It will go down as THE greatest moment of Andy Hamilton’s career…..it was one of THE greatest comebacks in the 18-year-history of the World Matchplay.
It was one of those magical moments in the sport, as Hamilton came from 8-15 down against Simon Whitlock, to win NINE consecutive legs to reach the semi-finals…..and he will be joined in those semi-finals by World Champion Adrian Lewis.
“I can’t believe that,” Hamilton said. “I just cannot believe what I have just done.”
The Winter Gardens witnessed an epic, as Whitlock capitulated under blow after blow from Team Unicorn’s ‘Hammer’!
The Australian cut a lonely figure at the end.
At one stage, Hamilton was 500 to 1 against with some bookies, as Whitlock led 10-5, 13-7 and 15-8 but he blew it big time against a ‘Hammer’ force.
Whitlock missed five darts at ‘tops’ for the match, as his game went to pieces under increasing pressure, with each leg that Hamilton won.
He missed three clean darts at D20 to win the match 16-10 and that was the signal for the amazing fightback.
“When he missed those darts, I thought to myself maybe, just maybe,” Hamilton said. “And when I got it back to 15-13, I could see Simon was really struggling and I thought right, I can win this now!”
“It is one of the most incredible achievements of my career,” he added. “Nobody gave me a chance against Gary Anderson and it was the same story here. I have shut a few people up as well – those doubters who thought that I couldn’t perform again at the highest level….well, that’s one in the eye for the critics!”
It really did look all over at 13-7 and when Whitlock went 15-8 in front, he must have been thinking about a semi-final place, but bit-by-bit the momentum swung Hamilton’s way.
Nobody saw it coming, that’s for sure!
A 7th and 8th 180 and a 12 darter saw Hamilton break the Aussie’s throw for the first time to get back to 10-15…..and then came Whitlock’s first three misses at ‘tops’ to take the match.
The Australian missed another dart at D20 in the next leg to claim a 16-11 win and Hamilton won another leg, and another, and another….Whitlock hit a brilliant 180 to set up another victory shot but he blew yet another dart at ‘tops’ for a 16-13 scoreline!
It really was remarkable.
Hamilton levelled at 15 legs apiece and we were into the tie-break…..Whitlock was shattered as he missed three darts to edge ahead again and ‘The Hammer’ nailed D8 to go within one leg of the win.
Whitlock managed a 6th 180 but missed two more darts, this time at D18, to make it 16-16 and up stepped Hamilton with a brilliant bull finish on 94 to complete the miracle!
We were all left shaking our heads in utter disbelief…..Hamilton will face either Phil Taylor or Wes Newton in those semi-finals on Saturday.
Lewis looked calm, cool and collected as he came from 2-6 down to see off the challenge of Mark Webster.
He produced a golden spell of nine winning legs in eleven to take control of the match….it was a grip that wouldn’t be loosened.
A quartet of top finishes (87, 110, 118 and 85) mixed in with some heavy scoring…..11-9 up and although Webster came up with a terrific 10 dart leg, Lewis wasn’t going to be knocked out of his stride.
A fifth maximum and 90 check-out made it 13-11 and crucially, he broke the Welshman’s throw in the next leg and that was that.
Back-to-back 180s took him a leg away from the finishing line and a 177 left him 24 in the next and he eventually hit D12 with his fifth match dart to set up a semi-final showdown against either James Wade or Raymond van Barneveld.
“I never really felt under any pressure,” he said. “I know I made a slow start but I always knew that I had the game to win….now I want this tournament and that trophy!”
Lewis averaged 95 with a 43 per cent check-out success rate on the doubles.
Quarter-Final results:
Simon Whitlock 15-17 Andy Hamilton
Adrian Lewis 16-12 Mark Webster
Friday evening sees two massive all Unicorn quarter-finals, as Barneveld takes on Wade and Taylor plays Newton.
Remember, Barney beat Wade in last year’s semi-finals, while Newton goes in search of what would be the biggest win of his career against ‘The Power’.
By STUART PYKE at the World Matchplay in Blackpool
Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC