Gutsy Wade through to the partypoker.com World Grand Prix Final12/10/2014 Direct from Unicorn Darts
James Wade won through to his third partypoker.com World Grand Prix final with a stunning comeback to defeat Gary Anderson 4-3 in the all-Unicorn semi-final clash and will take on Michael van Gerwen in Sunday's final in Dublin.
Wade, the 2007 and 2010 World Grand Prix champion, continued his memorable week at the Citywest Hotel by following up his second round nine-dart finish and a quarter-final defeat of Phil Taylor with a resilient fightback from 3-1 down in sets.
Anderson won the opening six legs of the game without reply to take a two-set lead, and missed his chance to win the third as Wade followed up finishes of 101 and 104 by taking the set on double ten.
Anderson, though, finished 107 and a 13-darter as he edged the fourth for a 3-1 lead, only to see Wade hit back in amazing fashion.
The left-hander took set five without reply, landing a 121 finish on the bull for the third leg, and then levelled the game by taking set six 3-1.
Wade then moved ahead for the first time at 1-0 and 2-1 in the deciding set, only for Anderson to land finishes of 81 on the bull and 141 - after hitting a 13th 180 - to send the game into a sudden-death leg, which Wade took on double ten.
"Gary blew me completely out of the water in the first two sets," admitted Wade. "At 2-0 down I was preparing myself for a losers' speech, and I thought I was beaten.
"I held on for dear life and to win the third set was massive for me because when Gary's playing well, only Adrian Lewis can live with him, but I'm quite fortunate that he eased up and allowed me back into the game.
"I'm pretty good with pressure and I made the most of my opportunities."
Team Unicorn star Wade is bidding to win his first major TV title since 2011 when he competes in Sunday's final, and he added: "I've been there and done it before, and I'll look forward to the final now.
"I'm looking forward to what darts can bring me now and it's starting to be enjoyable again. If it's enjoyable it takes 20 percent of the pressure off."
2012 World Grand Prix champion van Gerwen, meanwhile, remains on course for his second triumph in the double-start format after cruising past Lakeside Champion Stephen Bunting in their last four contests.
Sunday's final will be preceded by the final of the Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay championship between Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney and Polish-born Radek Szaganski, with the winner of the event taking a place in the World Darts Championship in December.
The Irish Matchplay final will commence at 6.15pm, with the partypoker.com World Grand Prix final starting at 7pm.
partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Saturday October 11
Semi-Finals
James Wade 4-3 Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen 4-0 Stephen Bunting
Sunday October 12
Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC
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