RONNIE BAXTER won through to his first major semi-final for three years at the Betfair World Matchplay with a 16-11 victory over Justin Pipe at the Winter Gardens on Friday.
The Blackpool ace continued his love affair with the tournament with a thrilling performance as he reached the last four for the sixth time since making his debut in 1998 by seeing off rising star Pipe.
The Taunton ace shared 16 180s with Baxter in a heavy-scoring game, but it was the local favourite who produced the stronger finishing to progress to play either Phil Taylor or Andy Hamilton on Saturday night.
Baxter hit a 180 in the opening leg of the game as he took the lead on tops, with Pipe levelling before the 1998 runner-up finished double ten to move 2-1 up - only for the Taunton man to win the next three without reply.
The pair traded 180s in the fourth leg as Pipe levelled, before Baxter landed further maximums in the next two only to miss darts at double 16 in both legs as Pipe moved 4-2 up.
Baxter finished double 16 to hit back, and then won the next three legs - finishing tops in all three, once for a 107 finish and twice to punish misses from Pipe - as he regained the lead at 6-4.
He then took out 150 to win a fifth straight leg before Pipe reignited his challenge with a superb 11-darter.
The pair again traded maximums as Baxter fired in a 14-darter to lead 8-5, and after the pair traded the next two it was the home favourite who produced another five-leg burst to take command.
Baxter began the run with legs of 13 and 14 darts, and landed double six, double two and tops to take a 14-7 lead and move within touching distance of the semis.
Pipe punished two missed doubles to land tops and stop that run, and he also hit the same bed to win a ninth leg and a 180 and double ten to pull back to 14-10.
However, he missed one dart at double 18 to continue the fightback as Baxter finished double 16, and although Pipe hit a 13-darter to stay in the game his respite was short-lived as Baxter sealed victory in the same manner on double eight.
Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Baxter hits a 180 and finishes tops at the first time of asking to open the game with a 13-darter.
1-1 - Baxter lands another maximum, but Pipe replies in kind to leave 76 and returns to land double eight with his third dart after the home favourite misses one dart at tops.
1-2 - Baxter is again first to a finish, and takes out double ten to regain the edge.
2-2 - The players again trade 180s, with Pipe leaving 60 after nine darts and having enough cushion to miss two darts at tops and one at double ten before hitting the bed to level.
3-2 - Baxter fires in his fourth 180 of the game, but misses two darts at double 16 and Pipe finishes 76 on double 18 to break.
4-2 - Baxter hits a 180 and follows that with 139, but misses three darts to break back, and Pipe takes out tops to move two legs clear.
4-3 - Baxter overcomes his troubles on double 16 to hit back.
4-4 - Pipe misses three darts to win the leg, and Baxter steps in to finish 75 on tops to break back and level.
4-5 - Pipe hits a 180 to leave 130, but misses the bull to take out the finish and Baxter checks out 107 to regain the lead.
4-6 - Baxter breaks by landing tops for a third successive leg to move two clear.
4-7 - Baxter finishes a brilliant 150 checkout on double 15.
5-7 - Pipe opens with 140 and 180 before finishing double 16 for an 11-darter.
5-8 - Both players hit 180s, and Baxter lands double nine to win his eighth leg of the game, taking him half-way to victory.
6-8 - Baxter posts his seventh 180, but Pipe takes out double 16 to hit back.
6-9 - Baxter moves back into a three-leg lead by finishing double ten.
7-9 - Pipe lands his sixth 180 of the game and finishes double nine to hit back.
7-10 - Baxter finishes double 16 to win his tenth leg of the contest.
7-11 - Baxter lands tops to break throw again.
7-12 - Double six sees Baxter pull clear of Pipe.
7-13 - Pipe posts another 180, but misses eight darts at doubles to win the leg and Baxter finishes double two to take another leg.
7-14 - Baxter hits his eighth 180 of the game and posts double 16 to move two legs away from the win.
8-14 - Baxter misses darts at double top and ten to move a leg away from victory and Pipe lands tops to hit back.
9-14 - Baxter misses two further darts at tops, and Pipe hits the bed to complete an 80 combination and break throw.
10-14 - Pipe opens with 140 and 180 and finishes double ten to continue his revival.
10-15 - Baxter misses the single ten to leave 40 on a 104 finish, but Pipe misses double 18 for a 76 finish to allow the 1998 runner-up to take out double 16 and move a leg away from the semis.
11-15 - Pipe finishes double 12 for a superb 13-darter to remain in the hunt.
11-16 - Baxter wins the game in style with a 13-darter, posting double eight to move into his first major semi-final for three years.
Match Stats
Justin Pipe 11-16 Ronnie Baxter
100+: 32 - 31
140+: 21 - 23
180: 8 - 8
Ave: 91,47 - 97,05
HF: 80 - 150 / 107
Quelle: PDC.tv
