ADRIAN LEWIS claimed victory in the inaugural TAB Auckland Darts Masters with an incredible 11-10 triumph over Raymond van Barneveld, following up a semi-final defeat of Phil Taylor with his first PDC World Series of Darts win.

Lewis had ended Taylor's bid to win a fourth successive World Series of Darts event with a superb 10-9 semi-final win in a game which he never led until hitting the winning double 16.

He then returned to the stage to conetest a thrilling final with van Barneveld, which also went the full distance as the Stoke star bounced back from his defeat in last week's Sydney Darts Masters to finally go all the way.

Lewis hit back from 2-0 down to lead 4-2, and also moved 8-5 and 10-8 only for van Barneveld to twice level, with the Dutchman taking his tally of 180s for the match to 11 as the game moved into a deciding leg.

With almost 5,000 fans on the edge of their seats at the Trusts Arena, van Barneveld was first to a finish in the final leg only to miss five match darts as Lewis recovered from two misses of his own to steady his nerves and fire in double one for glory.

"This is brilliant and it ranks up there as one of the greatest tournaments I've ever won," said the two-time World Champion. "I had a dart to go 9-6 up and missed, and when Raymond got level I thought I'd blown it.

"He was outstanding and it's one of the best performances I've ever seen from him - every time I turned around he seemed to be hitting a 180 and he made it really tough.

"On that final double I had to stop and to be honest I was looking for someone in the crowd to throw the double one for me! I took my time and thankfully it went right in the middle.

"It's very special to be the first winner in New Zealand. Phil Taylor's always said to me about trying to be the first player to win when we go to a new country, and I'm over the moon to be the first winner here in Auckland.

"I've beaten Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld in the last three matches and it can't get much tougher than that. It's massive and I think I've done really well.

"I learned from the final in Sydney and my consistency was great. I've had a couple of semi-finals on the World Series, the final last week and now won in Auckland, so I'm really happy with that."

The inaugural event in Auckland was a huge success with 15,000 fans attending the three days at the Trusts Arena, and Lewis added: "This is one of the best crowds we've ever played in front of, and I think all the players would say that.

"Everybody enjoyed the darts and gave us great support."

Van Barneveld made the early running in the final, landing a 180 and double 12 to take the opener and double 18 to move two legs up.

Lewis, though, fired back with 180s in the next three legs as he took out tops, double 12 for a 12-darter and a sensational 123 bullseye finish - after van Barneveld missed the same middle double - to take a 3-2 lead.

He then posted three 140s in winning leg six to move 4-2 up, with van Barneveld enjoying six perfect darts with two 180s in the next as he responded with a 12-darter of his own.

The pair traded double eight finishes before Lewis fired in a 180 and a 102 checkout, with van Barneveld replying with a maximum and double 16 to stay in touch at 6-5.

Lewis, though, landed another maximum in an 11-darter before breaking throw on double 16 in the 13th leg - despite a van Barneveld 180 - take a three-leg lead at 8-5.

Van Barneveld, though, took the next three to level, taking out 65 on tops, double four to punish three misses from Lewis and 86 on the bull, to follow up two 180s, as he squared the game at eight-all.

A pair of double top finishes saw Lewis move out to 10-8, but van Barneveld hit six perfect darts for the second time in the game as he stayed in the contest with a 13-dart finish, before hitting his 11th maximum and double nine to send the game all the way.

Two 140s to open the final leg from van Barneveld were followed by a 171 score from Lewis, with the Dutchman initially missing double eight and four to take the win.

Lewis was then unable to land double four and two to take out 68, but when van Barneveld missed three further match darts, with two at double four and one at double two, the 30-year-old composed himself before stepping up to hit the winning double one.

Lewis' semi-final had also gone all the way, as he ended Taylor's 14-game winning run on the PDC World Series of Darts with a sensational 10-9 win in an equally dramatic deciding leg.

Taylor had claimed wins in Japan, Perth and Sydney ahead of the PDC's debut in Auckland, and overcame Craig Caldwell and Simon Whitlock with superb displays to reach the last four.

He also looked on course to move into the final when he stormed into a 4-1 lead, taking out 78, 85 and double 16 before punishing a missed bullseye from Lewis in the fifth leg by following up a 174 score with a stunning 131 checkout.

Lewis replied with a 180 and double ten and landed a further two maximums in the seven, only to be left reeling once more as Taylor took out 121 on the bull for a 5-2 cushion.

A fifth maximum in four legs helped Lewis to kick-start his resurgence in the eighth leg, as double 18 hit back before he finished double 16 and double 12 to level the contest.

Taylor's 76 finish edged him back ahead before Lewis landed double 14 to level, but the 16-time World Champion again moved clear as he followed a third-dart double eight with double 12 to take an 8-6 lead.

Double ten saw Lewis respond in the 15th, and he hit six perfect darts with two 180s in levelling the contest in the next at eight-all.

Taylor again found another effort, hitting a 180 and taking out 122 on double 16 for a 12-darter to move 9-8 up and to the brink of victory, but Lewis finished a 14-darter on double eight to force a decider.

Nerves hit both players, with Taylor first to a finish only to miss four darts at double top and ten to claim victory, allowing his rival to sneak back in and finish 48 on double 16 to snatch victory - leading for the very first time in the game with his final dart.

Van Barneveld had won through to his second World Series of Darts final with a fine 10-6 win over battling James Wade in their last four clash at the Trusts Arena.

After the opening two legs went against the throw - as van Barneveld kicked off the game with a 180 and landed double 12 before Wade levelled with a 111 finish - the left-hander traded maximums and double top finishes with his opponent as he took a 3-2 advantage.

A missed bullseye from Wade to take a 4-2 lead was punished as van Barneveld posted double 16 as he embarked on a seven-leg surge, finishing 64 on double eight, double one, tops, double five and checkouts of 72 and 76 to move 9-3 up.

He also kicked off the 13th leg with a 180, but a missed match dart allowed Wade in to finish 100 to stay in the game, and a further four chances went begging for the Dutchman in the next as the left-hander hit double ten to continue his revival.

Wade then hit a 180 and tops to win a third successive leg, but the five-time World Champion was first to a finish in the next and took out double 16 to seal his spot in the decider.

Van Barneveld's narrow defeat extends his wait for a World Series of Darts title, having previously reached the 2013 Dubai Darts Masters final, and he said: "It was a fantastic match.

"At times during the final I was a few legs behind but then I got it to the final leg, and of course I'm disappointed when you miss darts to win.

"Yesterday I hit a crucial finish on the bullseye in the last leg against Michael van Gerwen which put me into the semi-finals, and today I missed five darts to win. If you don't hit it, your opponent will."

The Dutchman added: "The crowd were simply amazing and it was a privilege to play here.

"We gave them a fantastic match and I'm so proud to be in the final with Adrian - he's a fantastic champion."

The TAB Auckland Darts Masters concludes the PDC's five international World Series of Darts events for 2015, with the top eight players from the final rankings progressing to compete in the 24-player World Series of Darts Finals at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow on November 21-22.

TAB Auckland Darts Masters
Sunday August 30
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 10-6 James Wade
Adrian Lewis 10-9 Phil Taylor
Best of 19 legs

Final
Adrian Lewis 11-10 Raymond van Barneveld
Best of 21 legs

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD produced a stunning bullseye finish to win a dramatic final-leg shoot-out against Michael van Gerwen in the TAB Auckland Darts Masters quarter-finals on Saturday night, as Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and James Wade also claimed victories.

The five-time World Champion overcame his Dutch rival for the second successive weekend, following up last week's convincing triumph in Sydney with a battling comeback to thrill the 5,000 crowd at the Trusts Arena.

Van Gerwen had powered into leads of 3-0 and 4-1 before van Barneveld turned the tables to move 5-4 up, and though the world number one edged back ahead he was made to pay for two missed match darts as his rival claimed a dramatic win.

After double 18 helped van Gerwen win the opening leg in 14 darts, he took out 101 to break and then double five to win a third leg, and though double 12 got van Barneveld off the mark, an 88 checkout saw the 26-year-old move 4-1 up with a 12-darter.

Van Gerwen, though, missed the bull for a 170 finish and two further darts to win the next, with double ten seeing van Barneveld hit back before he took out 96, double eight and double 16 to amazingly move 5-4 up.

Double five saw van Gerwen hit back before he produced a sublime 167 checkout to regain the lead at 6-5, and after his opponent levelled on double one another 14-dart finish put the world number one a leg away from victory.

He opened the 14th leg with a fourth maximum of the game, but two misses at double eight to claim victory allowed van Barneveld to take out 64 on double 16 to force a decider before the five-time World Champion took out 84 on the bull to snatch a dramatic win.

Van Barneveld now takes on James Wade, produced a master-class in double top hitting as he overcame Peter Wright 8-5 to win through to the semi-finals.

"There's always a lot of pressure playing Michael because we're so close and he was determined to win after I beat him last week, and you could see his focus early on in the game," said van Barneveld.

"I came back but in the last leg you expect Michael to hit a 180 or an 11 or 12-darter, but he gave me a chance and it was a huge relief when that last dart went in the bullseye.

"So many times in the last few years I've lost games in the last leg, so finally the coin flipped my way today.

"It would be fantastic to reach the final and hopefully if I can beat James Wade in the semis then I can win the final, but James is a top class player and you know what you're going to get."

Wade and Wright had shared the wins from their previous two meetings in Perth and Sydney, but it was the left-hander who progressed to the last four by out-scoring his rival by four 180s to three and crucially winning seven legs out of eight on his favourite double top.

Wright claimed and immediate break of throw in the game's opening leg before Wade replied in kind, hitting a 180 and tops to level before taking the next on the same bed, after the colourful Scot missed a dart to break.

Wright landed a 180 and tops to level in leg four, but Wade finished 58 to edge back in front and then took the next two to move 5-2 up, following up a 101 checkout to punish three misses from his rival before then taking out 99 with two double tops.

One rare miss at tops from Wade allowed Wright to hit back in leg eight, and the pair traded 180s in the next before a superb 121 bullseye finish saw the gap cut to 5-4.

Both players also landed 180s in the tenth, but with Wright waiting on 40 to level the game Wade produced a key 82 finish to regain a two-leg cushion.

Wright's miss at double 16 in the next allowed Wade in to move 7-4 up, again on tops, and though the number three seed took out 62 to stay in the game, it was only a brief rally as the left-hander hit a 180 and a rare double ten to seal the win.

"Peter didn't play his natural game and I made the most of it," said Wade. "I'm really happy with how I hit double top and I felt good today.

"There's always room for improvement and I'll have to have more in the tank, but my game's never been about big finishes and big scores, it's always been about hitting that finish at the right time.

"It's a different day for the semi-finals and final but I'm excited about it. I know I can beat anyone in the world, but if you talk the talk you've got to walk the walk."

Phil Taylor's bid to win a fourth successive PDC World Series of Darts title continued with an 8-3 romp against Simon Whitlock, as the 16-time World Champion averaged 107.37 and finished eight doubles from 11 attempts to sweep into the semi-finals.

Taylor was in relentless mood as he claimed the game's opening seven legs without reply, and though Whitlock produced a three-leg rally it was not enough as the top seed sealed the win.

Taylor finished 62 and 89 to win the opening two legs in 14 and 12 darts, before punishing three missed doubles from Whitlock in the third with a sensational 170 maximum checkout.

Back-to-back 14-darters were followed by an 11-dart finish as Taylor took a six-leg lead, before he checked out 102 to maintain his dominance.

Taylor also landed a 180 in leg eight as he targeted a whitewash, but Whitlock took out a brilliant 135 finish to claim his first leg.

Taylor's 177 in the next was bettered by a 180 from the Australian, who then finished double 16 to continue his revival and 100 to pull back to 7-3, but the 55-year-old fired in a 171 score to pull clear in leg 11 before double ten sealed an emphatic display.

"Simon's back was against the wall but he was determined that he wouldn't give in, and to be honest he had nothing to lose at 7-0 and he started to relax and enjoy himself," said Taylor, who whitewashed Craig Caldwell in Friday's first round.

"When he got a couple of legs back he probably started to think he could win it, so I'm glad I got it finished when I did.

"I can look forward to the semi-finals now because I'm relaxed, enjoying myself and my form is building steadily throughout the tournament. I want to win this and it's all coming together."

Taylor will take on Adrian Lewis in the last four in a repeat of last week's Sydney Darts Masters final, after the number four seed produced a clinical display to knock out World Champion Gary Anderson 8-4.

Lewis took command from the start, matching Anderson's 180 with a maximum of his own before punishing missed doubles from the Scot to take out tops and double 16 to win the opening two legs.

Double ten saw Anderson get off the mark, with Lewis taking out 120 to move 3-1 up before an 11-darter saw the World Champion hit back once more as the pair traded 180s once again.

Anderson then kicked off the sixth leg with two 180s, but after missing out on a nine-darter went on to lose the leg as Lewis landed double four, before tops and an 83 finish moved the Stoke ace 6-2 up.

Anderson took out 126 and 127 to win two of the next three to stay in the hunt, but Lewis had finished 87 on tops to move to the brink of victory before taking out double 16 for a 14-darter to seal his spot in the semis.

"Gary's one of the best players I've ever played against, so to go up there and win 8-4 means a lot to me," said Lewis. "

"My finishing in the whole World Series has been pretty poor; my scoring has got me out of jail and when I've been under pressure I've taken out massive shots, but tonight my finishing was awesome.

"My finishing in these first couple of games has been fantastic, and now that I'm feeling confident in my finishing it will take a phenomenal performance to beat me. It will be a belter against Phil and he knows this will be a tough game."

The TAB Auckland Darts Masters concludes on Sunday evening at the Trusts Arena, with the semi-finals to be followed by the final of the PDC World Series of Darts event.

Tickets can be purchased through Eventfinda viawww.eventfinda.co.nz or through 0800 BUY TIX (289 849), and at the venue ticket office, with doors opening at 6pm.

TAB Auckland Darts Masters
Saturday August 29
Quarter-Finals
James Wade 8-5 Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen 7-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 8-3 Simon Whitlock
Gary Anderson 4-8 Adrian Lewis
Best of 15 legs

Sunday August 30 (7pm)
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Best of 19 legs

Final
Taylor/Lewis v van Barneveld/Wade
Best of 21 legs

HOME hopes in the inaugural TAB Auckland Darts Masters were extinguished on Friday night as Rob Szabo, Craig Caldwell and Mark Cleaver suffered first round defeats, while World Champion Gary Anderson avoided a huge upset against debutant Rob Modra.

The PDC World Series of Darts event kicked off with over 4,000 fans watching the eight first round games at the Trusts Arena, which included a trio of New Zealanders in action against some of the sport's biggest names.

Domestic number one Rob Szabo came up against the world number one Michael van Gerwen, and despite a plucky performance from the Wellington-based builder, he went down 6-3.

Van Gerwen's 92 to win the opening leg was cancelled out by Szabo's double nine, before the Dutchman strung together brilliant legs of 14, 11 and 12 darts to sweep into a 4-1 cushion.

Szabo landed a 180 and tops as he took the sixth leg, with van Gerwen hitting a 131 finish to move 5-2 up and to the brink of victory.

The world number one also landed two 180s in a leg for the second time in the game in the next leg, but double ten kept Szabo in the game before van Gerwen stepped in to eventually claim his quarter-final spot on double five.

"Of the qualifiers I think Rob was the best player and I had to perform well," said van Gerwen.

"I remember he made it difficult for Phil in the World Championship and that was in my mind, and Rob did well in a few moments but he had too many loose darts in this game."

The three-time Dubai Darts Masters champion added: "I'm trying to win this tournament. The last two World Series events didn't go as well for me but I'm really looking forward to putting on a fantastic performance here in New Zealand."

Szabo will compete in the World Championship in London in December, and admitted: "It's not the result I wanted because I always thought that if I could play my top game I'd have a shot.

"I got into the match at the end but he threw well and I enjoyed the battle."

Another Wellington ace, Craig Caldwell, suffered a 6-0 whitewash to a clinical Phil Taylor, who averaged 104.86 and hit six doubles from eight attempts in his 13-minute triumph.

Taylor kicked off the game with scores of 140 and 180, but actually only won the opening leg - with a 68 finish - after Caldwell had wired the bullseye for a 161 checkout.

He added another 180 in leg two, which he won by taking out 63, and then landed double 16 in successive legs to lead 4-0.

A 108 checkout saw Taylor move five legs clear, with Caldwell then wiring double 16 to finish 104 in the next as the 16-time World Champion fired in tops to complete a ruthless win.

"The 6-0 scoreline looks like a thrashing but it wasn't," said Taylor. "My finishing was good tonight.

"Craig had to win a tournament just to qualify to get here, which is a great achievement. He's a good player but he just lacks that little bit of experience on TV and he's getting that now, and I think he's going to improve.

"The first leg was the turning point because if he'd hit that bullseye it could have been a different game. He'd have been 1-0 up and confident, so that 68 finish was the key shot for me.

"I'm really determined to win this tournament and it's a great start for me."

The event's other New Zealander, Stratford-based Mark Cleaver, was defeated 6-1 by world number four Peter Wright on his televised debut.

Wright kicked off the game with a 180 and won the opening leg with a 12-darter, before hitting another maximum and double ten to break in the second.

Cleaver, who had battled through the DPNZ Qualifiers in Swanson this week to earn his debut on the big stage, missed two darts to get off the mark in the third as Wright moved 3-0 up on double one, before the home hope landed tops in the next to hit back.

Wright, though, responded by hitting the same bed to regain his cushion at 4-1, before taking out 116 and 81 in the next two legs to seal his win.

"I wanted to perform well for the crowd here and I started great with the 12-darter, but it was downhill from there," said Wright.

"Mark's a good player and he was hitting everything when he was practicing, but it was his first time on stage and he wanted to perform for his home crowd. I think he tightened up and it didn't quite go as he would have wanted to.

"I wanted to go out and hit a big 100+ average and that didn't happen, but I'm through and that's the most important thing."

World Champion Gary Anderson stared defeat in the face against Australian debutant Rob Modra before snatching a narrow 6-5 win in a dramatic first round contest.

After Anderson took out 88 on the bull and tops to win the first two legs, he could only watch as Adelaide's Modra took out 100, 126 and 120 to stun the Scot and take a 3-2 advantage.

The Australian also missed four darts to take the sixth leg as Anderson escaped from misses across three earlier visits by landing double one to level - only to see Modra finish 78 on tops for a 4-3 lead and double eight to move 5-4 up.

Anderson posted a maximum and tops to take the game into a decider, in which he landed a 180 to be first to a finish - only to then miss two darts at double 19 to finish 95.

Modra, though, was unable to take out 100 to snatch the win, and Anderson returned to spare his blushes on double 19.

"I've not seen Rob for about ten years and I hope it's another ten years before I see him again because his finishing was superb," joked Anderson afterwards. "I was scoring well but I'd miss a double and he was checking out.

"It's my first time in New Zealand so I was a bit shaky but I've got through this."

Australian star Simon Whitlock claimed a superb 6-4 win over number eight seed Stephen Bunting in a see-saw contest to set up a quarter-final against Phil Taylor in Auckland on Saturday.

Whitlock has been defeated in the first round of the World Series of Darts events in Perth and Sydney over the past fortnight, but showed his class against the former Lakeside Champion.

Finishes of 76 and 62 were an ideal start for Whitlock, with Bunting taking the third leg on double 16 only to see the former European Champion take the next three, twice punishing missed doubles from his opponent before hiting a 177 and a 68 finish to establish a 5-1 cushion.

Bunting regained his range on double 16 to hit back in leg seven, and landed a 180 and double 19 to break throw before taking out 62 to suddenly pull back to 5-4.

He also opened the tenth leg with a 180, but Whitlock fired in a 171 score as he left 94 before finishing the combination on double six to hold off Bunting's fightback and surge over the winning line.

"I've got every emotion going through me and that was an amazing win," admitted Whitlock. "I'm over the moon to win again and I want to build on this now.

"I've been working really hard and I was confident when I went out there.

"When he got back to 5-3 I started to feel under pressure but I wanted one chance to win the match and I got it, and took it. I haven't won many games on TV lately but I held it together, which is fantastic."

Whitlock added: "Phil's the best player in the world right now; he's won in Perth and Sydney with amazing darts so he's going to be tough to beat, but hopefully I'll get the New Zealand crowd behind me.

"I've got a lot of fans here and friends and I feel right at home in New Zealand. I got a fantastic reception and I'll do the best I can against Phil and play my own game."

Adrian Lewis made a clinical start to his challenge in Auckland, following up last week's run to the final in Sydney with a 6-2 defeat of DPA Qualifier David Platt.

Platt shared the game's first four legs, despite Lewis landing a trio of maximums, but the World Champion finished double ten for a 3-2 lead before breaking throw with a killer 121 checkout on the bull.

Double eight moved Lewis three legs clear, and when Platt missed his chance to keep the game alive, the Stoke ace stepped in once more on double ten as he set up a quarter-final clash with Anderson.

"David's a good mate from when he was back in the UK, and to be honest it was the draw that I didn't want so I'm happy with that win," said Lewis. "He scored pretty well but the 121 checkout changed the game.

"I scored brilliantly in patches tonight but I finished really well and that's what I'm most impressed with. If my finishing stays like that I think I've got a great chance this weekend."

Raymond van Barneveld needed just 14 minutes to set up a quarter-final against Dutch rival van Gerwen with a 6-0 whitewash of qualifier Loz Ryder, as the Australian Grand Prix number one was condemned to defeat in the first round.

Finishes of 78 and 112 put van Barneveld in command immediately before he tok out double 16 and 80 to take a 4-0 lead, with double eight moving him to the brink of a win which was sealed in style with an 11-darter, featuring a 180 and a 76 checkout.

"I was very confident and I've been scoring well in practice, and I felt comfortable and in the zone so it's a fantastic win," said van Barneveld.

"Loz didn't play his A-game but the target is always to beat your opponent 6-0 so I'm very happy to have done that, really satisfied."

James Wade held off a spirited fightback from Paul Nicholson before pulling clear to claim a 6-3 win from their first round contest as he progressed to a meeting with Wright.

A superb start saw the recent Perth Darts Masters finalist take a 3-0 lead, finishing 108 in the opening leg, hitting two 180s as a 13-darter doubled the advantage and tops to move three legs up.

Nicholson, though, hit back with double 16 before punishing five missed doubles from Wade to finish double ten, and a fine 14-darter completed on tops saw the former Players Championship Finals winner level the game.

Wade, though, took a key seventh with a clinical 70 checkout, pinned a third-dart double three to move 5-3 up and then landed tops to complete victory.

"I wasn't at my best, but I'm happy with the win," said Wade. "It was a slog but Paul isn't at his best at the moment and it's hard playing against him.

"We all know how good he can be, but I had to get the job done tonight and I got there in the end."

The quarter-finals will take place on Saturday evening (7pm), before the tournament concludes on Sunday with the semi-finals and final at the Trusts Arena.

The TAB Auckland Darts Masters will be played at the Trusts Arena from August 28-30. Tickets can be purchased through Eventfinda viawww.eventfinda.co.nz or through 0800 BUY TIX (289 849).

TAB Auckland Darts Masters
Friday August 28
First Round
Adrian Lewis 6-2 David Platt
Peter Wright 6-1 Mark Cleaver
James Wade 6-3 Paul Nicholson
Phil Taylor 6-0 Craig Caldwell
Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 Loz Ryder
Stephen Bunting 4-6 Simon Whitlock
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Rob Szabo
Gary Anderson 6-5 Rob Modra
Best of 11 legs

Saturday August 29 (7pm)
Quarter-Finals
James Wade v Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor v Simon Whitlock
Gary Anderson v Adrian Lewis
Best of 15 legs

Sunday August 30 (7pm)
Semi-Finals - Best of 19 legs
Final - Best of 21 legs

CRAIG CALDWELL finally won his spot in the TAB Auckland Darts Masters after taking victory in the fourth DPNZ Qualifier on Thursday.

Caldwell had been defeated in the final of two of the previous three DPNZ Qualifiers for the PDC World Series of Darts event this week, losing out to Loz Ryder on Tuesday and against Rob Modra on Wednesday.

However, he made amends by seeing off Deon Toki 6-4 in the final of Thursday's event at the Swanson RSA, securing himself the 16th spot in this weekend's inaugural TAB Auckland Darts Masters at the Trusts Arena.

A World Cup of Darts representative for New Zealand previously, Caldwell will now compete in his third successive World Series of Darts event, having played in the Perth Darts Masters and Sydney Darts Masters over the past fortnight - losing to Phil Taylor and James Wade respectively.

Caldwell will meet Taylor again in Auckland when they clash in Friday's first round, and goes into the game on a high following Thursday's success.

The knockout stage of the tournament had included a victory for Caldwell over former World Championship Qualifier Mark McGrath before he knocked out Cody Harris - a qualifier in Sydney a week ago - Mick Lacey and Kerry Whear in reaching the decider.

Toki had seen off Mike Buttar, Anthony Benitez and Tukina Weko on his way to the final, while Whear overcame New Zealand World Cup ace Warren Parry in the last 16.

2013 Sydney Darts Masters qualifier Monty Tuhua and Chris Robson joined Benitez and Lace in losing out in the quarter-finals in Swanson.

The TAB Auckland Darts Masters will be played at the Trusts Arena from August 28-30. Tickets can be purchased through Eventfinda viawww.eventfinda.co.nz or through 0800 BUY TIX (289 849).

2015 TAB Auckland Darts Masters
DPA Qualifier Four - Thursday August 27
Last 16
Tukina Weko 3-2 Ricci Grant
Monty Tuhua 3-1 Leon Twose
Anthony Benitez 3-1 Hemi Johnson
Deon Toki 3-0 Mike Buttar
Mick Lacey 3-2 Ryan Kitson
Craig Caldwell 3-0 Cody Harris
Kerry Whear 3-0 Warren Parry
Chris Robson 3-2 Damon Heta

Quarter-Finals
Tukina Weko 4-1 Monty Tuhua
Deon Toki 4-2 Anthony Benitez
Craig Caldwell 4-1 Mick Lacey
Kerry Whear 4-3 Chris Robson

Semi-Finals
Deon Toki 5-4 Tukina Weko
Craig Caldwell 5-2 Kerry Whear

Final
Craig Caldwell 6-4 Deon Toki

TAB Auckland Darts Masters Draw Bracket 
Phil Taylor (1) v Craig Caldwell
Stephen Bunting (8) v Simon Whitlock
Gary Anderson (5) v Rob Modra
Adrian Lewis (4) v David Platt
Michael van Gerwen (2) v Rob Szabo
Raymond van Barneveld (7) v Loz Ryder
James Wade (6) v Paul Nicholson
Peter Wright (3) v Mark Cleaver

TAB Auckland Darts Masters - Trusts Arena, August 28-30
Friday August 28 (7pm-11pm)
First Round
Adrian Lewis v David Platt
Peter Wright v Mark Cleaver
James Wade v Paul Nicholson
Phil Taylor v Craig Caldwell
Raymond van Barneveld v Loz Ryder
Stephen Bunting v Simon Whitlock
Michael van Gerwen v Rob Szabo
Gary Anderson v Rob Modra
Best of 11 legs

Saturday August 29 (7pm-10.30pm)
Quarter-Finals - Best of 15 legs

Sunday August 30 (7pm-10.30pm)
Semi-Finals & Final
Semi-Finals best of 19 legs
Final best of 21 legs

NINE-DART superstar Phil Taylor completed a hat-trick of triumphs in the Coral Sydney Darts Masters with a memorable performance on Saturday night, landing a perfect leg against Peter Wright before sweeping past Adrian Lewis 11-3 in the final.

Taylor's dominance of the PDC's World Series of Darts events in Australia continued as he followed up last week's second successive Perth Darts Masters triumph with his third straight win in Sydney.

The victory extends his winning streak in Australia to 20 matches since 2013, and another historic night for the 16-time World Champion also saw him hit the first televised nine-darter in the country.

Taylor's perfect leg during his 10-7 semi-final win over Wright was the first since the PDC's World Series of Darts was introduced two years ago and his 11th in a televised contest as he secured another slice of glory to add to his glittering roll of honour.

While players on Australia's domestic circuit, including Kyle Anderson, have achieved nine-dart finishes previously, Taylor's minute of brilliance was the first on TV in the country as he delighted the Qantas Credit Union Arena crowd.

The nine-darter also came as Taylor booked his place in the final of the Sydney Darts Masters, seeing off Wright in fine style to remain on course for a third successive title.

He then stormed past Stoke rival Lewis with an imperious showing in the final to lift the trophy for a third straight year in Sydney, dropping only three legs a he took the title.

"I'm over the moon to have won this again," said Taylor. "I love it in Sydney and I'm a very proud man, and a very lucky man, to be a part of this event.

"The nine-darter was great and a very special moment for me. It's a wonderful achievement and I'm always proud to hit a nine-darter - but I've also got to remember that it's just one leg and it didn't win me the match.

"Peter came back at me after that so I couldn't celebrate for too long, but it's great to have hit another nine-dart finish, especially for it to be the first on TV in Australia.

"I can't wait for Auckland next week now because I'm loving every minute of it at the moment."

Taylor added: "Adrian didn't perform like he can do in the final, but I think his semi-final took a lot out of him. It's more experience for him and he'll be in a lot more finals in years to come.

"His 167 in the semi-final was absolutely brilliant and it won him the game. It was as good as Peter Wright's 141 against Michael van Gerwen to win the semi-final in Japan but it took a lot out of him."

Although Taylor took the final's opening leg in 13 darts, Lewis landed a 171 score which was followed in leg two with a 180 as he levelled with an 11-dart finish.

That, though, was as good as it got for Lewis as Taylor hit maximums in the next two legs to move 3-1 up, finished 92 in leg five and defied 180s from the world number five in successive legs to move 6-1 up.

Taylor then punished misses from Lewis as he took his streak to seven straight legs as he moved 8-1 up, with the two-time World Champion hitting a fourth 180 before finally hitting back, on double eight.

A 96 checkout from Taylor was followed by a maximum in leg 12 as Lewis posted double six to pull back to 9-3, but a miss at double 18 was punished by the 55-year-old on double two as he moved to the brink of a victory which was sealed in style with another maximum and a 97 checkout.

"After the previous three rounds, where every game went the full distance, when it came to the final I was trying to push and push but I had nothing else to give," said Lewis.

"Playing Barney in the semis took a lot out of me, and the harder I tried the worse I got, and Phil took full advantage. I've said it before and I'll say it again; there'll never be another Phil Taylor."

Perhaps the only nervous moments for Taylor on the night came at the start of his semi-final, when Wright finished 62 to break and then landed double two to move 2-0 up in a fine opening to the clash.

The game, though, turned in the next two legs as Wright twice missed the bullseye, seeing a potential 4-0 lead disappear as Taylor landed a pair of double top finishes to level the game.

A fourth 180 of the game from Taylor helped him to hit the front as he won leg five on double 12, before taking out 95 and 130 in the next two legs to suddenly pull clear at 5-2.

Taylor then set up a slice of history by opening leg eight with two 180s before finishing 141 with another treble 20, treble 19 and double 12 to complete his perfect leg.

Having celebrated the achievement, Taylor then took out 84 on double six to move 7-2 up, only for Wright to finish 80 on tops to win his first leg in eight and then finished double six and tops once more to reduce the gap to 7-5.

Taylor edged towards victory by sharing the next four legs, with Wright posting a pair of double 18 finishes to stay in the hunt at 9-7, but the 16-time World Champion was too strong in the next as double ten sealed his spot in the final.

"I played alright at the beginning of the match but my game went off," admitted Wright. "I couldn't find the treble 20 and although I got seven legs I didn't feel like I deserved that.

"It's good for me to get to the semi-finals and I'll move on to Auckland and prepare for the event there next week now."

Adrian Lewis sealed his spot in the decider with another nailbiting deciding-leg victory, as he edged past Raymond van Barneveld 10-9 in a see-saw contest to follow up his narrow wins over Simon Whitlock and Gary Anderson with another game which went the full distance.

A brace of 96 checkouts gave van Barneveld a 2-0 lead, only for Lewis to hit back strongly by winning the next four without reply to move ahead.

Van Barneveld regained his range on the doubles to respond on double ten, before two tops checkouts saw Lewis move 6-3 up.

Four misses in the next leg allowed van Barneveld back in, with double 16 giving him two successive legs to pull back to 6-5 before Lewis regained breathing space on tops.

Van Barneveld took out 91 before double four put Lewis 8-6 up - but the Dutchman found another gear with back-to-back 14-darters to level and double eight to move back ahead at 9-8 following three missed doubles from his rival.

Lewis, though, produced a stunning 167 finish to level and force a deciding leg, in which he hit a 140 and a 180 before posting double five to seal his place in a first World Series of Darts final.

The PDC's World Series of Darts treble-header concludes from August 28-30 with the inaugural Auckland Darts Masters at the Trusts Arena, which will be the first televised event staged in New Zealand.

Tickets for the Auckland Darts Masters can be purchased through Eventfinda viawww.eventfinda.co.nz or through 0800 BUY TIX (289 849).

2015 Coral Sydney Darts Masters
Saturday August 22
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 10-7 Peter Wright - Phil Taylor hits nine-dart finish
Raymond van Barneveld 9-10 Adrian Lewis
Best of 19 legs

Final
Phil Taylor 11-3 Adrian Lewis
Best of 21 legs

PHIL TAYLOR will begin the defence of his TABtouch Perth Darts Masters title against New Zealand's Craig Caldwell on Friday, while Michael van Gerwen faces David Platt in the first round of the PDC World Series of Darts event.

Taylor, the 16-time World Champion, took victory in the inaugural Perth Darts Masters last summer, defeating van Gerwen in the final at the HBF Stadium.

Taylor has also won the previous two Sydney Darts Masters titles and was victorious in June's Japan Darts Masters.

His challenge to retain the title in Perth, the first of three World Series of Darts events in Australia and New Zealand this month, will see him come up against DPNZ qualifier Caldwell.

Caldwell has twice previously represented New Zealand in the PDC World Cup of Darts, and will be making his World Series of Darts debut this month with appearances in both Perth and Sydney.

World number one van Gerwen will open up his challenge in Friday's first round against Platt, UK-born, Perth based thrower who also competed in Perth last summer and is a former World Championship and UK Open qualifier.

World Champion and Premier League champion Gary Anderson will play Kim Lewis, the Perth-based qualifier who won his spot in last weekend's final knockouts at the Rendezvous Hotel in Scarborough.

The other qualifier from last weekend, Perth's Adam Rowe, has drawn James Wade, with the world number six having celebrated his wedding to partner Sammi before the newlyweds jetted out to Australia.

Number three seed Peter Wright, the Japan Darts Masters runner-up recently, will take on Australian World Cup of Darts ace Paul Nicholson, the former Players Championship Finals winner, in their opening clash at the HBF Stadium.

Two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis is up against DPA Australian Grand Prix number one Loz Ryder, who followed up last year's appearances in Perth and Sydney by reaching the second round of the World Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Stephen Bunting, last year's Sydney Darts Masters runner-up, will face Perth's Kyle Anderson in a tasty first round contest, with the Australian ace having made huge strides in the past 18 months on the PDC circuit, including last month's World Matchplay qualification.

Another huge clash sees five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld drawn against top Australian Simon Whitlock, the former European Championship winner and last year's Singapore Darts Masters runner-up.

TABtouch Perth Darts Masters
First Round Draw & Tournament Draw Bracket
Phil Taylor (1) v Craig Caldwell
Stephen Bunting (8) v Kyle Anderson
Adrian Lewis (5) v Loz Ryder
Gary Anderson (4) v Kim Lewis
Michael van Gerwen (2) v David Platt
Raymond van Barneveld (7) v Simon Whitlock
James Wade (6) v Adam Rowe
Peter Wright (3) v Paul Nicholson

Schedule of Play
Friday August 14 (7pm-11pm)
First Round
James Wade v Adam Rowe
Gary Anderson v Kim Lewis
Adrian Lewis v Loz Ryder
Phil Taylor v Craig Caldwell
Stephen Bunting v Kyle Anderson
Peter Wright v Paul Nicholson
Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock
Michael van Gerwen v David Platt
Best of 11 legs

Saturday August 15 (7pm-10.30pm)
Quarter-Finals
Best of 15 legs

Sunday August 16 (7pm-10.30pm)
Semi-Finals & Final
Semi-Finals best of 19 legs
Final best of 21 legs

The TABtouch Perth Darts Masters will be held from Friday August 14-Sunday August 16 at the HBF Stadium in Perth. For tickets, visitwww.downunderevents.com.au.

The TABtouch Perth Darts Masters will be broadcast live on Fox Sports in Australia and worldwide through the PDC's series of broadcast partners, as well as online through www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers.

Coverage of the TABtouch Perth Darts Masters on ITV4 in the UK will be shown delayed at 8pm (BST) on Friday August 14, Saturday August 15 and Sunday August 16.

Television Coverage (Live unless stated)
Fox Sports - Australia
Sky - New Zealand
ITV4 - UK (delayed, from 8pm BST each day)
Fox Asia 
RTL7 - Netherlands (delayed, highlights from 10pm Dutch time on Friday & Saturday and 10.15pm on Sunday)
OSN - Middle East & North Africa
Setanta - Ireland
PPTV - China
www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers outside of UK, Ireland & Netherlands.