anybody, a total gentleman. The

:48:19. > :48:22.ultimate professional. Probably the most unpredictable player I have met

:48:23. > :48:27.and played. Sometimes you play him and you can't keep up with him and

:48:28. > :48:32.then you will play him another dates and it's like you're not playing the

:48:33. > :48:40.same player. It's very strange. Battler, never gives up, always on

:48:41. > :48:44.your tail, finding away. He is like a little pit bull, even if he is 20

:48:45. > :48:52.legs behind he will fight on to win and he won't be far away. On his can

:48:53. > :48:57.everyone, simple. And Michael should know because it was in the balance

:48:58. > :49:01.earlier when Robert met Michael. What about tonight? Against Peter

:49:02. > :49:05.Wright. If Robert brings the kind of game he said he would bring when we

:49:06. > :49:09.saw him in between the sessions, Peter Wright might have questions to

:49:10. > :49:14.answer. The guys are talking about what Robert is like, we almost lost

:49:15. > :49:18.him a few years ago when he was very ill and the fact that he has come

:49:19. > :49:22.back from something like that, to be where he is today, it shows the

:49:23. > :49:25.strength of character that he has, the calibre of dart player that he

:49:26. > :49:31.is and he does not give up. He is a battler. And we saw that, he had to

:49:32. > :49:36.really dig in when he needed to to draw level at 5-5. We said then that

:49:37. > :49:42.he was well in the game and he could have been ahead. There were

:49:43. > :49:46.positives for Robert, he has new guards and he looks a bit uneasy on

:49:47. > :49:55.some doubled but he has a chance against Peter. And he knows what is

:49:56. > :50:01.at stake. -- he has new darts. He could be out effectively if he

:50:02. > :50:06.loses. That is pretty much it. He is in that little bubble. When he plays

:50:07. > :50:10.Michael Bradley gets in a full mode but it is slightly different against

:50:11. > :50:20.Peter, he does not get invested in the fireworks -- when he plays

:50:21. > :50:25.Michael, he gets in that mode. The way he was hitting tops earlier on,

:50:26. > :50:26.he could pose some problems. And don't forget, Peter Wright also

:50:27. > :50:36.needs to win. My name is Peter Snakebite Wright. I

:50:37. > :50:42.been throwing darts since the age of 13. I bought a set of darts from

:50:43. > :50:50.Deptford market on a Sunday afternoon. I practised on trees

:50:51. > :50:54.throwing from one tree to another. I know it's a bit cruel. But I was

:50:55. > :51:01.young then. That was my first set of darts. It has always been in my

:51:02. > :51:07.blood, darts, watching it on TV, thinking that must be amazing

:51:08. > :51:16.playing in front of them crowds on TV and now I'm part of it. My

:51:17. > :51:19.darting hero, Eric Bristow really. He had the arrogance and the

:51:20. > :51:26.cockiness and everything like that, on and off the oche and I admired

:51:27. > :51:27.what he did. I want to be number one, win titles, be the best in the

:51:28. > :51:38.world. He wants to be the best in the

:51:39. > :51:42.world. I wouldn't want to be these players, having to put on a show

:51:43. > :51:46.after what we have just seen. It is never easy when you get a game like

:51:47. > :51:50.that which is top billing and you have to follow it but one thing

:51:51. > :51:53.Peter Wright always does, he brings some life to the stage, some colour,

:51:54. > :51:59.and something a bit different that we have not had before him. He once

:52:00. > :52:02.did blame me for giving the motivation for doing what he does

:52:03. > :52:05.but he has taken it and run with it and he is now a darting brand which

:52:06. > :52:11.is something he is inspiring a lot of others to do. And what did you

:52:12. > :52:18.do? I used to wear sunglasses and have the bravado and then I grew up!

:52:19. > :52:24.Sunglasses and a tie I remember, undone down to your chest. I was

:52:25. > :52:29.trying to be a bad boy schoolkid! Bringing a bit of attitude. It

:52:30. > :52:34.worked for a short period and then it bounced back on me. But Peter is

:52:35. > :52:39.a very close friend of mine and when he started to get the colour and the

:52:40. > :52:43.hair going, it brought out his darting personality. The dancing on

:52:44. > :52:47.the stage, it is all about him getting rid of the nerves. When he

:52:48. > :52:50.finishes doing that, he gets down and he plays a very gritty game and

:52:51. > :52:54.it will be interesting to see what darts he is using the night because

:52:55. > :52:59.he used a brand-new set this afternoon. I think it will be tight.

:53:00. > :53:03.How did you feel about the sunglasses and the bad boy? I was

:53:04. > :53:11.going to mention the naughty little waistcoat! You have gone back to the

:53:12. > :53:15.dark shirt and trousers now. Absolutely, it is too hot for a

:53:16. > :53:21.waistcoat! After what we have seen, the Heat has gone up since the last

:53:22. > :53:25.match. The intensity of the last match, that has made it go up.

:53:26. > :53:30.Everybody is happy and jovial and you can see the joy on Phil's face

:53:31. > :53:35.when he won and it is just infectious. It seems to circle

:53:36. > :53:39.around the arena and it is getting hot. Thank you very much. It is our

:53:40. > :53:42.final match of this evening session at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff

:53:43. > :53:51.at the 2016 Champions League. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen,

:53:52. > :53:54.welcome back to the action, this is the Champions League of Darts

:53:55. > :54:00.brought to you by the Professional Darts Corporation. It is time to

:54:01. > :54:04.meet the players. Ladies and gentlemen, from Scotland, would you

:54:05. > :54:09.please welcome the former UK open champion and the reigning World

:54:10. > :54:20.Grand Prix champion, ladies and gentlemen, the Thorn!

:54:21. > :55:00.MUSIC: "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers.

:55:01. > :55:06.And now ladies and gentlemen, it is never too late to get this party

:55:07. > :55:20.started! With Snakebite! MUSIC: "Don't Stop The Party"

:55:21. > :56:24.by Pitbull. There is the dance and the Mohican

:56:25. > :56:28.and the trousers. Vassos Alexander, what other night we have.

:56:29. > :56:41.COMMENTATOR: We are heavily all Scottish clash to round things off

:56:42. > :56:45.and what a privilege it is. Peter Snakebite right, the world number

:56:46. > :56:49.five, and Robert Thornton, the world number seven, both guys having

:56:50. > :56:53.represented Scotland at the World Cup of darts. And having both lost

:56:54. > :57:00.their opening games this afternoon. Peter Wright to the greatest player

:57:01. > :57:03.of all-time, Phil The Power Taylor, and Robert Thornton to the greatest

:57:04. > :57:09.player right now, Michael van Gerwen. They have work to do to set

:57:10. > :57:14.things up for Sunday here at the Champions League of Darts. But there

:57:15. > :57:19.were signs from of them that they may be here to play something like

:57:20. > :57:23.their best stuff. Certainly Phil Taylor has shown he is here to play

:57:24. > :57:29.some proper darts this weekend and it is down to one of these dew or

:57:30. > :57:35.potentially both to respond. -- these two. There were certainly some

:57:36. > :57:38.positives for Thornton against van Gerwen, 5-5 at the break and

:57:39. > :57:44.probably should have been ahead. Eventually he lost 10-5. He was

:57:45. > :57:48.pretty pleased speaking to him afterwards because he has been in

:57:49. > :57:52.the doldrums for the last five or six months, trying to get his game

:57:53. > :58:03.back. He is a fighter, as we all know. He has got to win this. In

:58:04. > :58:10.front of him, the colourful Peter Wright. He also lost 10-5. Looking

:58:11. > :58:13.to get his first win under his belt. It is a big game for both players

:58:14. > :58:19.and whoever loses will feel like it is the end. But whoever wins, they

:58:20. > :58:22.will wake up tomorrow morning knowing one more win will put them

:58:23. > :58:33.in the semifinal. Robert Thornton a bit more of a

:58:34. > :58:44.classical dart player look about him. Gold chain, earring. Shirt

:58:45. > :58:58.undone. You were looking at me when you said that. There's the stance,

:58:59. > :59:04.on the oche. Everyone has their own individual stance and throw, walk on

:59:05. > :59:11.music, the egos that we love. That is why darts is in the greatest era

:59:12. > :59:16.of its sports. Prize money is incredible now. Over ?10 million on

:59:17. > :59:24.the circuit. ?100,000 for the winner here this weekend. Not too shabby.

:59:25. > :59:31.Yeah. Everybody does have their own outfit and walkon. Peter Wright has

:59:32. > :59:37.about 100 different outfits. Shanghai finish for Peter Snakebite

:59:38. > :59:42.Wright. He needs a single for a shot at the double. That's a little bit

:59:43. > :59:50.unfortunate. Strange angle there, wasn't it? The top of the flight.

:59:51. > :59:55.That would have been a good finish for Thornton. Not this time. Back to

:59:56. > :59:58.Peter Wright's clothing. You wouldn't want to leave your best

:59:59. > :00:07.shirt in with his washing, would you? A solid start to this one from

:00:08. > :00:13.Peter Wright. First leg under the belt. Certainly very important.

:00:14. > :00:23.Determined look from Thornton there. Good to see him playing well. He's a

:00:24. > :00:28.top player. Since that win last year, he hasn't had the results that

:00:29. > :00:37.his world ranking deserves. It can be tough up there. There are a lot

:00:38. > :00:45.of good players. You can't take your foot off the gas at all. That's good

:00:46. > :00:53.from Roberts. Maximum. We love to see them. The strength in-depth that

:00:54. > :00:56.has expanded so enormously over the last few years. Particularly with

:00:57. > :01:03.all the young players coming through. With the Youth Tour. . It

:01:04. > :01:06.spawned Michael van Gerwen himself. Michael Smith. A lot of good young

:01:07. > :01:11.players coming through. Just missed out Payne, on the Grand

:01:12. > :01:31.Prix. He is going for a big 10. Peter

:01:32. > :01:34.Wright only halfway through the leg. No need for Robert Thornton to go

:01:35. > :01:42.are for the bullseye there. Very small. It's difficult to hit.

:01:43. > :01:49.You may as well give yourself three darts. He has loads of darts if he

:01:50. > :01:53.needs them. It's the logical thing to do. It's the train of thought.

:01:54. > :01:57.How you are feeling at the time. If it was mid-match, sometimes you want

:01:58. > :02:01.to send a statement. Phil Taylor did this afternoon, and this evening. He

:02:02. > :02:05.has taken out big finishes when the player is not on the finish. Keeps

:02:06. > :02:20.the momentum going as well. One a piece early in this encounter.

:02:21. > :02:28.The crowd certainly loved that last one. Incredible standard from both

:02:29. > :02:33.players. Incredible, Michael van Gerwen, played 14 legs and never won

:02:34. > :02:41.one when he threw first. This game is mental. It's absolutely baffling

:02:42. > :02:46.at times. Peter Wright, you dig through the old footage. Look at

:02:47. > :02:53.that, gorgeous, isn't it? -- glorious. 1995 he played the

:02:54. > :02:58.lakeside World Championship he looked a different man. Normal

:02:59. > :03:04.hair-do. We all looked different in 1995. You don't look quite as

:03:05. > :03:09.dramatically different as Peter Snakebite Wright does from those

:03:10. > :03:16.times. I might get my hair done like that tomorrow. Might have a word

:03:17. > :03:26.with Jo. It would take four hours of work. It might be worth it. Part of

:03:27. > :03:34.his edwoe. The crowd love it. He loves it himself. When the match

:03:35. > :03:42.starts he focused on the match. It's his war paint. It helps him become a

:03:43. > :03:48.showman. He likes to put on a show. If you have the treble there. The

:03:49. > :03:54.shot for the bul. 170 earlier today ever after Taylor took out that 167.

:03:55. > :04:01.Not to be this time. We will see a few attempts at it during the

:04:02. > :04:07.weekend. Peter Wright, you just feel his first TV event win is around the

:04:08. > :04:13.corner. He's playing at a very good standard. The double 10. 2-1 lead.

:04:14. > :04:16.He is playing an incredible standard, but the players around

:04:17. > :04:20.there now, sometimes you need that little bit more. I've got that

:04:21. > :04:23.feeling with Peter Wright he needs a TV win to move on to the next level

:04:24. > :04:28.from his own personal point of view. Yeah. You wonder whether he can just

:04:29. > :04:32.get one and the floodgates might open. He has been playing good

:04:33. > :04:40.enough darts to make four big TV finals. Every single one it's been

:04:41. > :04:48.that Dutch bloke, Michael van Gerwen. The world Championship and

:04:49. > :04:55.two years running at the World Open and the the World Series Finals. He

:04:56. > :05:01.has been playing well. Sometimes it's getting over the line. It

:05:02. > :05:06.happened to a few players in the history of game. Thornton doesn't

:05:07. > :05:14.want Peter Wright to get too far in front of him. Has to hold throw

:05:15. > :05:18.here. Should go back upstairs. Leaves himself 130. A great chance

:05:19. > :05:35.to level. Thornton may get a dart at the

:05:36. > :05:40.bullseye, but needs the treble 20 with this dart. Doesn't get it.

:05:41. > :05:46.Wright will turn to the board. He could well look at a bullseye finish

:05:47. > :05:52.here. Treble 20 with the first dart. Hasn't done it. He has another

:05:53. > :05:56.option. Treble 18 for the bull. He missed the opportunity as well. Back

:05:57. > :06:00.into Thornton's court. 65. Should go for 25 tops. Got to be careful here.

:06:01. > :06:05.He's missed it, but still should have one dart at the double. That

:06:06. > :06:08.double is his favourite. Double top. Oh, he's pulled it. He knows he's

:06:09. > :06:31.given Peter Wright the opportunity. Tops it is. 3-1 to Peter Wright.

:06:32. > :06:35.There is not a lot in the match. It just shows you, Robert Thornton had

:06:36. > :06:39.one dart at double top, missed it. Peter Wright one dart, double top,

:06:40. > :06:51.and hit it. Those visits can change matches. There you see, 25% from

:06:52. > :06:58.Robert Thornton. 180s for show, they say. Doubles for gain. He missed a

:06:59. > :07:03.lot of doubles against Michael van Gerwen. There were opportunities

:07:04. > :07:08.against the World Number One. When you have the opt-out, if it goes in

:07:09. > :07:13.great, it can give you the momentum as it showed in the last leg,

:07:14. > :07:16.Thornton hitting and Wright hitting. When you have three clear darts in

:07:17. > :07:24.your head as a professional. That is when it hurts if you miss. You can

:07:25. > :07:29.have good misses, can't you? If you stick one just outside the wire and

:07:30. > :07:33.it's a guide or target it can help you find the way to the dart. If you

:07:34. > :07:37.see that double off in that visit. No harm done. It might damage your

:07:38. > :07:41.average a bit. It's the advice that is the thing. You don't want to give

:07:42. > :07:46.your opponent another visit to the board whether they are on a double

:07:47. > :07:56.or a big finish. If they get a chance, they'll take it. When Peter

:07:57. > :08:00.Wright first turned in the PDC, it did take him a while to find his

:08:01. > :08:06.feet. Now, some people in darts would tell you they always knew.

:08:07. > :08:12.They always knew back in the day, in the 90s, he could be as good as he's

:08:13. > :08:19.become. It's a very difficult thing to realise potential. He's put the

:08:20. > :08:26.work in. As he's doing in this match so far. You have seen that with Gary

:08:27. > :08:31.Anderson and Michael van Gerwen. It took them a good few years to

:08:32. > :08:34.breakthrough. Bullseye for Robert Thornton. He doesn't get the break

:08:35. > :08:37.back. Three darts at double top. This is what we were talking about

:08:38. > :08:40.when you have three darts in your hand, you are already on a double.

:08:41. > :08:49.These are the ones that hurt when you miss them.

:08:50. > :09:01.Only one dart to take the leg, albeit at the bull. That can change

:09:02. > :09:06.the sequence of the match. 4-1 down here. He has had a couple of

:09:07. > :09:10.chances. He's not taken them. When your game isn't to the top level, as

:09:11. > :09:16.we expect from Robert Thornton over the years. He has struggled with the

:09:17. > :09:21.way he's playing, just for results. Watched him on the Pro Tour playing

:09:22. > :09:29.as well as ever and have a bad game and lose. He is a determined young

:09:30. > :09:41.character. He needs some Dee vine intervention! I think we've got just

:09:42. > :09:43.the folks for him! -- divine. Plenty of costumes in there tonight.

:09:44. > :10:00.There's one on stage. Has to get this leg, really, you

:10:01. > :10:10.feel. Needs another to leave a finish. He doesn't get it. 124.

:10:11. > :10:16.Treble 18 for the bull if he needs it. That's a big miss. Will have to

:10:17. > :10:21.move over to the oche and try and sneak it over the top. That could

:10:22. > :10:28.spell authority authority. As we've seen before, that one dart he has

:10:29. > :10:36.been missing recently. Wright will be well placed. Very well placed.

:10:37. > :10:43.So, pressure. 20, it will only be one dart at double top for Robert

:10:44. > :10:55.Thornton. It's another one missed. One out of six on his doubles. 4-5.

:10:56. > :10:59.Tl might become 5 out of 6. He's had a good scoring, but he's got to make

:11:00. > :11:05.sure he doesn't let Robert back in the match. He's in control. He can

:11:06. > :11:09.feel better. Robert not happy. He knows he's missed a few

:11:10. > :11:10.opportunities. He knows he's not playing well. He will certainly dig

:11:11. > :11:18.in. Wright wrying looking pretty good

:11:19. > :11:25.here. -- Peter Wright looking pretty good here. And that is Peter

:11:26. > :11:29.Wright's first maximum of this one. He hit three early on today against

:11:30. > :11:41.Phil Taylor. How about one back at you. Pulled thatless one. Plenty of

:11:42. > :11:44.room. There he knows it. Wandering around like an expectant father.

:11:45. > :11:56.Trying to get himself into the match. Match.

:11:57. > :12:12.Second dart from right. Am can't get the third one in. He's making

:12:13. > :12:28.Thornton work. Going to have to move downstairs.

:12:29. > :12:33.Single 20, bogey. 161 plays 167 on a day where we've already seen both of

:12:34. > :12:42.those checkouts. We won't see the 161 from Snakebite.

:12:43. > :12:45.Single 20 would have left him with a lot of work still to do to take the

:12:46. > :12:59.leg. You can see this off in two darts.

:13:00. > :13:05.He may need all three. Oh, dear he needs treble 17. He is missing big

:13:06. > :13:17.numbers all over the place. He's played so well in the match so far.

:13:18. > :13:27.Unusual to see two big misses. Now then, double 18. Last dart in hand.

:13:28. > :13:33.A shake of the head from the man from Ayrshire. When it comes to

:13:34. > :13:46.killing legs off. It's not going his way. Peter Wright looking at tops.

:13:47. > :13:51.It's 6-1. Robert Thornton, he's leaving himself an absolute mountain

:13:52. > :13:55.to climb. Peter Wright is averages over 90. His finishing has been so

:13:56. > :14:00.good, when he's getting chances, he is taking them. He's been hitting it

:14:01. > :14:06.with the last dart as well. That's why his average has dipped a little

:14:07. > :14:11.bit. Six out of ten is still very good though.

:14:12. > :14:15.Roberts, only one out of eight. A lot of those have been the odd dart

:14:16. > :14:33.at the double. If you're going is not on -- if your

:14:34. > :14:35.game is not on, it can drag down the next leg as well, you cannot seem to

:14:36. > :14:54.grasp the opportunity. The averages can lie in this game.

:14:55. > :14:59.They can tell fanciful tales of Robert Thornton playing the better

:15:00. > :15:02.darts in this one. It is about the right shot at the right time in the

:15:03. > :15:08.game of darts and Peter Wright has consistently been able to produce

:15:09. > :15:18.that. That is right he is 6-1 up. That is what you need. A couple as

:15:19. > :15:22.well. To be fair, the Thorn has actually held his throw ones which

:15:23. > :15:28.is one more than Michael van Gerwen did. I am sure he will be pleased to

:15:29. > :15:36.know that! This will make him feel better. But he will be returning.

:15:37. > :15:42.For Robert, we have mentioned he had not had the best of times this year,

:15:43. > :15:45.but he has come here determined, he obviously wants to win but

:15:46. > :15:50.determined to get his game back on track. He has played pretty well

:15:51. > :15:55.this afternoon, the second half maybe not as good as the first but

:15:56. > :16:00.he needs to consolidate this match despite being a long way behind.

:16:01. > :16:03.Just to see what he can take from the match to move on from here.

:16:04. > :16:09.Obviously he has another game tomorrow. He has to defend his World

:16:10. > :16:17.Grand Prix title in a couple of weeks' time. He has got to be the

:16:18. > :16:21.link a bit better about things, not just having won the leg but having

:16:22. > :16:30.hit the double first. Because that has been a problem so far. You can

:16:31. > :16:34.see he is trying to G himself up. He is disappointed when he misses the

:16:35. > :16:41.double. He is really trying up there, you can feel it, he is giving

:16:42. > :16:45.it all he's got. Sometimes it can make you miss those chances because

:16:46. > :16:51.you are so determined to do well. You could see the grimace on his

:16:52. > :16:55.face, he was giving it everything. Even Gary Anderson in the montage

:16:56. > :17:00.before this game talking about Robert Thornton referred to him as a

:17:01. > :17:06.pit bull. Robert and his wife referred to him as that! And he does

:17:07. > :17:13.have a bit of that about him when he is at his most fearsome on the key.

:17:14. > :17:20.It has just been a bit more Chihuahua like on the doubles.

:17:21. > :17:35.A big end of season ahead for Thornton. He is a long way behind as

:17:36. > :17:42.Peter Wright leaves double 12. Another leg after this before the

:17:43. > :17:47.break. What will the score be? He needs to go into the break and give

:17:48. > :17:54.himself something to chew on in the second half. He didn't quite do it

:17:55. > :18:01.against van Gerwen from 5-5. He is doing his own thing, Peter Wright.

:18:02. > :18:11.If Robert Thornton has a realistic design on winning this one, he may

:18:12. > :18:16.need some help from a superhero but I'm not sure they are the ones. But

:18:17. > :18:24.he will have to win this leg. He is going to have to win a few but going

:18:25. > :18:39.in at 8-2, that really would be a mountain to climb, if it's not

:18:40. > :18:45.already. He is giving it some. One thing the Thorn does have is bags of

:18:46. > :18:57.experience. He won the world Masters in 2007 and 2012 was when he won his

:18:58. > :19:02.first PDC title, the UK open. That was the year that Peter Wright won

:19:03. > :19:07.his first title. All that success that the Peter Wright has had has

:19:08. > :19:16.come from 2012 onwards and the Thorn was winning big TV titles back then.

:19:17. > :19:22.The two TV titles he has won, he beat the best player in the world at

:19:23. > :19:27.the time. Taylor in the UK open and van Gerwen in the World Grand Prix

:19:28. > :19:32.last year. He is not scared of anyone, Robert Thornton. But I think

:19:33. > :19:40.he would be a little bit afraid of going 8-2 down here. That asks the

:19:41. > :19:46.question. Double 9, he cannot miss inside. Straight in the middle. And

:19:47. > :19:52.Robert Thornton is just about clinging onto Peter Wright's

:19:53. > :20:10.coat-tails but only just as he is trailing 7-3.

:20:11. > :20:17.STUDIO: We will back with our commentators shortly. Peter Wright

:20:18. > :20:22.leaving Robert Thornton in the career head-to-head 9-5 and it looks

:20:23. > :20:28.like it is going the same way tonight. At the moment Peter Wright

:20:29. > :20:35.is making less mistakes. His scoring has been one treble more than

:20:36. > :20:39.Robert. Robert has obviously hit an important double to give himself a

:20:40. > :20:42.little sniff but at this point you would not back against Peter taking

:20:43. > :20:47.this out in the next three or four legs. It does not seem the same

:20:48. > :20:51.Robert that we saw this afternoon against Michael. A flat performance

:20:52. > :20:56.and it shows in the scoreline. I expect Peter to close it out. Robert

:20:57. > :21:01.has got to get back into it all he is eliminated from the competition.

:21:02. > :21:06.We talked before the match about how Robert dug in against Michael this

:21:07. > :21:11.afternoon at 5-5 but you have just seen, in the eighth leg, he looked

:21:12. > :21:16.around as if to say that it was not working and there was a real

:21:17. > :21:19.strength of frustration. When the frustration and negativity comes, it

:21:20. > :21:23.is like Michael Smith, you can see what is happening in their head

:21:24. > :21:27.because they tell you with their mannerisms. Robert is a great

:21:28. > :21:35.fighter but sometimes he has to be in right mood to do that. Sometimes

:21:36. > :21:39.Robert places best. When he only has one match in one day. He is not the

:21:40. > :21:44.youngest player, I am not sure if age is taking its part but I will

:21:45. > :21:49.never write him off. I have learned to do that. It does not matter the

:21:50. > :21:53.situation, he can come through it. But against Peter who is feeling

:21:54. > :21:57.bright and energetic and who looks fresh after the date he has had, you

:21:58. > :22:01.expect Peter to win this. We know Robert is a fighter but can you see

:22:02. > :22:06.him coming back and winning this? It's going to be tricky, the first

:22:07. > :22:13.couple of legs are vital, if Robert could string a couple together you

:22:14. > :22:18.might make Peter think. Peter just to the his serve to set up a winner

:22:19. > :22:21.takes all against Michael. It is a lifeline for Peta and it keeps him

:22:22. > :22:26.in the tournament. And if he looks the statistics, he has had his

:22:27. > :22:37.throat and kept it every time for Peter. When the comeback on the

:22:38. > :22:42.stage, he can shoot for the line. The same question to Dan, what a

:22:43. > :22:46.seven-day night. COMMENTATOR: Quite right, it is one heck of a Saturday

:22:47. > :22:51.night here and it could be about to turn into a very productive one for

:22:52. > :22:56.Peter Snakebite Wright. Three more legs needed but for fans of the

:22:57. > :23:01.Thorn, if you are looking for crumbs of comfort, although Snakebite has

:23:02. > :23:05.finished very well, he has not been piling in the trebles with any great

:23:06. > :23:10.regularity. He is averaging in the low 90s, it is not that special

:23:11. > :23:16.performer Tom Peter Wright. It is just that when he is getting judges,

:23:17. > :23:21.he is taking them -- special performance from Peter Wright. He is

:23:22. > :23:27.taking his chances. The leg before the break for Robert may prove to be

:23:28. > :23:34.crucial. It is all about chances and timing. He has the opportunities. It

:23:35. > :23:42.is a mountain to climb against anybody. Certainly somebody playing

:23:43. > :23:48.so well on his own throw. Robert needs to string together for

:23:49. > :23:53.confident more than anything. That is what he has been looking for

:23:54. > :24:00.today. He got it against van Gerwen in the first half. I can assure you,

:24:01. > :24:12.he is giving it his all. He has got to take it one leg at a

:24:13. > :24:17.time. Not think about the scoreline, he knows he is a long way behind.

:24:18. > :24:21.One legged at a time, take out a chance if he gets it and move on to

:24:22. > :24:28.the next leg and the one after that and see what happens. Even though

:24:29. > :24:33.Peter Wright does lead the head-to-head, as Jason was saying,

:24:34. > :24:41.he is not got a win over the Thorn for more than a year now. So it

:24:42. > :24:45.would be a significant victory for him, his tenth over Robert Thornton.

:24:46. > :24:53.They are both Premier League players this year. Robert Thornton did not

:24:54. > :25:01.win many games but the one he did was 7-2 against Peter Wright. He has

:25:02. > :25:09.left 170, he needs another, this would wake him up but not quite. He

:25:10. > :25:19.will still go for it to leave tops. Even so he has put a dent in it.

:25:20. > :25:24.Peter Wright... Not far away but far enough for Robert Thornton. He

:25:25. > :25:30.should get at least one dart at a double and it is only going to be

:25:31. > :25:39.one. Double top... And it is a break throw. And Robert Thornton may just

:25:40. > :25:43.be clawing his way back into this. Obviously very important to get the

:25:44. > :25:49.leg on the board but hitting the double with that last dart, the only

:25:50. > :25:50.one in the leg for him, it gives you that bit more confidence in the next

:25:51. > :26:11.time you are in the same situation. Filling it up. You bet! A second

:26:12. > :26:16.maximum for Peter Wright. That will not help Robert Thornton's cause. A

:26:17. > :26:19.scratch of the head. But a good last one. He is behind in the leg

:26:20. > :26:29.already. He has got to be looking at taking

:26:30. > :26:52.this out in three visits if he can. Peter Wright has an opportunity

:26:53. > :26:57.here. He has started throwing a few loose darts, since the break.

:26:58. > :27:04.Sometimes the break can work for you or against you. I am sure he did not

:27:05. > :27:08.want to leave the stage at 7-3. Thornton was looking for another

:27:09. > :27:16.maximum. Even a single 20 would have left him Shanghai. 139 is a bit

:27:17. > :27:20.dodgy. And worth noting, that we play right through to the

:27:21. > :27:26.conclusion. Many big tournaments you will have more breaks in the game

:27:27. > :27:29.where you know you will be able to get another couple of minutes

:27:30. > :27:39.backstage if it is not going your way but you have to perform right

:27:40. > :27:45.now. This is it. Despair from Thornton as you could see. He has

:27:46. > :27:50.still left himself 96. Can he keep his composure? He took out 76 in the

:27:51. > :27:55.last leg. Peter just checking his score. A big visit for Thornton,

:27:56. > :28:08.massive visit. He was looking at the double double

:28:09. > :28:11.finish. Peter Wright has seen the Thorn take at 76 against him but can

:28:12. > :28:24.he take out 72 to return the favour? And he didn't really threaten it.

:28:25. > :28:29.When the first treble went in, I thought he would hit that. Robert

:28:30. > :28:34.starting to shake his head coming years to keep his composure and that

:28:35. > :28:40.was a great second dart. He is back in the match. It has been a bit

:28:41. > :28:42.scrappy. Robert Thornton will not mind that. He's only two legs

:28:43. > :28:56.adrift. It is another 180 four Peter Wright.

:28:57. > :29:01.This one comes on his throw and he knows that if he can hold it three

:29:02. > :29:05.times that will be sufficient to get over the line but it is the

:29:06. > :29:09.finishing that has changed in the last few legs. Robert Thornton has

:29:10. > :29:16.started hitting his doubles and Peter Wright missed that 72. Still

:29:17. > :29:24.quite a bit ahead in this leg having started with the maximum. But a

:29:25. > :29:30.couple of scrappy dart into the big five and the big one. Despite the

:29:31. > :29:31.maximum with the first three, Robert Thornton is there or thereabouts and

:29:32. > :29:42.another miss again. Seems to be rattling through his

:29:43. > :29:46.visits to the board as well, Peter Wright. Playing quicker than he

:29:47. > :29:50.would normally. I'm never sure whether that's a wise move with

:29:51. > :29:54.Peter Wright. Some players it does bring the best out of them. This is

:29:55. > :30:07.certainly do-able, but not this time. Treble 18.

:30:08. > :30:22.If you ever needed a 161, Robert, now's the time. 20 for double top

:30:23. > :30:34.for Peter Wright to go within two legs of victory. And will he

:30:35. > :30:41.continue to miss? No, he won't. Last dart in hand, Peter Wright, 8-5.

:30:42. > :30:45.Service from earlier on in the game resumed. So important for Peter

:30:46. > :30:52.Wright after losing the last two legs. It gave was Robert Thornton

:30:53. > :30:56.that little bit of a lift. If he had of missed that one, he would have

:30:57. > :31:05.had a chance to get within one. That would have preyed on his mind.

:31:06. > :31:15.For a third 180 for Robert Thornton. Into the next door bed. They are

:31:16. > :31:20.playing a lot better in the second-half of this match than his

:31:21. > :31:23.first one. Then it was the other way round. Still some game left in this

:31:24. > :31:40.one. Take this one back to 8-6. He's visually playing a lot better.

:31:41. > :31:46.His average has increased. Peter Wright will be aware of that. That

:31:47. > :31:55.is why that last leg was so crucial. He's got six darts to see this off.

:31:56. > :31:58.So as long as he leaves himself well place he would want a treble. Robert

:31:59. > :32:01.Thornton is not a man who leaves you into any doubt as to what he thought

:32:02. > :32:08.about the darts he's just thrown. Yeah. He's certainly very

:32:09. > :32:12.expressive. He's got a chance again. He's had a few in the match and not

:32:13. > :32:15.taken them. Had a few after the break and taken them. This is

:32:16. > :32:26.another one. To get within two, again. Double four. Peter Wright

:32:27. > :32:29.still has a lot to do with 148. This to slam the door in Robert

:32:30. > :32:46.Thornton's face. Treble 20, treble 20. Oh... , you could see that just

:32:47. > :32:52.deflected off the dart. Double two. Good dart from Robert there. You can

:32:53. > :32:57.see him there growling at the board. We mentioned his determination. He's

:32:58. > :33:11.a fiery competitor. He's giving it everything. He was 6-1 down,

:33:12. > :33:14.remember and 7-2. Just by sheer blooded mindness he appears to have

:33:15. > :33:18.dragged himself back into this. He is still making a few mistakes,

:33:19. > :33:23.which is making him angry because he's knows he has an opportunity

:33:24. > :33:30.here to do a bit more in the match as Peter Wright is looking for

:33:31. > :33:34.another maximum. And maximum it is. Certainly not the shout you want to

:33:35. > :33:40.hear when you're stood behind your opponent. Certainly not when your

:33:41. > :33:43.opponent only needs two more legs for victory. To, basically, end your

:33:44. > :33:51.hopes of going on and winning the Champions League. Ah, Peter Wright.

:33:52. > :33:56.Yeah, that will do. That will do very nicely. I mean, he's on be a

:33:57. > :34:00.theoretical 10-darter. He is not going to go for the bull, even

:34:01. > :34:05.colourful showman Peter Wright, he's not going to go straight for the

:34:06. > :34:15.bullseye. Certainly an excellent two visits from Peter Wright. To put him

:34:16. > :34:20.one leg away. One leg away it is. Robert Thornton has been throwing

:34:21. > :34:31.everything at him. Peter Wright just mansion to keep ahead.

:34:32. > :34:41.A win for Peter Wright here would set up a straight shoot-out for the

:34:42. > :34:52.semi-finals with the World Number One, Michael van Gerwen who h ended

:34:53. > :34:57.his hopes in many a game. Phil Taylor will want to get his game

:34:58. > :34:58.back and also send a message, as Phil Taylor showed tonight against

:34:59. > :35:05.him. That's the beauty of having a Group.

:35:06. > :35:18.Sometimes it can work against you, though.

:35:19. > :35:33.Grim mass again from Thornton. Knows it's almost over. Plenty of room in

:35:34. > :35:38.the bed for Snakebite. Robert Thornton has not had a good 2016 in

:35:39. > :35:43.the big TV tournaments. Not had a great one even on the

:35:44. > :35:50.floor tournaments. Knocked out in round one of the Worlds, the

:35:51. > :35:53.Masters, UK Open, round two in the Matchplay. Peter Wright might be

:35:54. > :35:57.about to end his hopes here, treble 20. It's not there. He will stay in

:35:58. > :36:02.that tight area. He will set it up very nicely. Double eight, for the

:36:03. > :36:06.match, when he returns to the board, Peter 'Snakebite' Wright. Robert

:36:07. > :36:10.Thornton's chances here at the Champions League may be about to be

:36:11. > :36:18.extinguished by Snakebite. Double eight. And double eight it is for

:36:19. > :36:22.Peter Wright. Robert Thornton showed grit and determination in the latter

:36:23. > :36:26.part of the match but Peter Wright was too far ahead and he gets over

:36:27. > :36:31.the line. It will be a straight shoot-out with the World Number One,

:36:32. > :36:34.Michael van Gerwen. For Robert Thornton it wasn't to be. Good to

:36:35. > :36:59.see him playing a bit better. He is very much in it Peter Wright.

:37:00. > :37:09.Robert Thornton played well this afternoon. Tonight it did not happen

:37:10. > :37:12.for him. That was his first win in nine games since 2013. You wonder

:37:13. > :37:21.whether the atmosphere affected Robert Thornton tonight? Well, I

:37:22. > :37:26.think it was a bit flat after the grand show of vanG and Phil Taylor.

:37:27. > :37:30.It felt flat. Maybe it zapped the mood out of the players. It was a

:37:31. > :37:35.scrappy game. Peter Wright will not care about that. He got the job

:37:36. > :37:39.done. That is right. We must applaud the job he did under pressure He

:37:40. > :37:44.lost this afternoon. He wouldn't have been thrilled about how he

:37:45. > :37:48.played. Had he is critical. To get the win and set up the simple

:37:49. > :37:54.equation. He has to win his game. Big ask. No complications a huge

:37:55. > :38:01.knockout. It's a huge ask. It is. He is still in it. You have to be in it

:38:02. > :38:05.to win it. We have seen from a gilts, he will have to bring a

:38:06. > :38:09.better game, Peter Wright. If you had given him this situation

:38:10. > :38:15.yesterday, he would have said - I'll take it. A straight knockout. Let's

:38:16. > :38:19.do it. What impressed you about Peter Wright's performance this

:38:20. > :38:24.evening? His doggedness. It wasn't his best performance. It hasn't been

:38:25. > :38:29.his best day. By summoning inner strength and inner belief he managed

:38:30. > :38:33.to get enough done today so he can have a potentially good Sunday. Be

:38:34. > :38:38.rob ert it's a step up in class to stay in this tournament? I think

:38:39. > :38:42.it's... I don't think he can go through now. The good thing, is he

:38:43. > :38:46.has a lot to play for. He can jump up a spot in the Group and plays

:38:47. > :38:50.Phil Taylor tomorrow afternoon. He can pit his wits against himmed and

:38:51. > :38:55.give him something to go forward with for the rest of the season. He

:38:56. > :38:58.had a flat 2016 and will want to bounce back towards the end of the

:38:59. > :39:03.year and have a strong finish. Let's hear from Peter Wright.

:39:04. > :39:08.Congratulations. He came back at you at the end? Yes. Robert is like a

:39:09. > :39:13.terrier. When he does get his teeth in, he doesn't let go. Lucky enough,

:39:14. > :39:18.he let me off there, to be honest. He should have been well ahead in

:39:19. > :39:22.the match. He missed loads of doubles. I punished it. When you

:39:23. > :39:27.first came out it seemed you were fresh, hadn't played a game earlier?

:39:28. > :39:33.I don't feel too great, to be honest. I had a club sandwich

:39:34. > :39:37.earlier. I don't feel too great out. There I was trying to get off there

:39:38. > :39:43.as quick as possible, to be honest. I'm delaying you. I won't much more.

:39:44. > :39:46.Van Gerwen tomorrow. You don't need me to tell you, 13 in a row since

:39:47. > :39:50.you beat him? Every day is different. I wouldn't be playing the

:39:51. > :39:54.game if I don't think I could beat the man. It should be a good game

:39:55. > :39:58.tomorrow. I feel great. I can get in the shower and have a nice relaxing

:39:59. > :40:05.night ready for him tomorrow. Well done. See you tomorrow. Thank you

:40:06. > :40:13.very much. What a lovely smile to the camera there. This is Group A:

:40:14. > :40:17.What a match that will be for a place in the semi-final. All over

:40:18. > :40:24.for Robert Thornton. Group B: This is how we are looking: Two more

:40:25. > :40:31.matches to be played in that one. What is your moment of the day

:40:32. > :40:36.today? A culmination of moments. Some tournaments you don't get big

:40:37. > :40:42.finishes. We have seen a lot. 122. 161 from Wade. 164, 167. I think the

:40:43. > :40:47.moment really was just the fact that Phil brought his game to van Gerwen.

:40:48. > :40:52.He lit this tournament up. 167, checkout from Phil Taylor. Top of

:40:53. > :40:57.the bill for you? Has to be. It set him on the way to a comprehensive

:40:58. > :41:00.victory. He hassen beaten Michael a lot of late he gave him a good

:41:01. > :41:05.beaten there. That will send out a hes message to the guys in the town.

:41:06. > :41:08.He will look to win this I've enjoyed your tomorrow. Company

:41:09. > :41:13.tonight. Thank you so much. We have more darts to come tomorrow from the

:41:14. > :41:17.Champions League here at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.

:41:18. > :41:23.We shall be back for the afternoon session at 1.00pm on BBC Two. Winner

:41:24. > :41:28.A takes on runner up in B. You know the drill. Then we have finals night

:41:29. > :41:32.starting at 6. 30pm on BBC Two are fo the semi-finals and the final. I

:41:33. > :41:36.hope you enjoyed our coverage here from Cardiff. Thank you very much

:41:37. > :42:03.indeed for watching. From all of us here, goodbye for now.

:42:04. > :42:05.Unparalleled talent, unprecedented access.

:42:06. > :42:09.BBC Two takes a sneaky peek behind the celebrity curtain.

:42:10. > :42:14.Go out there, grab it with both hands and stick it in your mouth.