Monday 18 September 2017 14:31, UK
Phil Taylor ended Michael van Gerwen's hopes of a first Champions League of Darts title and was joined in the last four by Raymond van Barneveld and Gary Anderson.
Mensur Suljovic booked his place in the semi-finals on Saturday with two victories in the group stage but Sunday's final group games had plenty of drama with three places still up for grabs, none more dramatic than in the final match of the session.
After Barney's thumping 10-2 victory over Lewis with the Dutchman through, the picture was clear for Taylor and Van Gerwen. Victory for Taylor by any margin would put him through and even a 10-8 or 10-9 defeat would be enough but for Van Gerwen only a 10-7 victory or better would be enough.
There was little between the pair throughout and that proved to be crucial as Taylor reached the eight legs he needed to lead 8-7. With the remainder of the match immaterial, it was The Power who closed it out to win 10-9 and make it eight wins from eight in the event and remain on course to retain the title he won last year with victory over Van Gerwen.
Earlier in the afternoon Gary Anderson beat Peter Wright 10-9 to join Suljovic in emerging from Group B and reaching Sunday evening's final session.
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
Mensur Suljovic v Raymond van Barneveld
Group A's final matches began with a dominant Barney victory over an out-of-sorts Jackpot, who lost all three group games. A 10-2 victory for Barney meant there was no need for drama as the margin was enough to take him ahead of Taylor in the standings and meant MVG v Power was a straight shootout.
Van Gerwen flew out of the traps breaking Taylor in the opening leg of the match with a brilliant 127 finish followed an 11-dart leg that included seven perfect darts.
The Power got on the board in the third leg of the match before reeling off three in succession to lead for the first time at 4-3. MVG levelled with a 130 finish, courtesy of a bull finish, as the standard continued to ascend.
And it was Taylor punishing the mistakes, leading 6-4 at the interval. MVG broke for 6-5 and levelled at 6-6, Taylor pinned double top to reach seven legs and with the scores locked at 7-7 the 16-time world champion ensured he would be the one who progressed.
A brilliant 107 finish from Taylor meant that even victory for MVG would not be enough and the Dutchman's disappointment was evident as Taylor closed out the match to record his third victory over Van Gerwen in the event and join Barney in the last four.
In Group B, Gary Anderson pinched the runners-up spot behind Mensur Suljovic, edging out Peter Wright in a thriller fitting of the occasion after Suljovic had maintained his 100% record with a 10-5 win over Dave Chisnall.
The Flying Scotsman had beaten Dave Chisnall on Saturday night after his 10-3 defeat by Suljovic and his match with Snakebite was a shootout after the UK Open, he also beat Chizzy and lost to the Austrian.
There was little between the pair until locked at 7-7, Wright looked to have made the crucial breakthrough, double top cleaning up a 47 finish to break Anderson and he consolidated in the next to move 9-7 in front and one leg away from the last four.
Anderson's 98 brought him back with one of Wright who missed five match darts in the 18th leg and was duly punished by the Scot who hit double 10 to take the match to a decider.
In a fitting finale Wright missed another match dart at double 12 that would have given him a brilliant 101 for the match and Anderson swooped to pin double top and seal his place and what would prove to be a meeting with Taylor.
