Day 2: Afternoon session Champions League of Darts 2016

Hello, good afternoon to you, welcome to the 2016 Champions League

of Darts. Tonight, one of the world's top eight players will be

lifting this trophy. We have a truly magnificent day of darts ahead of

us, after a pulsating Saturday here in Cardiff.

We are under way in Cardiff! So Gary Anderson, he has done it.

This would be a killer. This would be a killer treble 17, a killer

bull's-eye! There it is! James Wade! Double 17 is left, wow! 154, that is

going to hurt! Phil Taylor beats Peter Wright 10-5. Michael van

Gerwen is capable of silly darts, just like this!

Both players know that it is basically now a straight knockout.

Two darts for double top... Jackpot! Is first win of the championship so

far. Anderson to finally get over the line. He has got to keep his

composure here. And that will do it. He could have won it a lot, lot

earlier. This is the match we have especially

been looking forward to, this will be for 167 have our Phil Taylor, for

a third break in a row. Oh, yes! This is for an incredible win from

the Power. He will have a double added, double top for a 10-4 win

against Michael van Gerwen, he has done it! Robert Thornton's chances

here in the Champions League may be about to be extinguished by

Snakebite. Double eight, double eight it is for Peter Wright.

What a day it was, let's take a look at the group tables, remember, the

top Gear players from each group go through to the semifinals and final.

-- the top two players. Michael van Gerwen, will be the one, will be the

favourite to take a semifinal spot when they clash later this

afternoon. Let's take a look at Group B, Gary Anderson is top, two

from two, the Flying Scotsman at top speed. Then James Wade and Adrian

Lewis, they know what is at stake. Welcome, welcome, all, I am so

looking forward to doing another terrific day of darts, the Champions

League living up to its name. Outstanding, some of the

performances, certainly from Phil Taylor, that has got to write pretty

high because of the prestige of the tournament, the player he has been

playing, who he has been second best to for some time. He seems to be

enjoying every minute of Cardiff. The Fed off the crowd, taking out

the big shots, going for big shots when he didn't need to. He did a

really good job on Michael last night. Any chance of Michael van

Gerwen going out of this competition? When you first saw the

groups, you would pick them two anywhere, the two biggest names in

the sport. Peter Wright has a tough job, you would not write him off,

but it will be hard. He has lost 13 games to Michael, Peter has, he will

really have to buck the trend. The early exchanges will be massive, but

it is going to be very difficult. The highest tournaments checkout so

far, 167, and many people at the show last night said it was a

pleasure to see Phil in action last night. It was a big feature of the

tournament, the big finishes, 161, 167 there. The crowd was electric. I

love that shot, that smile from Phil says it all. Definitely, he will be

buzzing, he is the only man in the back room who was guaranteed a

semifinal spot. He will not take as I off the job this afternoon, but he

will fancy himself to win the title. -- his eye. Enjoy this afternoon

with us, this is what is coming up. James Wade takes on Michael Smith,

The Machine. Gary Anderson, world champion, takes on Adrian Lewis, who

really needs a win. Can Phil Taylor power through his match with Robert

Thornton to seal three from three? And the showdown for a semifinal

spot, Michael van Gerwen takes on Peter Wright. That is undoubtedly

the pick of the matches, given where we are in the tournament so far, but

when you look at James Wade against Michael Smith, James knows what is

at stake. We started the tournament so well but faded late on. He didn't

play as well in the second game, the first was outstanding, but this is

what a group throws up, when you get through to the last game, anybody

can get through. Big afternoon for Adrian Lewis, because these boys

know if it is defeat, it is all over. Adrian is in a tricky

position, if James wins the first game, he may feel he has to be

carried by six or seven legs. Have you been up all night with the

permutations? There are a couple of hunting is in there. It is a

complicated group! Michael Smith as the task of beating James Wade 10-4

to give an survey chance, no guarantees, even if he does. Good

man, this boy has done his homework! Caroline Barker, bloody thing, is on

the quay alongside Paul Nicholson, good afternoon to you both. -- lucky

thing, is on the oche. Let's show you what it is going to

be liked a bit later, because if there is someone they love to hate,

it is the man in the glasses, this is your get up, isn't it? They are

already booing! Let's take you close, give us a bit more! I know

you love to feed off this. I do indeed, in the early part of my

career, I thought it was the catalyst for my success, and I have

calmed down a little bit over the years, but some things you cannot

change. We love him, don't we? Yeah! They love a bit of pantomime too.

When the players are walking up in a few moments' time, we have got the

crowd booing and hissing, some will feed on that, some will try to zone

it out. Some guys have really got to take the atmosphere onto the stage,

because we have got some tired players, they have played a lot

recently, they need to use the adrenaline to get them through what

could be a very long day. You do need to smile, because people do

feed off that as well, smiles go along way, and I was saying that to

Gary Anderson yesterday. The atmosphere will hopefully carry the

players to glory later. What is it about the glasses? Having to see

myself back is intimidating? It used to be a with the Matrix, but it was

a thing to help me focus walking on the stage, it worked really well.

But people thought I was trying to shut them out, that is why I got the

bad boy type. We are going to make you step up to the oche, let's see

if he can handle it. You can do better than that BOOING

Here he goes, stepping up to the oche!

He is not bad for a part timer, is it? You were brilliant down there,

the rest of you, work on it, you have to intimidate them when they

come up. Jason, I know why you can't handle it!

Our first match this afternoon is James Wade taking on Michael Smith,

and James Wade, obviously, needs a win today, and he needs to catch a

big one. My name is James Wade, and my nickname is The Machine. I am

happy, happy, happy, happy. A lot of the time, I cannot switch off, and I

can actually come here and switch off, which I don't understand how

that works, but it does work. It is very frustrating, the game of darts,

because it comes natural one day, and another day can be like me going

fishing. Over there, do you reckon? Yeah. It is stuck on the tree!

I am always with James, supporting him, just looking after him, really.

He cannot be trusted on his own. He wouldn't even get out of bed

probably. No! I was his walk on girl for the PDC, and at one of the

Premier League yeah in Nottingham, we were chatting backstage, and

after, you won the game, didn't you? You seemed happy, so you can't have

lost. I am a good loser, aren't I? Oh, yeah! There was a little

fishbowl window, he was knocking on it, and I waved back. He was trying

to be funny. I thought that was funny. He asked for my number, we

were chatting for like a week, and then we met up at the following

Premier League, and within four days I had got all my stuff and moves

down with James. Winner. See? She is a winner. I love it when he gets a

finish, and sometimes it might be a dad has gone past, the alarm goes

past, he jumps out of his little bed. -- duck. That is it. It is as

exciting as that. We used to play darts in the kitchen, we used to

hang it up above the back door. Grandad used to complain all the

time. The first tournament darts match I can recall, I think it was

Paul Williams, I remember watching it, thinking, how good is it? It is

amazing that he can do that. I would watch a bit and then go and practice

on the board, watch a bit more, throw again, and it amazed me how

good he was. All the gadgets, no idea, that is what they say. You

have even got your name on the thing. Terrible, innit? They are

just cheap stickers off the internet. I approached every match

the same, you know, just try and win. To succeed, it is like to try

and prove a point to myself, prove that I am good enough, and you

cannot beat the feeling of winning. You could have all the money in the

world, you cannot buy that feeling. Usual success, weed! Hopefully have

more luck in Cardiff, my fishing is not very good at all.

The prize at stake is a place in the semifinals, a pretty simple

equation, we have done the maths, and if James wins, years through.

That is what he will be concentrating on, just winning. If

he focuses on the legs, it can have a negative effect. All the has to

think about is winning. What have you made of his performances so far?

The first one was top-notch, seven legs on the trot to beat Adrian

10-3. He was a bit flat last night, Mr Lott of doubles, wayward, not

like James, but he will not dwell on that. I expect him to beat Michael

today. When you look at Michael Smith today, you have done the

maths, there is an opportunity for him, but it is a tall order. It is

an outside chance, but it can still be done. He has to win by six legs,

and that puts him in a good position, and then it depends on

what happens in the second one. When you look at some of the checkouts

that James Wade finished with yesterday, absolutely incredible

stuff, a tall order for Michael Smith. This 161 finish at a killer

time, it really killed the game, a double break, 7-3. If he does that

to Michael today, it is going to be tough for him. This was the second

match, 164 checkout, the highest tournament check out until he was

overtaken by Phil Taylor's 167. Absolutely, always good to see, but

Michael has always struggled this year, and it has carried on in this

tournament. The big question is, we know he is capable, we have seen how

impressive he was in patches yesterday - as he got enough to seal

a semifinal place and possibly go on to make the final? On his game,

Michael Smith has definitely got it, but he has to be a bit more

convicted to get back into it. I think James is going to do a job on

him. He has looked a bit tense, he is in a bad run of form, but I

expect James to do the job on him. Michael, is Michael Smith out of it?

He is not out of it, but it is a very big order. OK, thank you very

much indeed, the players are on standby, let's join our MC, John

MacDonald. Hello and a very warm welcome, you join us live in the

great city of Cardiff! Welcome to day two of the Unibet Champions

League of Darts brought to you by the Professional Darts Corporation,

and a very warm welcome to the viewers joining us across the BBC!

Now it is time, ladies and gentlemen, to meet our players.

Would you please welcome the former world youth champion, the Bully Boy!

Michael Smith! MUSIC: "Shut Up And Dance"

by Walk The Moon And now, ladies and gentlemen, the

winner of seven major titles, time to meet the Machine!

MUSIC: "The Boys Are Back In Town" by Thin Lizzy

So here we go, the Champions League of Darts about to get under way,

standby for some terrific action this afternoon and right through

tonight with us and BBC Two. Remember, if James Wade, he is

through good afternoon to Vassos Alexander and Paul Nicholson.

There are all sorts of permutations in Group B, but if James Wade wins,

he is definitely through, and if Michael Smith has any chance of

playing again tonight, he must win 10-4 or better, and he then has to

hope Gary Anderson beat Adrian Lewis. Smith was first in this

morning, he has been hitting the practice boards hard, trying

desperately to find a bit of form. He has not brought is A game to

Cardiff so poor, that is for sure, but that is the wonderful thing

about this group format. Apparently he was disgusted with itself last

night, but he can still win the tournament, as can James Wade, who

was brilliant in the afternoon, less so in the evening session, when he

lost to Anderson. It is the first tee at ten, then. The first leg is

James to throw first, game on! And no room for error, not any more, not

for these two, James Wade has the darts. What do you reckon? It is

cut-throat darts today, Vassos, the guys know what they have to do, and

when it comes to the group format, if they do not know the permutations

before they go on stage, I think that is a mistake. I have been in

that situation myself, where I say, I just want to go up and play my

best. The lesson I learned was I really should have known. These guys

will know, because they have got that experience, but when they are

playing something that they are more familiar with, cut-throat, knockout

style darts, this should bring out the best. Michael Smith knows he has

to win 10-4 or better. All of a sudden, if he is leading 9-5, he has

kind of lost! We will probably see a difference in

the body language at that point. Right now he still has a towns, his

shoulders are up, it is early in the game, let's put our stamp on it. If

James Wade goes far in front, you might see the shoulders dropped and

the eyes roll from Michael Smith. I hope that is not the case. Because

Michael Smith is capable of beating James Wade by a big margin if he

brings is A game, but James Wade has brought a better game is so far this

weekend. They have played seven times before, Wade has won five of

them. Wade on a finish first in this first leg.

Smith would have wanted to try to get the jump on James Wade in his

opening leg, but it is not going to happen, because James Wade does not

miss double ten very often! 62 checkout, the majority of people

will go for treble 10 and double 16. James Wade is so prolific and double

top and double ten that he always finds a way to leave those corners

of the board for himself. A little bit more pressure now on Michael

Smith, then, he can only afford to lose three more legs if he is to get

through to the semifinals. Would he take a good performance and any old

win after yesterday? Maybe. I think so. Yesterday definitely did not go

to plan, psychologically, talentWeiss, he did not hit and of

big scores, and that is his game. When he hits big scores, double top,

he is so dangerous. But it has not happened. As much as he wants to win

this tournament, there is another big tournament next week at the

world, World Grand Prix. He will have to find something to lift his

game, or he may find that the bad form is infectious for the rest of

the season. I mentioned he was in early practising this morning, how

hard is it to force yourself into a bit of form on the practice board?

It is extremely difficult, because your mental state from yesterday,

you have to try and fix that first. Michael is not the kind of guy who

likes to meditate, but James Wade... 164 yesterday. I think we will see

170 today, I really do. Bull's-eye for tops stallholders throw, yes, he

did it. -- to hold his throw. Blink and you will miss it darts from

Bully Boy, and it is a harder route, because the bull's-eye is a lot

smaller than the double 18. It goes to show, there have been some good

darts but a few too many loose darts, like that five on his first

visit. Very good hold of throw for Michael

Smith. What he has got to do now, aside from eliminating those 5s,

which he has had on the first two throws in this game, he needs to

break the wade Thoreau, and typically that is not an easy thing

to do. -- Wade Thoreau... This finish would equalise the highest of

the tournament so far, which was Phil Taylor against Michael van

Gerwen last night. It was really funny, Vassos, Phil Taylor, when we

told him about the 167 in the studio, he thought there may have

been a ?1000 bonus for it. I don't think the PDC have done that for 20

years, but he still looks out for it!

Very loose darts, all three of them. He has left a finish, but James Wade

will be favourites to hold his throw, double top, which he loves,

and that is why. Well, a couple of clinical aspects to this game so

far, the doubles have been pretty handy and hold of throw have been

handy, 100%. Yeah, two out of two for James Wade, one out of one for

Michael Smith. You would think that at this point in the tournament, and

the season, that aspects like that will be sharp. They have had a lot

of darts under their belt in the last four weeks after Michael had a

bit of a break in August, James not so, he was in Australia doing World

Series darts. But these guys have played over the last two and a half

weeks, a lot on the European tour, and at Barnsley earlier this week.

How much is too much, do you think? I think we might find out later

tonight, all later this afternoon with Michael van Gerwen, because a

lot of these guys have played a lot recently. It is like the golf

circuit, you do not see them go for more than three weeks in a row,

because it is too much - you need to rest your head, reset your machine.

After this, you need to get some good quality rest leading into next

week and the Grand Prix. But the circuit is such that it is hard to

get a rest. In between games, you have got to do that very

effectively. Another thing you have got to take

into consideration is jet lag - some of these guys do a lot of

travelling, and speaking to Gary Anderson this morning, he said that

he has never slept so poorly because of the amount he is travelling, and

there is a guy who could sleep on a bed of needles. 50 when he comes

back, Michael Smith. And not much pressure, then, to

level this match at 2-2. Tops for Michael Smith, double ten, no. Those

are the mistakes he was making yesterday, and you get the feeling

it is creeping into his game a bit more, not an encouraging sign for

Michael, but he will feel a lot better if he can come back and just

hit this double ten first start. If he is to make the summer finals,

remember, he must win 10-4 and better. And then hope Gary Anderson

does him a favour later. Still in with a chance. Well, we have seen it

in sport a lot, haven't we? People coming back from the brink, people

just making the cut and then winning the tournament. Something I like to

call the Paul Lawrie effect. He came from, what, ten back in 1999 in

Carnoustie at the Open? Remembered as much for John Vandevelde as it is

for Paul Lawrie. We made a joke yesterday about the Claret Jug that

the engraver had already carved Jean van der Lawrie! James Wade has been

at the brink in a major final before, in the Grand Slam, he was

way in front and ended up losing to Scott Waites. It is one of those

games, when you get a game like Michael's, you can put pressure on

your opponent and do magical things. Well, that will help, a chance to

break the Wade throw! Here we go, then. Oh, unlucky! I am not sure

which wire it hit, it doesn't really matter now, he will only come back

for that 50th James Wade misses 160. And tops... He will have fancied

that when the two 60! -- when the two 60s went in. A picture can tell

a thousand words. Double ten will tell James Wade he is 3-2 in front.

And he is. That was a huge chance for Michael to try and give himself

the opportunity to push forward and potentially win this game, but now

he has to win every lead by one if he is going to have any hope at all.

-- leg. 180! They all love the darts, and

they love a bit of that, they love a maximum! There was a lot of standing

up if you love the darts last night, what an atmosphere we had. It is

tense today because people are going to be eliminated on this Sunday. Who

will it be? Well, if I am not mistaken, that helmet he is wearing

is from Thor. Hammering darts from Michael Smith! Very Bully Boy type,

with the two horns. His second of the match. Still 95 behind.

A narrow miss from Wady. Smithy does have to hit this 160.

There have been a few fives creeping in the game. But that is what James

wants right now. He wants a fivement now he wants a double ten.

Double 16 he is left. Doesn't hang about, does he.

He would ordinarily go ten tops. Wanted to try something different. I

commend him for doing that, this double two, or this double one, this

gudge means that Michael Smith has to win every leg in this match and

he still has to pray He is on the brink Michael

Smith, he has to win eight legs in a row and it is still no guarantee, he

has to hope that Gary Anderson beats Adrian Lewis. First break of throw

of the match and Wade leads 4-2. He might want to play a bit faster.

Nothing is upsetting James right now.

Yes. Paul Easton sills are getting a Tasering right now.

We will see a lot more 180 today than we did yesterday. The guys are

in the groove. They know the at moss feerk they know what is at stake. --

atmosphere. How much of a bite can he take out of 190. Good last dart.

Another one of those would be handy. Double 16 would be very handy.

To consign Michael Smith... Going to be the bull's-eye. Got to be. Or

maybe double 15. That could be the writing on the

wall for bullyboy. You never see James Wade in this corner of the

board. That is good enough, Michael Smith now has been eliminated.

We now know that Michael Smith will not be one of our semifinalists.

James Wade will be, if he win, if he wins five more legs.

It is an interesting mentally fors in m he knows he won't be going

forward into the semifinals. But what he really needs to do is

just take a deep breath, accept the situation, relax and play well. Can

he just start enjoying himself now? Frankly, he is a darts player, he

loves playing if front of big audience, he has a terrestrial TV

audience, this is what it is all about, and there is no score board

pressurety more. No, there isn't, that is what I would do. But, the

person Michael is s wanting to win as much money as possible and as

many title, he will be in a bad place right now. What he needs do is

suck all of this up and say you know what, why don't we just play darts

now, this is what I do for a living. Showcase myself over the next seven

or eight legs. Bull's-eye.

On the flip side James Wade will want to make Michael Smith as

miserable as possible. There is another thing Michael Smith

could do. How about a few trick shots? There is no reason he

shouldn't. Show us what you can do Smithy.

Double ten. For a 6-2 lead. Another dart at it. Doesn't misthat very

often. Didn't miss it there. -- miss that.

It looks like we will see James Wade again, in think evening's

semifinals. Still has four legs to win, mind you.

That is a very business like performance from James. Our

co-commentator Dan was talking about it yesterday, very business like

dart player. Nothing flashy about him. He does everything the same.

Average 85, he will do a bit for than you. Enough is enough with him.

Unlike what we often see with Michael van Gerwen who is striving

for the perfect leg, the perfect match. James Wade knows a win is a

win. Sometimes if Michael van Gerwen was a bit more James Wade-like he

would put less stress on himself, because he strifes for that

perfection in every game. We know for a fact that Michael would have

Bruno N'Gotty rest last night. Had a minor setback, we will know today is

a different day. But you are right. If he wins 6-is

in an event, he will have wanted to win 6-0. We saw that earlier in the

week. He is just that kind of player.

Yes. Phantom of the oche. So, will he Saturday with a

bull's-eye? Treble 20, for a bull's-eye, no he has hit one.

I can guarantee James Wade is going for treble 19 here.

12. Double 13, because he hit the treble.

Go on Michael. Two double 13s. Tops it is. Tops it isn't! Well

interesting to see where James goes here double four. For 7-2.

7-2 it is S this is all goes James Wade's way. He won seven legs in a

row this time yesterday, to win 10-3. Can he go one better from two

all and win eight in a row? There will be a break after this leg.

Chance for Michael Smith to get his head together backstage.

Not a bad way to start the leg. James Wade. Maximum number three of

this match. Number Ten for him of this tournament. Now, another one

would get this place jumping. Quite a few years ago when James was

started to get a foot hold in the Professional Darts Corporation

circuit, he hit multiple nine darters in a season. For a wile he

was called 009. Not The Machine I think the machine is have been apt

for him. 009, that is a cool nickname. Maybe somebody else can

take it in the future. It is up for grabs, all you have to do is back it

up with the nine darters. Small task!

They are good darts from Michael. They really are, they are just not

falling in for him. Small margins and small misses. He has hit this

twice, you know. Not this time. So to stay alive in

this leg, double 16, two darts at it. Double eight. Yes.

Doesn't seem to enjoy it very much but he knows he is out already and

James Wade is on the brink already. Wade leads Smith 7-3.

James Wade said after his defeat against Gary Anderson he was

unhappy, he had to put it behind him. He said the talk was cheap but

hopefully the right James Wade can come out on Sunday afternoon and

edge a little closer to a semifinal spot. That is want we have got. What

we have got is James Wade looking to try and get into the groove, to not

only book place in the semifinal but make a final. What is your

assessment. From Michaels of point of view it look like he is desperate

for a win. He is finding it hard up there, and one thing we were talking

about during the break, was, it leaves double top. In one of the

legs he went for double 16 which is unusual. It shows he is playing mind

games with himself. What is different for James? He has been

regimental, the The Machine, he took advantage of Michael Smith, he knows

the equakes win and I am through, he has done a professional job, he will

close the game out for sure. When you look at the way James is hitting

the board, are you looking at a James who could do some damage in

this tournament? He is capable of doing that, yesterday he had the

saint equation, he played well in the afternoon and not well at night.

He will hope to get through and secondly, put that right.

How will he prepare for the semifinal? He will relax, if the

semifinal, if Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor, they won't talk Miguel

Jiminez, he will blend in, he knows he can beat them, he will fancy his

chances. It is dose pointing for Michael Smith. It is, but it has

been a culmination of the year, he has struggled. He has got himself in

the top eight, which is hard to do and since then he has got in the

Premier League, which is obviously hard match, played in the Premier

League, you are under pressure every week, it has taken its toll, he is

such a good player, he is still young, he still has a long time in

the game, but at the moment, you really fear for him. We have looked

at the body language of all the players, and when you look at the

way that Michael is going to get his dart, he looks really really upset

and dejected about the way he has played. He has the body language of

a skeleton. I sympathise. It is not happening for him. There is no

conviction with double, he is playing games with hymn. He doesn't

know which way to go. He is having a hard time. He has to keep playing

and hopefully come out the other en. Playing for pride mow. He will play

for pride, he will get a win and move on. Michael Smith needed to win

10-4 or better to overtake James Wade. Look at him. Him. Really

dejected. He had to hope that Gary Anderson defeats lose louse later.

James Wade all he had to do was win and he is through. Back to the boys.

And he is son his way, isn't he, he is on his way, 7 listen 3 he leads.

Three legs away from the semifinals. What we can tell you is that Michael

Smith decided no got backstage, decided not have a break, he stayed

up on the oche, he was throwing darts left handed, looking as

miserable as anything to be He lock like someone who has stolen

his Christmas presents. But like I said to you, he can throw

a decent dart left handed. I wouldn't be the catted for him to do

that right now, that would be taking it too far. Advocate. Is you need to

realise where you are and what you are doing, and a the moment Michael

Smith just looks like he doesn't want to be here, and think this is

where the big deep breath comes in, and just find that happy place, and

the happy place is right there. The happy place is the red bet. The

lipstick, the haddy -- happy place is 180 number five of this match.

He his average nudges just above 90 with that, but nothing like the

darts he is capable of. Think Alan said it very well in the

studio, that when you get yourself into the position where you are top

eight in the world and you have add multiple event victories on the

circuit, it is even harder to maintain that. That is what makes

what James Wade has done even more remarkable. That would have been

remarkable, I still think we will get one, I have faith.

We haven't been closer than that, double 19 for James Wade.

And it is an 8-3 lead. You can see what he is getting

annoyed about. The first dart hits the treble 20. The second is a bit

low, third dart is in there. It is the smallest little mistake he is

getting annoyed with. He has to make peace with the game of darts. He

can't hit 180 all the time. But Michael Smith can hit a lot of

them a lot of the time. Just in the last leg-and-a-half, he

has just started finding a bit of rhythm. He needs to hang on to that.

Way ahead in this one. 81 left after nine darts is the equivalent of

hitting three 140 scores and that is where he wants to be all the time.

That is not possible. Unless you are a robot. Which Michael van Gerwen

has said people aren't. Last night in an interview.

But this is almost the weird finishof the weekend.

Can he do it again? He has done it twice. So treble 17. Just the wrong

side. But the treble 19 is there.

And the touch is is there for Smith. He will wonder to himself the little

voices in the back Can But the treble 19 is there.

And the touch is is there for Smith. He will wonder to himself the little

voices in the back of your brain saying "Where have you been? " But,

I think the one thing I would say to Michael is you are not playing bad

young man but James Wade, very good signs for The Machine. He will no

know he has two legs to win. Against a potentially very dangerous

point. If he can relax and play his best darts how about this from James

Wade, that is four, that is five. Just too low with the sixth.

I was say earlier that James Wade has been part of the top ten in the

world, for what seems like forever. That is an achievement, that needs

to be applauded. There are not many stars in sport, period. That can

stay in the top ten in any sport for a period of a decade, that is

remarkable. Especially a port which is so heavily reliant on a strong

mind. There have been people saying James has been very emotionally

possibly unstable, but I think as a dart player she as strong as they

get in mind. Missed. So he has to go 12 dart, rather than 11, but that

doesn't make any difference at all and he is a leg away, a 12 dart leg

from James Wade. It doesn't. It is such a comical thing to say, one

dart at, is doubles for anyone else. It looks that big to him.

Is thises in Mees last leg? -- is this Michael Smith's last leg in

Cardiff? Perhaps not. James Wade will want that to be the

case. And because you are going to follow him. Yes, he is. Sammy enjoys

that. It look like she will be back

supporting James tonight. This is a great time to play because

you have the maximum rest before tonight's frolic, and dramas.

Get the feeling if Michael doesn't hit this he might not come back. 16.

The bull. Hits the bull. What a lovely shot from bullyboy.

And a little taste of want he can do.

-- what he can do. Here we go again.

Here we go again, James Wade. Here we go again Michael Smith

possibly. This game has warmed up all of a

sudden Vassos. Can we go first to 20 please? Have a word Ly with the

tournament director, that is Mr Graham Fairhurst.

I am certain his answer will be not today, thank you.

14 180s. All of a sudden, James Wade's average has crept north of

102. And they are all perfect darts as

well. 41 points when he comes back for a place in the semifinals. Do

you think he wants to win this? There was a come on there and that

is something you never see from James Wade on a 180. Angry last dart

from Michael Smith. It will be his final dart of the weekend. James

Wade wraps up a might Tim presieve 10-5 victory. He knew he had to win,

he did win. He is through to the semifinal.

James Wade is through to the semifinals of the Champions League,

his good run over Michael Smith continue, he has won the last four

meetings, including the most recent before today, here in Cardiff at a

European tour event in Germany, that was earlier this month, that

finished 6-5. James Wade we are hoping is on his way to studio to

talk to us up here, and I will want to know, I am sure our viewers will

want to know, what he said there to Michael Smith. Maybe a few words of

encouragement. It has not gone Michael's way at all. He will have

told him to keep his chin up. When I was on a bad run and he beat me 8-1,

he was sympathetic. You can't be too sympathetic though. There was a bit

of a come on there as well from James, right at the very end. He

wants to win this tournament Of course, we talk about his double and

finishing but he is scoring brilliant. He locks the finish

article. He will be the dark horse but he will like that, blend in and

he could win this competition. So what does he do now, this is the

tricky part, this is the magic of the tournament, in so far as he has

booked his place in the semifinal, now he, what does he do, does he go

hotel, does he hit the board? I know James, What would you do? I would

chill out, might have a few dart, I don't think James will, he will

chill out, he has his wife Sammy with him, they will chill out and he

will look for the schedule of play tonight and prepare as needs to. ?

We can confidently say that James Wade is through to the semifinals,

what we can't tell you is who he is going to play but we can predict.

When we look the boards here, it is going to be somebody like Michael

van Gerwen, we think, because there is a good chance he will beat Peter

Wright and Phil Taylor will be at the top. His group is up in the air.

If Adrian beats Gary, James can finish top. So he would play Peter

or Michael. If he finishes sec it will be Phil. He has beaten these

players before, he will prepare as needed. But his numbers are good and

when you look at the way he scored in that match a few moments ago, do

you think he is in the same sort of groove and the same sort of class as

we saw with Phil last night? You would have to say no, Phil was an

exception last night. James isn't far off. The good things the

finishes round the 161s he has been taking out. He won't be worried. If

he has left a shot he will have a pop. In you come James,

congratulations, to you. I was asking Mark, what are you going to

do now? The way this tournament is set up now you have a gap, what will

you do? Practise I think, there is no right or wrong way do things.

Everyone does it differently. Differently. It is hard. I am

fortunate I played Michael Smith when he is not playing well and I

got away with it. What it is like out there, how you feeling? It is

brilliant. You know. It is a step back in time. I started off in the

BDO, when the BBC covered it, and almost feels like being at home. In

your post match inter-Jew you said you were disappointed with your

performance yesterday because you got off to such a great start if

your first match. Did you sleep well last night, did you think I need to

get out firing? No, I didn't sleep well. If a dart player is a good

loser they are a bad win e any dart player that loses you know, they are

distraught. If you can't be distraught you don't want it enough.

Absolutely. As Mark knows. I am a good loser. You seem down after that

first round. How have you picked yourself up you are ready for the

seems Probably gave myself a kick up the backside. It is no more

complicated than that, I know at times, I can be a good player and

probably at times one of the best in the world and for me sometimes to

lose to players that I lose to, when they are not playing well, it hurt,

you know, as I say, if it doesn't hurt then that will be day when I

throw them in the canal and I walk off and do what I do Could we just

asked you what did you say to Michael? It has not gone his way,

what did you say to him? I will be honest, I could disclose but I am

not going to, as Mark will tell you, Mark was a lovely lad, he is not

going through the best stage at the moment, thankful for players like

me, when he is playing well he is phenomenal and touch, you know that

Mark Mark, more than most people. He is phenomenal. But what I said to

him up there is between me and him. It was a compliment. I understand

that. It is all good stuff. I think people at home would be interested.

You gave him a few words of encoun. In way. I have been there an done it

and what he is doing now isn't what Michael Smith can do. Michael Smith

can get out of bed, walk on to a practise board, within five minutes

average 110. As much as I was happy to win I didn't play Michael Smith.

Talking about everybody goes on about you being a great finisher,

you must be pleased with your scoring, you have been hitting 180s.

I have to, I have to try and hang on the coat tails. The scoring, in

dart, they are phenomenal, and you know, perhaps I am not old hat but I

am not good enough with my scoring, the last probably year, I have

started to get in touch with those players again that are scoring

phenomenally, and I, trying to keep up with them. My finishing has been

in my opinion good enough, if not better than anyone else in the

world, but you have to get there. 15 180s, you look that the board over

there, it has the numbers on, and we have you done as the first nine 140.

Not bad numbers. A few slips! I try as hard as I can. I played a weak

Michael Smith, and I made the most of it. You have a choice of three,

you don't get to choose though! But we have Phil Taylor who is top of

the group in the other standings, we have Peter Wright. Michael van

Gerwen, that is a straight shoot out for a semifinal. Which one of those

three in an ideal world, who do you want to play? Good luck to them, I

hope they have a real hard game and I couldn't care who I play. Can I

say this is not a Politics Show, you are allowed to answer questions.

Honestly, I am as straight as they come, and I am very honest, I don't

care who I play, you have the very very very best, the most elite

players in the world here, you have not got an easy one. I love playing

all of them, because whenever you play one of the best in the world,

you have to play very well. If you don't, you are going home. Will you

watch them later? I did say you wouldn't. I said you wouldn't

practise either. He wants to watch you in action on television. He has

done a very good job. I want to sound good on TV. I will do my own

thing, I do something different to everyone else, but you know, I let

those get on with it. I let them fight it out, and, they can try as

hard as they want. I am ready. Can I ask you, enjoying Cardiff? It is

amazing. You know, as I say one of the Premier Leagues but you know

their interaction with the became is brilliant. But what I have noticed

at this particular venue is they are being so, so, they are in such good

order, they are not calling out when you are throwing for doubles. It is

brilliant. A breath of fresh air. Thank you.

Freshing honesty from a sportsman. Right, OK, this is aest is a sorry

that will warm your heart if you are looking to got involved in dart,

this is Beau Greves and destined for great things. It is an exciting time

for darts. Standards are higher than ever. Double 12 for Michael van

Gerwen. My name is Dita. I have seen the game grow in popularity an

inspire a new generation one particular story that caught my eye

is that of an outstanding young player, from Doncaster, her name is

Beau Greves. We were complacent about Beau being good at darts but

my husband took her to his local pub, she began to play different

teams and she proved her worth. Obviously this year she went on to

win the European Championship youngest girl ever at 12. The first

time she entered it for England. Amazing, very very proud of her.

How does a ten-year-old find herself getting into darts? I would watch

Taylor, took a set of darts, then just started playing. I played a lot

of men before I played a woman. Not many women play in the league. When

I went into the pub to play, lots of men didn't want to play to me,

because there is that stigma, they don't want to lose. Recently you met

one of the best players, Michael van Gerwen. What was that like? Very

nice to talk to he knows a lot about darts, gave me a lot of advice. I

had less problems the other day! If you keep playing as well, you can

join the men's. You need to make it step-by-step. At that age, I was a

little bit the opposite of her, I was probably the most arrogant youth

player in the world, I was really bad. You need to believe in yourself

that you want to go to the top. He has done it! She enjoys playing

senior level, she has just recently beaten Trina Gulliver, the former

champion, which was amazing. She graciously held her hand up and

said, future world champion. But Beau is not fazed by any of this,

she just wants to play darts and focus on winning. If you have one

wish, what would it be? I would like to win the world Masters event, and

then I would like, later on, to win at Lakeside, which would be really

good. If you keep going, I have no doubt that you will win it. Until

then, we will wait and see! What a terrific story, and for all

you butting darts fans, you can hear more inspirational stew is doing the

BBC women in sport week in October. -- inspirational stories. Head to

the website if you want to take up darts. Chaps, post-Olympics, that

website is probably taking a right hammering, because there are so many

people who have watched the various sports at the Olympics, be it water

polo, archery, sports they have never seen before, and they have

taken it up. If you have got any advice for young viewers who want to

take up darts, who have been thrilled by what we have seen, what

would you say to them? The first thing is enjoy it, you would say

that with any youth player, but there are so many have a news now,

we have got the JDC up to the age of 18, the development tour, up to the

age of 23, so all these merit tables, giving you a chance to move

up to the next level. But the most important thing is to enjoy it. Very

well said. When you look at the popularity of sports right across

Great Britain, we know how popular rugby union is, cricket and

football, but no reason why any young darts player would go to one

of the many academies that is springing up. There is so much

access to top players, if you want to ask for advice, tournaments

everywhere. You have got to enjoy it, the young players, but have a go

in competitions. If it doesn't work out, keep going, keep practising. It

is a bright future for the sport. Good luck to Beau Greaves, great

story. We will turn our attention to the next match, we are really

looking forward to the next one, Gary Anderson taking on Adrian

Lewis. 216 Adriaan takes every game as it

stands, we mentioned it earlier in the tournament, so laid back, one of

the jokers in the pack. He wants to beat everyone. If he loses, he will

shake hands and move onto the next one. A tall order for Lewis today.

He will fancy it, he is so confident, if he needs to win 10-2,

he will think he can do it, he can reel off the legs, he is a massive

score, but he has to get out and get a lead early doors. Gary Anderson

only needs four legs, so similar to the situation Wade was in, he knows

what he has to do. They will know that before going on, but he needs

to concentrate on the game, you need that thought process when you go

into the game with groups. If you let those differences get on the

back of your mind, it can have an effect on the match. Let's take a

look at the table as it stands. James Wade has gone top of the

group, and it is still all to play for for Lewis and Anderson, Mark.

Gary will want to top the group by winning the match. But like I said,

Adrian will believe he can overcome this deficit. It is going to be

tough, but he will have a good go. Looking at the other group, you do

not know who you are going to play as the runner-up, anything can

happen. We talked about this yesterday, you have been impressed

by the way Gary Anderson has come into this tournament, four weeks

off, he has been on holiday, he has not played much darts, but he seems

to be driving off the energy of the crowd. A very natural player, not a

big practice, even if he sat down for eight weeks, it wouldn't be a

problem. No signs of rustiness. Not at all, great few years, the break

was needed, certainly with the World Series coming around Australia and

New Zealand, and now he is back into the thick of it with a lot of donors

coming up. Second match of today's coverage on BBC Two of the Champions

League up darts, great crowd, noisy crowd, here is John McDonnell. Thank

you very much, welcome back to the Unibet Champions League of Darts, it

is time to meet the players. From Stoke-on-Trent, England, the format

two time back-to-back champion of the world, Jackpot! Adrian Lewis!

And now, ladies and gentlemen, here he is, the reigning two time

back-to-back champion of the world, the Flying Scotsman!

MUSIC: "Jump Around" by House of Pain

So let's join our commentary team, Paul Nicholson and Pat Dawson.

Two back-to-back world champions on stage in the Champions League of

Darts looking to settle things in Group B, Gary Anderson, two wins out

of two so far, at the top of the group, but not completely safe. He

knows that four legs against Adrian Lewis is enough to see through. As

Adrian Lewis knows, he has to win and win big, and that is a very,

very tall order against a man who was won the last two World

Championship titles. These two met in the most recent World

Championship final. In fact, they have both been in the final three

times over the last six years, more than anybody else. They can turn it

on on the biggest stages of all, and Jackpot knows he has got to turn it

on right now or his campaign will be coming to an end. Ladies and

gentlemen, first leg, Gary to throw first, game on! Yes, a rematch of

the World Championship final. Not as long a format, and the thing that

goes through my head when we have got the scenario that we are going

through right now is, Gary Anderson has got to win a few legs off Adrian

Lewis, and that is never an easy thing to do, first and foremost.

They have had matches where someone has dominated, vice versa, Gary

Juanmi, Adrian another. It is a strange situation to be in. -- Gary

one way. In a funny sort of way, you would rather the Adrian, because I

just think you have to win every leg! There is no such thing as

defending in darts, it is not like you can take the darts in the corner

and just wait it out until the referee calls time. You just have to

stand there, swing at each other, and try to hit the other guy harder

than he has hit you. Interesting concept, maybe we can have a Total

Wipe-out ever and where we have obstacles! I am not sure we need any

of that. That is a decent setup shot from Lewis, Anderson once

bull's-eye. -- wants. Jansenist to the Scotsman.

13, double can possibly? Nine, double 12 it is. Double six. What am

I thinking? Double 12 is the Gary Anderson double. Will it be kind to

Adrian Lewis? He had a few misses yesterday. Could this be a sign of

thing to come with the tension that is building? One, double one. The

world champion unable to take it out, yet another chance for Jackpot,

right on the wire. And just like that! Yes, folks, the best players

in the world are human. We have got two of the most repetitive throwing

players in the world here with Lewis and Anderson, but even they get a

little bit jittery going onto the stage.

When you cannot afford to lose any more than three legs, missing seven

darts in the opening leg is not a solid game plan. Lewis has got that

first leg, it is a break of the row, so ultimately it has gone as well as

he could have hoped. Not the explosive start that he would have

wanted, the start he came up with when he beat Anderson in the World

Championship final. Many years ago now, he threw a 9-darter in the

first set, the first we have seen in a World Championship final. Do you

get the feeling that may not be the last time they play each other in a

world final? Sometimes it happens, you have the same competitors in

that culminating final. Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestley, Peter Manley, Phil

Taylor, we are seeing a bit of a pattern with Phil Taylor! Staying on

the 18s, bull's-eye now for Jackpot. Anderson is on a big one. That

leaves 82. Treble 14. That would have left tops. He does anything to

leave tops and 10s, much like Wade does. That is a lot cleaner than it

was in the first leg. 2-0 to Lewis, plan may be executed slightly better

in that league. -- leg. Oh, that looks good, looks very good!

Wonderful start from Jackpot! He does make it look terrifyingly easy.

And it Adrian Lewis keeps going on like this, getting leg on the board

after leg on the board, he starts to ask a few questions. You think, hold

on, 3-0? 4-0? Then Gary starts to lose a bit of time in the situation.

You have got to feel that Gary Anderson has got to get off the mark

as soon as possible. No break until ten legs are completed, so Anderson

has just got to dig himself out of this. That will help! Lewis, oh,

double 16 he did want, now it is double eight.

There it is. This game has been played at a rapid pace. Exactly what

we want to see. I think Gary Anderson might have

just turned up. He is in the building. He might have just found

his range. Six, seven perfect darts. He wants to get this fourth leg on

his name as soon as possible. That way we can get down to playing a

game of darts. Gary Anderson a two-time Premier

League winner. He has won championship finals as well. And a

number of big BDO titles. You always knew he was one of the best players

in the world. It is only really over the last three years that he has

started to really produce on the biggest stage of all, the World

Championship. This will pressure the shot from Gary Anderson. He gets

tops again. The two leg cushion that Loursac has gone in a flash. --

Adrian Lewis. Gary Anderson wants to come back from the break with a bang

and win the tournament. Gary Anderson will tell you that whatever

game of darts he plays, it does not matter whether it is down the pub or

an big television stages such as this, win or lose, it does not

matter, it is just the game. He will stick religiously to that line. I do

not think you can entirely believe it. This renaissance, this second

coming of Gary Anderson was all sparked from losing to Michael van

Gerwen at the World Championship in a game that he thought he should

have won. I have never seen Gary that angry about a defeat before. He

rolled his sleeves up and won everything the following year and

won the world title. It does matter to him, whatever he says. Going back

a little further, when I played Gary Anderson at the UK open, we had a

real bruiser. I beat him the previous year and a year after, but

that year he really wanted to win. If he tells you that darts do not

matter, do not believe it for a second. The aggressive rude, treble

18 for tots. That is a decent marker. He does not use it. That was

close. Not close enough. He leaves lowest 10s. -- Adrian Lewis. The

break of throw that Gary Anderson God did not last very long. No, it

did not. As things stand, Adrian Lewis still in with a chance of

making the semifinals. It has to be a flawless performance from now on.

I was speaking to Gary Anderson this morning. He said he has not been

sleeping well. He prides himself on how well he rests away from the

oche. It is not so much a worrying pet -- worrying sign at this point

in time but it is something he has to address. It is a side-effect of

doing so much travelling with the World Series. It is an occupational

hazard. No, for a party piece, Adrian Lewis. His reaction suggests

that he might have gone for the bull's-eye for the big finish. Of

course he would have. Phil Taylor has the biggest finish of the

weekend, 167. I guarantee everyone who gets a 172 day will go for it.

Tops for another leg to Lewis. Anderson is not threatening yet. We

have seen a pattern in this game. Maybe at two leg spell again for

Lewis. It is. He put in double ten for the third time in this match,

Adrian Lewis. He is opening up that gap once again. Gary has not played

darts for a month. He has gone on holiday and taking earned rest. He

is not even registering on The Bronzed Adonis tanning scale. Yes,

Steve Beaton is the kind of player whose time goes down when he goes to

Spain. Yes, somewhere between creosote antique most of the time,

The Bronzed Adonis. I will say one thing, I like the tanned look on

Gary Anderson. It suits him. It was better than the one he got in Dubai

when he won the title. He was distinctly red in colour. It did not

stop him producing good darts. He will set this up. Down to 104. He

only needs one treble. He only needs four to guarantee himself a place in

the semifinals tonight. Lewis is waiting on tops. It cannot be done

now. The one shot you cannot hate is a five. You cannot take 99 in two

darts. He can definitely hit tops. That is another break of throw for

Lewis. He is not hanging about. This might be happening. Adrian Lewis

needs to win this 10-3 to topple Gary Anderson from his position in

the group and sneak through to the semifinals himself. If he does win

10-3, you would have to call it powering past. It is fair to say

that Adrian Lewis has also turned up today. Yesterday he had a great 180

when he looked at the floor, took the dart, and threw it into the

treble 20. He still find the target. He is finding it with alarming

regularity. After that first dart was low, Lewis had real frustration.

He seems focused and opt for this. 17 Ford double top would make it

6-2. What happens when Keith Deller arrives at the arena with Adrian

Lewis. He must unlock something in that Jackpot brain of his, as if to

say, come on, Lewis, you're the best in the world. Do hang around. This

time he misses. Anderson to go within a leg of safety. He gets the

double 18. I missed opportunity for Adrian Lewis. He cannot afford to

lose another leg. No, and as soon as he misses the doubles at the back

end of that leg, he knows how significant it was. He has said how

hard it would be to get four legs and Lewis, to guarantee their own

safety. How hard is it to get that many from Gary Anderson, the current

two-time world champion? I think that probably tells a story, that

reaction from Adrian Lewis. Adrian will be frustrated that he did not

bring his game yesterday. If he had, he would not be in this mess that he

is in. He is definitely playing better. A fourth 184 Adrian Lewis.

He looked very good in the opening stages against James Wade. The first

game up, but James Wade took out a series of big finishes and run away

from him. Is it slipping away? Is Anderson going to rubber-stamp

Lewis's XL from the Champions League Of Darts? Yes, he is. Gary Anderson

looks like he wants to win this match and consign Lewis to complete

obscurity in Cardiff. It was missed doubles that cost him against James

Wade. He was only getting about 30% of his darts that doubles. To date

is 20%. Even if he had been finishing better than that, it was

always going to be tough to record a big victory against the world

champion. Gary Anderson snuffing out his hopes. A 106 check out in the

last leg. Adrian was doing a lot right. He was scoring heavily,

putting himself into position to take out legs. And fortunately for

him, he wasn't able to cross the line in those two legs. The story

could be so different. Adrian is at the point where he is playing for

pride. At couple of company-mac- plus

checkouts. -- a couple of ton-plus checkouts. He does not get the

treble. He has two choices, treble 16 or treble 20. That is handy. He

will return. Adrian needs to hit this out. You can see the

frustration in his face. He will be even more frustrated with Gary

Anderson gets double seven. He does. Not only is Lewis out of the

tournament, Gary Anderson is looking to tell him, I am going to beat you

as well send you home. I hope you have got your calculators

ready. Gary Anderson needed the four legs to ensure that Adrian Lewis

cannot go above him in the table and qualify. He has done that, he has

got the five legs. It is all over for Adrian Lewis. Gary Anderson is

through to the semifinals. We were just discussing this. We were

looking at the permutations for the 15th time this weekend. It is not

enough to go top yet. Yes, he has to win the match to go top of the

group. Adrian has had chances to put Gary and pressure. He should have

gone 3-0, he has missed two darts. Gary has got to close out the game.

Fair play to the boys and commentary. They said this could

have been so different if Adrian had scored. The damage was done

yesterday, he needed so many legs. 10-3 against James Wade. It was an

uphill task but it has been a good game. You could feel the tension in

the match. He could have been so far ahead going into the break and with

a chance. But it is not to be. What have you made of Gary Anderson? If

you were with us yesterday, you would have heard Gary Singh, it

depends on which Gary turns up. He started very slowly. He could have

found himself 3-0 down. He has worked himself into the game and

taking out the finishes. He looked positive in the last four legs. I

think Gary will win the game. He will want to finish this in style.

Of course. You will want to move into the semifinals tonight on good

thoughts. He has not played the best. There is still some of the

game to go but it can move on. The fantastic thing about this

tournament is if he goes on to win this match and top the group, you

could end up playing Michael van Gerwen. He just has to do what he

has to do and win matches. He will not want to go into the semifinals

on the back of a defeat. He wants three wins out of three, showing he

is on good form and that he can win the competition. Any Peter Wright

fans, please do not jam social media, saying, do not write off

Peter Wright. He certainly has the chance. Michael will be a big

favourite. As in any tournament he plays in. He will have the better

chance. Peter Wright is still in it. This may be an omen. In the most

recent meeting between Anderson and Lewis, the Tokyo dance masters,

Anderson 18-5 in the semis and won the title defeating Michael van

Gerwen in the final. Is that an omen? It could be. These things crop

up quite often. The players are looking at this as a one-off. These

guys are beating each other all the time. Let's go back to commentary.

Adrian Lewis's fate is sealed, but we await the outcome of Group B. Any

windfall Gary Anderson will see him finishing top of the group. He does

not do who he would have to face yet, but as the lads in the studio

was saying, you just want to keep on winning games - it feels good,

confidence is a big part of professional. -- professional darts.

If ever there was a time for him to start doing some party pieces,

Adrian is possibly going to turn on the fireworks. And he has certainly

got an opportunity to do so. And we have seen it, we have seen him

produce darts that nobody can live with on the day. UK Open title

particularly sticks in the memory, just mind blowing stuff. He

dismantled Terry Jenkins in the final of that one. Ireland a

semifinal in the European Championships against Raymond van

Barneveld in Dusseldorf, he had a 9-darter. From the first to the

last, one of the best matches of all time, just like the biggest street

fight you have ever seen. Nicely set up there by the world

champion, who will come back looking at double four to go into the lead.

That last question, Anderson, having been 5-2 down, is now 6-5 up! In a

pro-TDF match away from the cameras, he would have won the game, but this

is Champions League darts, and statistically Gary will be very

disappointed with his first nine darts. We were talking in the

interval about how it is not too far ahead of his overall average, just a

shade over 90. He wants to be more where Adrian is with the first nine,

but statistics can lie sometimes. Gary Anderson is in front in this

match. And that is one way to fix that statistic! Yeah, it has all

been about the finishing, 20% for Adrian Lewis on his doubles, almost

double that for Gary Anderson, a 109 checkout to get his first leg, 106

checkout to seal Adrian's fate. These guys have played each other a

lot around the world, they have played each other in Australia,

Germany, England, Wales. It doesn't matter where it is, it is the same

dart board, same regulation distance. Same outcome as well, a

win in their corner. Adrian Lewis, the professional that he is, will

still want to go out of this tournament on a high with a win over

the world champion. Tops for 7-5, and that is five legs on the spin

for the world champion. He was not too sure it was his throw

there. It is, though. That was a break, and that is a 180! Well, he

didn't hit a single maximum in his opening match against Michael Smith.

Nasr four against James Wade last night, he has surpassed that, five

against Adrian Lewis and still time for a few more. -- he had four. You

get the feeling he's a bit more in touch today than he was yesterday.

He still won twice yesterday, an incredible achievement against the

players who played against. But Gary starts with a 180, somewhat scratchy

visit after that, just gradually getting his game together after that

break. What he will want to do here is get over the line, get back on

the practice board and get better with each game. And he has got very

recent memories of going all the way and winning titles on TV where he

has had to win more than one game in a day. He has done it in the World

Series at the start of the year, he was untouchable in the World Series,

Dubai, Auckland, Tokyo. Who would have thought that a few years ago?

Saying that darts players would win tournaments in Dubai, Auckland,

Tokyo. Even here! For 8-5. And Gary Anderson is just strolling towards

topping Group B here the Flying Scotsman is on rails and steaming

ahead. After the break he has won every leg.

The mentality of Adrian Lewis right now, you have just got to think he

would be very disappointed. But there have been some very good signs

for Adrian Lewis's game. We mentioned the big tournaments are

coming up, yes, this one is out of his reach now. But if he can do the

right preparation over the next few weeks, there is no reason why

Jackpot cannot challenge for titles that he has either been close to

getting in the past or has won before. Maybe the Grand Prix will be

one of them, but he has been drawn against Jelle Klaasen in the opening

round, tough game. Ouch! And Jackpot, he was 3-3 with James Wade

in his opening game and lost seven straight legs. He was 5-2 up here

and has lost six on the bounce. It is curious to see it happen twice in

quick succession. Canny stop the rot here? Oh, wow, he needed the 16 to

give himself a dart at the bull's-eye. If it keeps happening,

Dan, we know for a fact it is going to have to be addressed. A rare

mathematical malfunction! Gary, you do need 106! 106, Gary! 9-5, seven

on the spin, and all Adrian Lewis can do is stand and watch and shake

his head. Well, if pictures could tell a

thousand words, I think it would be here, for a lot longer than a

thousand words! Adrian Lewis was just, oh, it is one of those days!

If if Santa buts were candy and nuts. --

ifs and buts. The crowd singing Gary Anderson's name, you wonder how

loudly singing would have been if the earlier part of the game had

been the template, when Adrian Lewis was taking him apart, but the roles

have been emphatically reversed, and what they setup shot that is, double

top for the match when he returns, three darts at it, and you do not

expect the world champion to pass up this opportunity. Tops it is. To top

the group. Not yet! But he might be back if Lewis cannot hit this

magical 141. You don't expect it, do you? He will come back looking at

double ten for 10-5, the world champion. Really?! Yeah, there it

is, Gary Anderson tops Group B, Adrian Lewis, well, we knew halfway

through that he was not going to go any further in this tournament.

Anderson and Wade into the semifinals as we turn our attention

to Group A and who will join them in the last four of the Champions

League. So Gary Anderson beat Adrian Lewis

10-5, which means Adrian Lewis crashes out of the Champions League,

but increasingly it means that Gary Anderson is very much in the running

to win the Champions League. Three wins out of three, brilliant

performance from Gary Anderson, fantastic performance by him, three

out of three comedy tops the group. You cannot complain with that, he

started a bit slow in the game, but you could see that Adrian was out of

the competition, Gary reeled off those legs professionally. Gary is

on the way up to the studio, we will talk to him in a moment, but Adrian

Lewis will be disappointed with his performance. Essentially, he left

himself with too much to do. It is a big ask to beat Gary, but he had to

beat in 10-4. He did miss some doubles, once you do that, Gary got

to four pretty easily, and he became dejected. We have seen Phil Taylor

and Michael van Gerwen, we know the sort of groove they are in. When you

look at the weight Gary is plain, you have to say that he could win

the semifinal, he could win this thing. -- the way Gary is playing.

Of course he could, he has beaten Michael and Phil plenty of times. He

will not be in fear of them, he is relaxed, throwing and finishing

well. What was so special about his performance for you? I think it is

because he started slowly, rhythm players need to get off to a good

start. But he didn't let it bother him, he did not get off the mark how

he would like, but he finished well. We can hear from Adrian Lewis with

Caroline. Obvious disappointment, was the

damage done yesterday? Losing 10-3 against James put me on the back

foot during the group stage. Not convincing last night. Today I

turned up, and I thought, you know, I was quite unfortunate at times,

because when Gary got to three legs, I knew I was out of the tournament.

There was a point where it could have been easy, 8-2 at the break,

missing a double, my own fault. Phil Taylor is causing mischief, let him

have his moment, Phil! What did you say to the fella afterwards?

Glasses! He did all right! Your moment will come, he has had a

few in his life, we will let him go! Your mascot is going, I am getting

rid of you! Well, Phil Taylor has gone, they are chanting your name,

go and enjoy it. Adrian, players like Phil, how do you reflect on

this whole weekend? It has been a tough week, like I said, I have not

been playing my best darts by any stretch, I could do a lot better,

but I'm building up now, can did put me in good stead for the Grand Prix

next week, looking forward to that, and other week on the board, just

looking forward to it. Are you going to go and gear Phil on now? I just

hope you wins it, it is one of those things, I think he might even be

playing Gary in the final. Well done this weekend. Cheers.

A lovely moment hearing from Phil, a shoulder for him to cry on. Here is

a man very much in the running, how are you feeling? Still there, just!

Top of the group, three out of three? I don't know how! The first

ten legs, he should have been a type up, I kept pinching legs. I have got

nothing left in the tank now. -- 8-2. The quicker you finish, I will

get to bed! When Gary walks into the studio, there was a puff of the

cheeks, was that relief that you are into the semifinals? Or feeling

tired? Just feeling tired, it is a struggle. I have got a long night

air, I will keep pushing forward, hopefully it will come good. A

struggle in so far as you have been away? I was outside at four o'clock

this morning, having a stroll around Cardiff. I cannot sleep at all. What

is that, then, Gary? Just out of interest. Just the pressure? I think

we have spent the last three or four months on the road, we have done the

World Series, Dubai, Japan, Shanghai, New Zealand. Body clock

all over the place. Just back from Florida, I do not know where I am,

to be honest. What is the plan now? Sleep, then 40,000 cups of coffee,

then we will get on it. But no, I will have a rest for a bit, then I

will come back and get back on the board. Be careful what you say, what

is Cardiff like at four o'clock in the morning? Still a bit noisy,

still a bit noisy! We're not surprised in anyway! This is the

final group tabled... guys are beating each other all the

time. Let's go back to commentary. Gary Anderson through to the

semifinals, topping the group. James Wade, having beaten Michael Smith,

is through to the semifinals. We cannot give you a semifinal line-up

because we have grouped a business to come shortly. Out of the three

contenders, who would you like to play? Give me mpg. It will be a

quick game, anyway. We dug out a good start earlier. In the most

recent meeting between you and Adrian, do you know when it was?

This is going somewhere, do not worry. I beat him in January, so

maybe me by one? In Tokyo, the most recent meeting? I cannot remember.

It was in the Tokyo masters, you beat him 8-5. You went on to win the

title and defeated Michael van Gerwen. I did not know that. Michael

is a quick player. It suits me. You want Michael? Yes. Enjoy Cardiff at

2:45pm in the afternoon. It is a little bit different. Listen to this

wonderful interview. Caroline Barker talking to Phil Taylor about his

future. I know you had a break coming into

this, but does part of you think, do this one, get your name on the

trophy and leave? I have been thinking about this. My friend, Pete

Williams, he said, he was an entertainer, he said he would wake

up and he would know. I think it is coming to that time when I want to

do other things. I do not want to be competing in tournaments every week.

It is difficult, you have to be very disciplined. You have got to live a

boring life. You cannot go out and enjoy yourself. I have never been

one for going out to pubs and clubs, but I like to do other things, to

spend time with my grandchildren. I missed my own children growing up

and know it has started with my grandchildren. It is weird. I do not

want to do that again. In the next 18 months, I will phase out

steadily. I will pass it over. There are things me to do. People say, if

you retire, you will be bored no chance. I cannot see you fading out.

I am. I want to do it. I will fade out or go on a big high. Either way,

I am not bothered. I am enjoying it more because I am playing more for

myself rather than trying to win major tournaments every week. Has

the money been a driver? Over the years it was. When it first started,

I was skint. I had ?74 a week. I did three jobs at the time. I was not

very wealthy. That is why I played, I wanted to make a living. There is

?100,000 on the table this weekend. After tax it will be less than that.

Yes, ?100,000. Sometimes I watch people winning 50000 and it has

changed their lives. It is fantastic money. We are used to winning big,

large amounts of money. It does not mean a great deal because you know

with large amounts of money comes large amounts of hassle. It goes in

the bank, you forget about it, pay your tax and pay your bulls. You do

not think about it. I pay myself a little wage. Going out on a high, on

Sunday, you lift the trophy, your name is on it, maybe then say

goodbye? What? For darts? No, I have a few more tournaments left. I will

see how the rankings go and go from there. What a great interview.

Caroline Barker talking to this man, Phil The Power Taylor. These is --

this is his record. He has joined us in the studio. If I carry on reading

the roll of honour, we will run out of time and missed the darts. He has

been incredible. He has put the sport were it is now. He has set the

standard of what we all aspire to at this point in time. Michael van

Gerwen has lifted the standard. 90 average used to be really good. They

are still good right now but Phil Taylor has lifted that by 10%.

People are looking at 100s being good. We are playing for such big

money now because of his success. He has taken the sport to the

mainstream, and even more this week with the BBC coming on board. His

life's work is something special. Caroline Kilel Aidy at a great

moment. -- Phil. He said it was time to spend time with his family. He

did not say he was going to retire, but he is hinting at it. He wants to

put the top players back in their place. He wants to prove it this

weekend. He is still playing in 510 years' time. He will manage his

schedule. The day will come one day, and I know what Caroline is trying

to do, as television and radio presenters we have all been there,

can I get it out of him, can he give me a date. He did not, but do you

expect that time to be coming soon? It is coming closer. He is in his

56, 50 seventh year. I think if he wins another world title he will

want to finish right there. He will say, that is my trophy, it is the

perfect place to start. You have been commentating on Gary Anderson

topping the group, three from three, and Phil will want to top the group?

Of course, he wants every dollar, every bit of success he can squeeze

from the sport. That is why he is playing now. He is on plus 11 after

playing against Michael van Gerwen last night in a fantastic match. I

feel like he wants to squeeze the lemon more this weekend, to get the

best out of it before he goes on to further challenges. Do you mean more

money in the bank? Always. Is he going to top the group? You would

think so. It will probably be hard for Robert to find motivation. He is

out of the tournament. If he can win the game, he will finish third and

that is an increase of five grand in his prize-money. A victory for Phil

Taylor will rejuvenate him for the rest of the year. -- a victory over

Phil Taylor. It must be demoralising taking on Phil Taylor. The crowd

will cheer him. And he knows he is out of the tournament? It is a

tricky situation. The extra money to jump up one place is very important.

Robert is getting towards his 50th year. He is trying to provide for

his retirement so little thing like that may be his biggest inspiration.

We cannot forget that Robert Thornton does turn up against Phil

Taylor lots. In the world Grand Prix a couple of years ago, I think it

was the best doubles darts came in history. Robert Thornton has never

been afraid of Phil Taylor and he will not be afraid of him today. The

players are standing by. Let's say hello to the MC, John Nicolson.

Welcome back to the action. This is the Champions League Of Darts. It is

time to meet the players. From Scotland, the former UK open

champion, the reigning world Grand Prix champion, it is time to meet

the Thorn. Robert Thornton. MUSIC: "I'm Gonna Be (500

Miles)" by The Proclaimers. And now ladies and gentlemen, here

years, Stoke-on-Trent, England, it is time to meet the record-breaking,

history making, 16 times world champion.

It is still the Power Taylor. -- is Phil the Power Taylor.

Thank you to our MC. The volume has gone up a notch. This is the

Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. Robert Thornton has beaten Phil Taylor in

the 2012 UK open final. Your commentators are Dan Dawson and Alan

Warriner-Little. The greatest player of all time,

Phil Taylor, always spine tingling for the work on. 16 time world

champion. That is one of many, many titles that this man has claimed.

Talking about feeding out from the game in the last -- in the next 18

months with Caroline Barker. This weekend he is averaging nearly 105

for the tournament. We have seen he is quite capable of disappearing

with a bang and not a whimper. Well, Robert Thornton, we know what he is

capable of as well. The UK open final, which Jason mentioned, were

he not only beat Phil Taylor Buckie beat him up. Then he beat the best

player in the world last year for the Grand Prix title as well. Can he

finished things off, the Champions League, claimed the third spot in

the table? An extra five grand for that. Not too shabby. Good

afternoon, everyone, wherever you may be. Phil Taylor, after last

night's magnificent performance against Michael van Gerwen. He is

looking to win this game. He is looking to top the group and move

into the semifinals. He is already through. But to keep the momentum

going. Robert Thornton has played pretty well in periods during his

first two game, but become a of the bad -- but the combination of a bad

few months has taken its toll. You can see that fight in him, which is

good to see. Will this be a ninth for Phil Taylor? One Phil Taylor,

echoing around the arena in Cardiff. Taylor can win the group even if he

is beaten in this game. As long as it is eight legs, it is guaranteed.

Even if it was only seven, you would need a 10-0 victory in the other

game in this group. He will want to win, and he will want to win well.

He will want to have a good average, good finishing. You do not want to

take your foot off the gas at any point. Double eight for the first

leg. It would have been a 12. That would not have been a bad start. It

was a curious game against Michael van Gerwen last night. Still looking

at that double eight. There it is. 14 darts will do. 1-0 to the Power.

Van Gerwen unable to hold his goal during the course of the match. I am

struggling to remember a time when that has happened over anything

longer than six legs. Quite an incredible statistic. When you're

playing well, he did average around 103, 104, it was not like he had a

bad game. Phil was really on top form all the way through the match.

That was the key feature. His finishing was incredible. 167, 122,

several others. Yes, five ton plus checkouts in that game. Vintage

stuff from the world champion. He has made the final of the Premier

League, the final of the matchplay. It is not like he is not even

competitive any more, far from it. When you have achieved as much as

Phil Taylor, when you are not at the standard you were previously,

someone else is taking the attention, in this case Michael van

Gerwen, people think you're finished but you're still in the top four in

the world, still or thereabouts. Performances like yesterday. He has

got quite a few gallons left in the tank. Two treble 20s gives him a

dart at double top. There is loads of room in the treble five, but that

is not where you want to put it. Slightly to the left otherwise he

would have had a chance at double top.

What Robert will be wanting to do is play for pride, just considering the

upward spiral. Once you get a few bad results, it puts a toll on you

in the next game. You look at the big TV tournaments, that is where

the big money is. Robert Thornton this year has managed to win three

out of 22. Admittedly he was playing with the Premier League players, but

if you start losing early on, the pressure can get to you. Strangely

enough, one of those victories was at Blackpool. He has his world Grand

Prix to defend. He will certainly be getting ready for it.

Will he go for the bull's-eye? No. Resort that a couple of times

yesterday particularly against Michael van Gerwen. He really wanted

to send out a message to his opponent. Lay it on that start --.

-- lay it on that dart there. I would love to see the maximums. It

is all kicking off. Both men firing in 180 to start this leg. Only 41 to

follow it up from Thornton, what can Taylor do? Surely. Fill it up, man!

The groans from the crowd as the second dart went in. He really wants

to do this, Taylor. Treble 19, it is on, double 12 four Taylor! Oh! --

for Taylor! So close, but in other ways so far. I cannot believe that,

we built it up, eight perfect dart Barral.

-- we see 9-darters all the time. A missed double 12 for the nine. It

does not seem to have knocked him out of his stride though, does it?

Certainly one for the history books. Apart from that dart at double 12,

it has been a fantastic performance so far. Three maximums, 110 average.

Look at that one there, he cannot believe it. After 30 years in the

game, it takes something to get that reaction from Phil Taylor. Double

12, not a big night, that is the one. Probably just rushed it, maybe

slipped out of his hand a bit. Still a remarkable performance. At the

moment, there is not a lot more he can do.

It looks like he has lost a tenner and found a pound.

Well, missed darts at double 12 aside, tantalising glimpses of

perfection aside, Phil Taylor is producing some astonishing stuff

here. If you thought his performance against Michael van Gerwen last

night the special, this is something else, look at that. The four

maximums have come in the last few lakes. The last few lakes have been

outstanding. -- legs. It is potentially another 11 dart leg. It

would be 12 for the bull's-eye. He will have nightmares about the big

nine and then the small nine air. Trouble 19 -- small nine there,

treble 19. 55, it is another break. Phil Taylor is in charge of this

one. If he does win, he should be playing

James Wade, the winner of the other group.

I am sure they will be discussing it in the studio. Double 12, they will

be showing that a few times no doubt. Quite a few people in Cardiff

will be discussing that missed dart for quite some time. He has thrown

Jiro mac 9-darters in the same game. -- he has thrown two 9-darters in

the same game. You can only think that he rushed it, wanted to do

something for the crowd in the new tournament. That has gone and

passed. How much do you think winning this title would mean to

Phil Taylor, bearing in mind that since he lost in the grand slam

final last year he has not had a big TV title to his name? He has always

had a big TV title, usually many. First and foremost he knows he is

playing well, well enough to win one. Whether that happens, things

can change in the next game. He is certainly capable of doing it and he

will be really determined for the lots of different reasons to be the

first name on the title to get the winning feeling back on that stage.

Thornton takes out double top. He is still averaging 96, although he has

only had Jiro -- -- although he has only had two

darts at double. Robert Thornton is absolutely fuming

that he could not produce. Robert has that termination, it

looks like he could handle wrestle a grizzly. It is very good from

Filbert Howard Taylor today. Averaging almost 110 and his first

nine average. -- from Phil Taylor. You just put the mockers on it. He

has been producing these kind of darts for a while. He has already

said he wants to cut back on some of the tournaments. Looking to fill in

again. Those tournaments are very difficult

to win. Pushed all the way, came out the winner on all three occasions.

Will he be holding the trophy later this evening, firstly he has to get

past Peter Wright. Phil Taylor is zero weighing in on the eight legs

he needs to guarantee himself. -- Phil Taylor focusing in. Treble 19

or tops. Down for double ten. Steady, confident prediction from

the young man full. You can see the studio analyse the

first half stop I'm sure there will be one main topic.

Mike the 410 legs, Phil Taylor has been almost unplayable. It has been

excellent from the 16 time world champion. Thornton looking to make

it 7-3. And that is not what Robert Thornton was after. He was unlucky.

That is a great first dart from Taylor. Phil Taylor will top Group

A. He will face James Wade in the semifinals. Will you make it three

victories out of the? He only needs two more legs? Stunning from Phil

Taylor. Sparkling darts from Phil Taylor.

You have to have sympathy with Robert Thornton, already out of the

Champions League, he was beaten by Taylor in the Premier League this

year, 7-0 and 7-2 respectively. He is having another sorry drubbing at

the hands of this man. This is wonderful stuff from Phil. It is

incredible. If you look at his first nine average, it has been higher

than that in the match. He was around the 130 mark, which is up

there with some of the best darts we have seen. That 107 three dart

averages where he wants to be. Four legs as well, one against the throw.

Yes, he has been in control of the game. It is testament to how well

Phil is playing. Robert is averaging 99 and he is losing. There was a

great moment in the Motorpoint Arena for the nine dart attempt. There was

a massive roar for every single dart that was thrown. That is the way in

that situation with the big crowds. You're thinking, get that 60. He

hits the treble 19, and not only that is the worst shots he has

thrown for a nine darter, it is the worst he has thrown in his career.

Our cameraman said that he said it slept. It slipped out of my hand. We

will give him that one. If you look at the dart, it was at a different

angle to the others. It is one of those things. It just happened to be

on a double for a nine darter. We will not back against him getting

another one. He has the game. The people who have paid money to come

here today, they thought it was going to happen. Yes, you can see

the excitement. It was an anti-climax in the end. There it is,

it slept. I am inclined to believe it did. Phil Taylor does not miss

double 12 by that much. He has been dominant. Phil will win this match.

It will be three from three for him. It will be James Wade in the

semifinals. Mouthwatering. James Wade is here to play and he has the

game to beat Phil Taylor. He will have to play better than today and

yesterday to get over which -- to get over what is a resurgent and

well rested Phil. Let's go back to commentary. We know

the Power is going to top the group if they can make it three victories

out of three. He will have some momentum going into the semifinals

tonight. I do not think I would want to take on Phil Taylor if he's going

to play like this today. No, he and meticulous form. The 12 would have

put the icing on the cake. I think he has the tournament victory in his

sights. He wants to be holding aloft the trophy later this evening. There

is a big crowd coming into night. Down in Cardiff. The crowd enjoying

the afternoon's proceedings, getting ready for the culmination, the two

semifinals the final. It should be pretty good. It will be some sure if

these guys continue to play at the level they have produced over the

course of this weekend. There have been a few 180s so far in

the tournament and quite a few in this match so far. Another slip. He

cannot leave a finish no, certainly not with that five. He has been

making a habit of taking out big checkouts. The 140 is not going to

go. He will look to leave a nice one darter at tops. Happy with that

visit. This is a chance for Thornton to leave something handy. That is

better. That is not bad either. Taylor has to take out the AT, which

would put him one leg away. That was a bit close to the treble, but

double tops. He is back where he needs to be, Taylor one leg away

from making it three wins out of three, a 10-5 victory over Peter

Wright, a 10-4 victory over the world number one, Michael van

Gerwen. It looks like it will be even more emphatic than that against

the Thorn. It is relentless at the moment. He probably does not want to

leave himself a nine darter again in case he has to throw a double 12.

Plenty of room, Robert. That actually push is Robert Thornton's

averages to over 100 which is phenomenal considering he is 9-2

down. That is what the standard of darts is nowadays. The 100 average,

which used to be the benchmark of excellence is now not enough. It is

not. Robert Thornton has his title to defend in a few weeks' time. It

is the rest of the season. There are lots of big events coming. Taylor is

homing in on another maximum. Yes, Thornton will begin the defence of

his Grand Prix title against Stephen Bunting, a former world champion.

That is not easy in round one. Taylor is looking at 82 to close

this out. It has been devastating at times from Taylor. That is perfect.

That is perfection from Taylor as well. He could not produce a perfect

leg, but it was not bad. 108 average. Phil Taylor storming into

the semifinals of the Champions League as group winner with three

victories out of three. Phil Taylor records his 22nd career

victory over Robert Thornton. And perhaps one of the easiest as well.

A fantastic performance from Phil "the Power" Taylor. This is

magnificent. The crowd is loving this. Look at those numbers. Paul

Nicholson. We talked about the numbers between the interval and the