• World Grand Prix

Chisnall stuns defending champion Van Gerwen

Dave Chisnall sent defending champion Michael van Gerwen packing © Getty Images

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Dave Chisnall produced one of the best performances of his career to stun defending champion Michael van Gerwen at the World Grand Prix in Dublin.

Chisnall hit ten 180s in a thrilling 3-2 win at the Citywest Hotel and held off a spirited fightback from the Dutchman, who came back to level from two sets down.

World No. 7 Chisnall stormed out of the blocks as he took the first set without reply, before falling short of a perfect nine-dart leg on his eighth throw in the opening leg of the second. It would prove a brief disappointment for the St Helens star, who quickly closed out for a two-set lead.

Van Gerwen edged a tight third set with a brilliant 127 finish on double 8 to keep his hopes alive. Chisnall responded with an 11-dart leg to move within one of victory, but missed a dart at double 16 for the match - allowing Van Gerwen to level and send the tie into a decider.

However, despite surrendering his early lead, Chisnall held his nerve and sealed the win on double 10 to send the reigning champion packing.

Phil Taylor produced a stunning performance to stop an in-form Gary Anderson with a straight sets victory.

Taylor averaged 118 in the first set as he raced into the lead, which saw him kick off his night with a 12-dart leg and a 101 finish.

Despite appearing to be back to his best in the previous rounds, Anderson simply had no reply to Taylor's barrage of scoring. The 16-time world champion continued his onslaught in set two, landing double four to move within a set of a semi-final spot.

There was a brief smile from Anderson at the start of the third as he whitewashed Taylor with a 12-darter; Taylor did not land a single scoring dart after missing nine shots at an opening double.

However, the Flying Scotsman failed to derail Taylor's rhythm and victory was soon completed with a routine shot on double 16 from the world champion, who is searching for his 12th World Grand Prix title.

James Wade continued his bid for a third World Grand Prix title with a controversial 3-1 win over Simon Whitlock.

During the first set, Wade angrily complained to referee Paul Hinks over the time Whitlock took to retrieve his darts from the board despite the act not being illegal. The Australian took the deciding leg to move ahead as frustration began to set in for Wade.

Whitlock missed a 158 finish on double 19, allowing the Brit to coolly take out 106 for the early advantage in the second. Wade soon levelled the set with two clean finishes on double top.

The controversy continued in the third set as Wade was caught repeatedly encroaching in the exclusion zone, almost stepping on Whitlock's heels as he threw.

When the Aldershot ace failed to hit an opening double in nine darts, Whitlock raced into the lead before completing a third set whitewash to move back ahead. Wade replied in an epic set four, checking out a marvellous 160 on double top before Whitlock missed a dart at the bullseye for the match.

It would prove costly, as Wade finished tops to send the match into a decider before shaking up the final set with an electrifying 12-dart leg. The match deserved a grand finish - and it came when Wade took out a remarkable 101 in the fifth leg for the match and a place in the semi-final.

Justin Pipe continued his rampant run of form with a comfortable 3-1 win over Andy Hamilton, while the Stoke ace later apologised on Twitter for one of his "worst" performances on television.

Pipe took the first set with a 12-dart leg and excellent 130 finish on the bullseye, before whitewashing Hamilton in the second. 'The Hammer' hit back in the third, and fortunes looked to be changing when Pipe missed a dart at double 16 for the match in the fourth.

Hamilton wired double 16 when attempting a 109 finish to stay in the game, before Pipe returned to the oche to seal double 8 on his last dart and reach his second ever televised semi-final.

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