Count continues crusade for third title

Ted Hankey 5 – 1 Martin Atkins

Ted Hankey kept his hopes of becoming a triple World Champion very much alive with a resounding victory over Martin Atkins at Lakeside.

Friday the 13th proved to be The Count’s lucky day as he sunk his teeth into his opponent to reach his fourth world semi-final.

Atkins hit his first 180 in the opening leg but Hankey held his throw. The next three legs also went with the throw to set up a decider which Hankey won, just missing a 170 checkout on the way.

The legs continued to go with the throw in set two as The Count’s 86 checkout was followed by a 76 finish from the Assassin. It was Hankey who finally got the first break of throw, hitting double one to double his lead.

The two-time World Champion hit his first maximum and opened up a two nil lead in the third set. Atkinson broke back to keep himself in it but Hankey took out 52 to do the same and move further ahead in the match.

The Count grabbed another break of throw with a wonderful 90 checkout to kick off set four. The Assassin forced his way back into the set by breaking back immediately but Hankey produced a fabulous eleven darter to do the same. He then hit double five to move within a set of the semi-finals.

The 2009 winner held in the first leg of the fifth set before Atkins took the next three legs to pull a set back. The Count won the opening leg of set six against the throw and held to move within a single leg of victory. He wasted no time in finishing the job, taking out 64 to progress into the final four.

Hankey faces Holland’s Christian Kist in Saturday’s semi-final, while another Dutchman Wesley Harms takes on Tony O’Shea.