ALAN TABERN 2-1 DAVE CHISNALL

(1-3, 3-2, 3-2)
BATTLING Alan Tabern hit back from the brink of defeat to claim a dramatic victory over Dave Chisnall in the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix.

Chisnall looked set to storm to a debut victory on the Citywest Hotel stage when he won the opening set and led 2-1 in the second.

But he missed seven match darts for a straight sets victory as Tabern hit back, and even though he lifted his total of 180s to eight for the match he was unable to close out six further chances for the win in the game's deciding leg.

Chisnall landed the first of those maximums in winning the game's opening leg, and opened the second with a fine 160 score before taking the second with a 13-darter.

Tabern hit double ten to win the third, but his St Helens rival again opened with a 160 before double 18 gave him the first set.

Chisnall landed a 180 and double 16 to maintain his 100 percent finishing accuracy in opening the second set in style, and after Tabern took out 101 to level he posted another maximum and double four to move a leg away from the win.

Tabern got ahead in the fourth leg after Chisnall missed his first three starting doubles, but a 160 got the leader back into the match as the the tension mounted.

Tabern missed double top to save the game, but Chisnall wasted two match darts at tops and the pair both missed in two further visits before Tabern landed double five to keep the game alive - with his opponent having missed seven match darts.

The left-hander then finished 80 on tops to win the set and force a decider, before defying Chisnall's 180 by hitting double 16 to lead in the third set.

Chisnall finished 90 on double 18 to level, but double 16 incredibly moved Tabern a leg away from an improbable win.

The pressure looked to have cracked Chisnall as he missed five opening doubles in the fourth leg, but he hit 36 and then back-to-back 180s before finishing 105 for a 15-darter to send the match into a sudden-death leg.

Chisnall added an eighth maximum of the game to push ahead, but again stumbled at the finishing line as he missed two darts at double 12, one at double six and three and double three before Tabern returned to complete a remarkable comeback on double ten.

"Dave played the darts to beat any player and I don't know why or how he missed those match darts," said Tabern. "Maybe it's a little bit of experience and it worked in my favour, and I'll take that.

"I wasn't comfortable on my starting double at the start of the game but I switched to double 15 and it seemed to work and I put pressure on Dave.

"He threw probably the best darts out of any player so far in the tournament until he needed the winning double. He kept missing and I took my chances.

"I feel a bit sorry for him because I've had it happen to me too, but when people win tournaments they often win through games like that and I've got to take the positives from it. I've got nothing to lose now."

Match Stats

Dave Chisnall	1-2	Alan Tabern
10	100+	14
11	140+	11
8	180	0
29.62	Ave1	25.76
88.87	Ave3	77.27
1	Breaks of Throw	1
105	High Finish	101
14/33 - 42%	Starting Doubles	14/27 - 52%
7/25 - 28%	Finishing Doubles	7/18 - 39%