Chisnall reaches semi-finals in Dubai

After a stunning display saw him sweep aside Adrian Lewis 10-1 in the semi-final on Thursday, Michael van Gerwen proved too good for the Morecambe ace in the semi-final as Chisnall went down 11-7 on Friday night.

Gary Anderson then ended van Gerwen’s three-year reign at the event with a comeback from 8-4 down to win 11-9 in the final.

Chisnall, who reached the same stage in his previous visit to Dubai in 2014, found the world number one in brilliant form in their last four meeting.

The Dutchman hit five ton-plus checkouts - including a crowd-pleasing 132 finish of two bullseyes and double 16 - a 10-dart finish and seven 180s as he averaged more than 105.

Chisnall had played his part in a fine contest, taking out a brilliant 140 finish and hitting four 180s, only to see van Gerwen’s combination finishing prove too strong.

The resort thrower had earlier been in supreme form with his 10-1 thumping of Lewis 24 hours earlier.

Chisnall took out finishes of 130, 110 and 105 and checked out ten doubles from 18 attempts in his impressive 10-1 defeat of Lewis, as last year’s Auckland Darts Masters champion lost out in the quarter-finals.

The next World Series of Darts event will be this year’s Auckland Darts Masters from June 17 to 19 at the Trusts Arena.