Auckland Darts Masters

The second edition of the Auckland Darts Masters was played from June 17 till 19. In the Trusts Arena in Auckland a great tournament unfolds with Gary Anderson as the winner.

In the first round there are no surprises. The eight qualifiers all come up short against the eight professionals. Clinton Bridge wins the most legs, but he also loses 6-4 to Dave Chisnall.

From the second round onwards the level goes up and the matches are also getting better. Gary Anderson and Raymond van Barneveld both play very strong in their victories over Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall. Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor both play great and a nineteenth and deciding leg is needed to decide who wins this one. It is Lewis who claims victory. The average of 107.57 is not enough for Taylor to win. Michael van Gerwen also has an average above the 107 mark but also loses, surprisingly, to James Wade who has a super match.

In the semi-finals Raymond van Barneveld takes an early 4-0 lead against Gary Anderson, but the Scottish world champion strikes back hard and wins eleven of the next fourteen legs. With an average of over 111, he reaches the final. James Wade does not reach the level of the quarterfinals in his semi-final against Adrian Lewis, but still manages to stay very close to the reigning champion. Yet it is Lewis who takes victory 11-9.

The final stays level untill 3-3, but from that moment Anderson take the initiative in the match. He picks up his first break in the seventh leg break and he hangs on to the end. After a great final The Flying Scotsman takes the win 11-7 over Lewis and wins his second World Series victory in a row, after Dubai.