The first best of 17 set Semi-Final between England's Mervyn King and Australia's Simon Whitlock saw both players getting off to a good start. After 12 darts Whitlock was down to 40, but missed and King punished him by checking 62 in 15 darts.

'The King' kept up the pace in the second leg and checked out in 14 darts to take the first set. He started set two and was on D18 after 15 darts. Both players then missed 6 darts at double before King hit that elusive D18 for the first leg.

In the second both hit back-to-back 140's. Whitlock then hit 137 to leave 84. But again he missed the checkout and King hit a crushing 121 out shot to make it 2-0.

Whitlock then hit the first 180 of the match to gain an advantage, and left 36 after 15 darts. This time he made no mistake - checking out first dart to win the leg. King threw some loose darts in leg two, but Whitlock, seemingly rejuvenated, and opened with134 -140 -140 to leave 87 after 9 darts. King then pressured with a 180 to leave 78, but Whitlock checked out to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The first leg of set four saw King check on 89 in 15 darts. Whitlock started leg two, but King opened with a 180. Whitlock replied with one of his own and then checked out on 110 for a 15 darter to level the set. King started the deciding leg with 100, followed by another 180, and 85 to leave 136 after 9 darts.

Simon was way back, and a 120 from King left D8, which he checked in 13 darts to make it 3-1. King checked out on 132 for yet another 15 darter in the first leg of the 5th set, this time against the darts. Simon made a great effort to get back into the set, and hit 180 to leave 73 after 12 darts, but he failed to check out and Mervyn took another set to make it 4 - 1.

Set six opened with more high scores. Another 180 from Whitlock had no effect as King checked on 121 for another 12 darter.

In the second leg Simon hit a 14 darter to level the set, and then hit another 180 in the deciding leg and took it in 18 darts. The set score was now 4-2 to King. Whitlock started set seven and the pace was maintained, bit it was King who checked out, against the darts having previously narrowly missed a 131 checkout.

He then took the next to extend his lead to 5-2. King had the darts in set eight, but Whitlock got off to the better start with a 140. King evened things up with a 140 and 121,and left 32 after 15 darts. He duly took the leg, but Whitlock raced away with leg two, and a 14 darter squared the set. Both opened with 140's in the deciding leg, but it was Whitlock who seized the initiative with another 140 and a ton. He left 40 after 12 darts with King back on 147 and went on to make the set score 5-3 at the interval.

King was throwing everything at Whitlock, but the tenacity of the man was apparent. He has shown all through this tournament that he never gives in. The Aussie known as 'The Wizard Of Oz had the darts in set nine, but King pressured him and checked out in 15 darts to break the throw.

King looked supremely confident in the second leg, leaving 16 after 15 darts to win the leg and yet another set. The appreciative crowd saw another great leg of darts to start set ten, with Whitlock checking out in 14 darts.

Mervyn came back with two magnificent legs, checking out in 13 darts for the set and a seemingly unassailable 7 - 3 lead. In the 11th, King took the first leg with a 102 checkout against the darts, but Whitlock bowed but not beaten, broke straight back with a 14 darter to level the set.

The deciding leg was close, until Mervyn hit yet another well timed a maximum to get his nose in front. He took the set with an 18 darter after both players had missed darts at the double.

At 8-3 King was throwing for the match and a place in the final. He started with the darts and those hoping to see a repeat of what Simon had done against Raymond Barneveld were to be disappointed.

The all-conquering King left 40 after 15 darts, and hit D20 with his first dart to give Whitlock no chance. Whitlock now knew he had to win the 2nd leg just to stay alive, but could only open with a dispiriting 60.

Now in full cry, King hit another crushing 180. This revived Whitlock, who then hit a 180 of his own. King then hit 140 to leave 91 after 9 darts. A brave Whitlock got down to 68, but King checked the 91 without faltering to makes it game, set and match.

The jubilant King now marches into the Tempus IDL Final rightly proud of his status as one of the best players in the world. Indeed, by getting to the final he has now leapfrogged over Raymond Barneveld and Martin Adams to be the BDO No.1 in the world.

The amiable and highly talented Simon Whitlock should not be too hard on himself. He's enjoyed a great tournament, played some great matches and made many friends in the world of darts. Both he and Australia should be proud.
MERVYN KING (31.71) 9 - 3 SIMON WHITLOCK (31.43)
SET SCORES: 2-0 2-0 0-2 2-1 2-0 1-2 2-0 1-2 2-0 2-1 2-1 2-0

The second Semi-Final was the all-England clash between Martin Adams and Tony O'Shea, and it was Adams who opened strongly - leaving 32 after 12 darts and took the leg with the 13th. O'Shea started the second leg with 140 and kept his nose in front despite a couple of poor scores to check out on 66 and level the set. Adams responded well and a 180, and two tons left him 25 after 12 darts. He checked out in 14 darts to take the first set.

Stung into action, O'Shea started the second set with 180-140 and had no problems hitting D20 for a fifteen darter. The second leg was close, and a late 180-134 from O'Shea put Adams (right) under pressure and the England captain failed to check out from 80. O'Shea duly nailed D16 to level at 1-1 in sets.

Adams started set three, but Tony hit 180 to again put pressure on the darts. Both players scored well, and a 140 from Adams left 36 but once again he failed to check out, and O'Shea made no mistake from 86 for the first leg against the darts. 'Silverback' then started the second leg slowly and Adams hit 140-180 for a big lead. A 145 left him on 36 after 9 darts, and he checked out in a superb 11 darts.

Adams then started the deciding leg poorly, but after 9 darts apiece there was nothing in it. O'Shea had a chance on 85 and took it to take the lead by 2-1. He had the darts in the fourth set and held the throw in 17 darts for the first leg.

The second leg saw O'Shea scoring slightly the better of the two. Adams failed to check out from 96 and then O'Shea missed from 56 before Adams leveled the set. Both players opened the 3rd leg with 140's and it was touch and go, but it was Tony who hit D16 for the set with Adams waiting on tops.

O'Shea was really racing now and started the 5th set with a maximum against the darts. But Adams was not to be denied, and a 13 darter gave him the first leg. Tony scored well in the second leg, but Martin stayed close. With O'Shea down to 96, he took out a 116 to win the set and reduce his arrears to a single set. This was a now a real thriller and the pace showed no signs of slacking.

Adams threw best in the first leg, finishing in 14 darts from 64 for a leg against the darts. O'Shea fought back in leg two and a 180 gave him a good lead. Adams then got down to16 after 15 darts, only to see O'Shea check out from 70 to break straight back. O'Shea started the 3rd leg and was on 61 after 12 darts. Wolfie left 170 and got a shot as Tony failed on 61. However he made no mistake on 32 next time and increased his lead to 4-2.

The seventh set went to Adams to make it 4-3 in O'Shea's favour, and it was real edge of the seat excitement. O'Shea had the darts in set eight and checked out with his 16th darts. Adams then looked to have the second leg under control, but O'Shea pressured him with a 180 and then checked out on a crowd pleasing 164 to regain the upper hand at 5-3 at the break.

After the interval Adams scored well, but Tony took it with D20 against the darts. Both scored well in leg two and O'Shea was down to 24 when Adams checked out on a great116 to break back and level the set. O'Shea started best in the third leg and held a lead throughout the leg.

However, Wolfie made the most of a shot at 120, and with it won the set. It was now 5-4 and the crowd were loving every minute. Set ten saw both players continue to pepper the treble twenty, and O'Shea was down to 81 after 9 darts - eventually winning in 14. There was little to choose between the two in the second leg, until O'Shea hit a 180 and restored his 2 set lead. He then hit another 14 darter to take the darts off Adams in leg one of the eleventh set. Adams responded with a 180 at the start of the second leg, and broke back with a 14 darter of his own to square the set. Another high scoring leg saw Adams miss from 72 only to see O'Shea take out 64 to make it 7-4.

It was O'Shea (left) with the darts in set twelve and Adams was pushing him hard. But, O'Shea made no mistake and held the darts to lead the set. Now O'Shea put Adams under pressure in the next and when he missed a 117, it was O'Shea who looked good on 76. However he missed it. In fact, both players had chances before O'Shea eventually checked out on 32 to take himself within one set of the match. In the 13th set it was Adams who started best with a 140, but he fell away with a couple of low scores and Tony was pressing him again. Adams then missed tops at his first attempt, as did Tony. Adams who took the leg gratefully took the reprieve.

O'Shea opened the second leg poorly and Adams went out on D16 in 13 darts to make it 8 - 5. Suddenly it was Adams doing the pressing, and he missed the bull to leave 25 after 12 darts. He missed again on his next visit, as did Tony from 64. But then agonisingly, Adams missed again from 8 to let O'Shea in for a crucial leg. In the second leg both players opened with 140 then 100. After that Martin forged ahead leaving 40 after 12 darts - checking out in 14 darts to level the set. Tony now had the darts for the match and started with a disappointing 60. Adams hit 125 and O'Shea recovered with a timely 180.

Another 140 from Adams gave him an edge, but O'Shea fought back with a 123 to leave 38. Martin then missed on 96 and Tony checked out 38 for the match 9-5. It was another 'classic' from Martin Adams as his averages show. It was a game filled with grit, determination and high scoring. It was a shame that there had to be a loser, but it was Tony O'Shea who confirmed that his form all week has been superb. He's now beaten his England Captain and will now meet his England teammate Mervyn King in the final. It should be a real cracker!
TONY O'SHEA (30.77) 9-5 MARTIN ADAMS (31.95)
Set Scores: 2-1 0-2 1-2 1-2 2-0 1-2 2-0 0-2 2-1 0-2 1-2 0-2 2-0 1-2

THE FINAL WILL BE PLAYED ON SUNDAY, MAY 15TH and will be the Best of 25 Sets:

MERVYN KING (ENGLAND) v TONY O'SHEA (ENGLAND)

(with thanks to WDF Webmaster Roy Price) Information supplied by ROBERT HOLMES

Simon Whitlock first match victory
over Niels de Ruiter

Simon Whitlock on his way to victory over Raymond van Barneveld

This Website is maintained by TailoredPages for the Darts Federation of Australia