Chizzy buries “The Count” after remarkable comeback

New kid on the block Dave Chisnall marched emphatically into the last four after producing an amazing comeback to bury Ted “The Count” Hankey 5-4 in a thrilling 90 minute match.

The quietly-spoken 29-year-old St Helens player just couldn’t believe his luck as he battled back to turn a 4-1 interval  reversal into victory over the defending champ and fifth seed.

Hankey took the opening set against the throw including hitting a maximum. He fired out a further four 180s and a 12-darter as he brought the first session of darts, lasting 52 minutes to a conclusion, appearing to have one leg already in the semi final.

The defending champ took the opening leg of the sixth but determined Chisnall replied with an 11 darter finished on double tops against the throwing advantage, following up with a 12-darter in the next, including a maximum. The next leg went to the man from St Helens in 14 darts to reduce Hankey’s lead to 4-2.

Twice Chisnall led the seventh, both players hitting a maximum in the fourth leg as Hankey levelled, the title holder blasting in a 180, which was countered by Chizzy who then clinched victory with an unconventional 73 checkout – single three, treble 20, double five.

Hankey acknowledged the young players brave comeback touching knuckles.

The Lancashire county player then defied the odds taking the opening leg of the eighth against the throw to pressurise Dracula-lover Hankey and then countered a series of missed doubles from the Telford player to open up a 2-0 set lead. He then added the next with double three after Hankey missed double tops.

Both players hit 180 in the opening leg of the ninth set,  Chisnall coolly checking out on double 12 but only after picking up the dart that he had dropped on the floor. He then swept home double 16 as Hankey faltered.

Chisnall fired in another 180 in the next but he then missed six doubles and Hankey seven to save the match before the St Helens man clinched victory with double two.

Afterwards an incredulous Chisnall declared: “I just did not give up. At the interval I thought I was finished but people told me not to give up. I missed a few doubles in the first half of the game but just kept plodding on and started to hit the trebles and doubles in the second half of the match.

“My family have not been able to make it down this week because of the weather but I will be making arrangements for them to be here for Saturday’s semi final,” declared Chizzy.

Bitterly disappointed Hankey said: “Without the break I would have won 5-1. I can’t believe what happened. After the break Dave came out as a different  person, he was unbelievable.”