Grand Slam of Darts - Match Reports Quarterfinals
Quarterfinals - Afternoon
Wolverhampton favourite Wayne Jones delighted his home crowd by edging into the semi-finals of the Daily
Grand Slam of Darts, sneaking past Gary Anderson 16-15 in a thriller on Saturday afternoon.
Jones never led during an entertaining contest, with Anderson taking leads of 4-1, 11-8 and 15-12 during the game but unable to close out the win.
Jones will now returned to the Wolves Civic on Sunday to compete in the semi-finals of his second major tournament this year, as he bids to take the £100,000 title.
"It's amazing and I'm absolutely delighted," said Jones. "My plan was to get in front of him and hold it but I had to do it the other way and battle from behind. It was a tight match all the way and a good, intense match which was brilliant to play in and it's brilliant to get through."
Anderson made an electric start, with legs of 13 and 14 darts being accompanied by a 134 checkout to break throw in the second as he led 3-01. Jones got off the mark on double 16 in the fourth, and traded the next two with Anderson before the Scot took out tops for a 5-2 lead and 100 for a 12-darter to edge four legs clear.
Jones fired in an 11-darter, featuring a 171 score, to take the ninth and then won the next three to hit back and level - including a 74 finish to break. Anderson replied with a 180 in a 12-darter to stop the run, with Jones checking out 81 in the next but only able to watch on, needing 40, as the Scot powered home a maximum 170 checkout to lead 8-7. Double 16 saw Jones level again, but an 11-dart leg inspired another three-leg burst as Anderson took out tops to break and a 124 checkout to lead 11-8.
Jones took out a 101 finish and an 11-darter of his own to win two of the next three, before Anderson posted a 120 checkout for a 13-10 advantage. Jones cut the lead to one leg by winning the next two, but then missed double 16 for a 100 finish to level as Anderson atoned for earlier misses with double five.
He also won the next on double 15 to move a leg away from the win, but would never get a dart to reach the semis as Jones hit back. He hit his first 180 of the game in a 13-darter and posted double 16 twice to level the game and force a decider.
Jones hit three tons, with Anderson replying too late with a 180 before missing a single 20 to leave double top - as the home favourite returned to finish 80 for a 14-darter to wrap up the triumph.
"I lost my way a little bit at the end and started to snatch my darts but Wayne was great and never gave in," said Anderson. "He played really well and came back brilliantly - I could never shake him off!"
James Wade dramatically won through to the Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals in a final leg
thriller against 2008 runner-up Terry Jenkins.
The world number two continued his best-ever run in the Wolverhampton Civic event to silence Jenkins' hefty support in a sensational contest as the pair battled out a classic, hitting 11 ton-plus finishes in the match.
Wade moved 14-11 up in pursuit of victory before Jenkins hit back to force a deciding leg - only to miss one dart to snatch victory as Wade sneaked through.
While Wade took the game's opening leg, Jenkins took the next three to establish a 3-1 lead, before a second double top finish of the game saw the left-hander take the fifth. Jenkins finished 130 to win the sixth, only for Wade to reply with checkouts of 120 and 124 to tie up the match - but then missed his chance to regain the lead as tops put the Ledbury man 5-4 up.
Wade then took out an 11-darter to level and finishes of 107 and 121 to regain the lead, and a 66 finish gave him an 8-5 cushion. Jenkins then roared back to win three in a row to square the contest, punishing three misses from Wade to break in one leg and also hitting a 13-darter as the game was levelled at eight-all. While Wade finished 78 for a 9-8 lead, Jenkins took out finishes of 156 and 140 for back-to-back 12-darters to move 10-9 up.
He also missed two darts to win the 20th leg as Wade levelled on double ten, before posting a 180 and tops to edge himself back ahead at 11-10. Wade missed the bull for a 135 checkout to take the next, with double top pulling Henkins level only for him to then waste three darts at double 18 as Wade moved 12-11 ahead. Wade then took out 78 to break in 14 darts, and a 100 finish saw him edge towards victory at 14-11.
Jenkins, though, hit double eight in the next and broke with a 120 finish, before finishing 100 himself for a 12-darter to tie up the game. A 107 checkout from Wade in the next took him to the brink of victory, only for Jenkins to produce his best leg of the game with an 11-darter to force a decider.
Wade was first to a double, but missed two darts at top as Jenkins earned his chance - only to see one dart miss the same bed before the left-hander posted double five with his third dart for the win.
"I've got a mixture of relief and joy at winning that," admitted Wade. "Terry's a fantastic player and you have to play really well to beat him. I missed a few shots and he hit me where it hurts a few times, but I'll take the win gladly."
Quarterfinals - Evening
Scott Waites punished a lacklustre display from Co Stompe to win through to the semi-finals of the Daily
Mirror Grand Slam of Darts with a 16-10 victory at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Waites remains on course to reach a second successive Grand Slam final, although he will face either Steve Beaton in the last four on Sunday after this triumph.
The Yorkshireman made a fine start, winning the opening two legs after Stompe missed eight darts at a double before hitting a 14-darter in the third for a 3-0 lead. Stompe got off the mark with a two-dart 94 checkout in the fourth, but then missed two more darts at a double as Waites hit double five before setting up double 16 with a 170 score for a 5-1 lead.
Stompe kick-started his challenge with a 180 and an 81 finish for a 12-darter and then took out double top to pull back to 5-3. He also left eight with a 168 score in the next, only to see three darts to punish misses by Waites miss double four as the 2009 finalist sneaked home double two with his final dart. The pair traded 180s in the next as Stompe finished a 14-darter, and after Waites won the 11th with a 13-dart leg it was the Dutchman who briefly took control.
Stompe landed a 74 finish, double top for a break of throw and a 110 checkout to reel off three successive legs and draw level at seven-all. He opened the next with a 174, but missed three darts to lead as Waites posted double four. He then broke throw on double top after three more misses from his opponent and hit double 12 to force a 10-7 cushion.
Stompe hit tops to snatch the next, but could do little to halt Waites' charge as the Yorkshire ace won five straight legs to move to 15-8 up, twice breaking throw and also landing a pair of 180s. Victory was delayed as Stompe hit double top in back-to-back legs to pull back to 15-10, but when he missed double five for a 130 finish in the next Waites took his chance with a 98 finish to wrap up the win.
"My scoring wasn't as strong as I wanted but I hit my doubles when I needed to," said Waites. "It's brilliant to be in the semi-finals and it would be great to go all the way this year."
Stompe added: "I missed too many doubles early in the game and that gave Scott the lead. He gave me chances but I didn't take them, and that proved the difference. I've really enjoyed the week though and it's just a shame that my tournament ended tonight."
Steve Beaton sensationally ended Phil Taylor's reign as the Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts champion,
coming from 14-11 down to take a 16-14 quarter-final win at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Saturday.
Taylor has won the first three years of the Grand Slam tournament, and his bid for another £100,000 title looked set to continue when he took leads of 10-7 and 14-11.
But Beaton - who had also led 7-5 at one stage - produced some superb darts to reel off five straight legs to claim a momentous victory.
He almost stumbled at the winning line in the final leg, when he missed three darts at double top to take the triumph, only for Taylor to miss the bullseye and give him a reprieve, which he gleefully took on double 16 to set up a semi-final with Scott Waites.
"I didn't think I would get a second chance because you generally don't when you play Phil," said Beaton, the 1996 Lakeside Champion. You don't get many chances when you play Phil and you've got to take them, and I did tonight. It's amazing and I'm determined to go on and win the tournament now on Sunday."
After Taylor twice hit top to hold throw in the opening exchanges, he produced a moment of magic to break in the fourth when, with Beaton waiting on a finish, he checked out 161 for a 3-1 lead. The advantage was extended to three legs when he hit a 177 and tops to take the fifth, although Beaton replied with a maximum to set up a 76 finish in the sixth.
Taylor took the next on double 16 to lead 5-2, but Beaton then produced a brilliant run to win five successive legs - hitting three 12-dart finishes and a pair of 14-dart legs. Having hit an 81 finish, Beaton took out 161 and 121 on the bull to win the next two and then checked out double 16 and a two-dart 64 to move 7-5 up. Taylor hit back in similarly destructive fashion, winning three successive legs to regain the lead before powering home a 167 finish for a 9-7 cushion, with the lead becoming three legs courtesy of double eight.
He could also have taken the 18th leg, but a miss at double 16 for a 104 finish allowed Beaton in to hit the same double to hit back. However, he then wasted four darts to take the next and pull back to 10-9, with Taylor hitting tops to lead 11-8 before checking out 151 for a four-leg advantage.
Taylor also posted a 12-darter but Beaton won three of the next four, including checkouts of 88 and 84 for a 12-dart finish of his own, to reduce the gap to 13-11. Taylor, though, landed what appeared to be a killer blow with a 124 checkout as Beaton waited on 32, putting him 14-11 up and two legs away from the win. The world number one also hit a 180 in the next, but Beaton took out 64 for a 14-darter and then took out 68 to break, before then landing tops to level a thrilling contest.
Taylor then saw his doubles desert him, missing four darts to win a high-quality leg as Beaton posted a 68 finish to move back ahead at 15-14. Three tons put him first to a finish in the next, but when he missed three darts at tops to seal victory Taylor had a chance at 93 to force a deciding final leg.
However, Taylor this time missed the bullseye and gave Beaton a reprieve, with double 16 at the third time of asking giving Beaton a famous win.
Taylor, who hit four ton-plus finishes, admitted: "Steve played fantastically and his finishing was the best I've seen from him. He was superb and every time he had a dart at a double he took it."
Wayne Jones 16:15 Gary Anderson
Wolverhampton favourite Wayne Jones delighted his home crowd by edging into the semi-finals of the Daily
Grand Slam of Darts, sneaking past Gary Anderson 16-15 in a thriller on Saturday afternoon.
Jones never led during an entertaining contest, with Anderson taking leads of 4-1, 11-8 and 15-12 during the game but unable to close out the win.
Jones will now returned to the Wolves Civic on Sunday to compete in the semi-finals of his second major tournament this year, as he bids to take the £100,000 title.
"It's amazing and I'm absolutely delighted," said Jones. "My plan was to get in front of him and hold it but I had to do it the other way and battle from behind. It was a tight match all the way and a good, intense match which was brilliant to play in and it's brilliant to get through."
Anderson made an electric start, with legs of 13 and 14 darts being accompanied by a 134 checkout to break throw in the second as he led 3-01. Jones got off the mark on double 16 in the fourth, and traded the next two with Anderson before the Scot took out tops for a 5-2 lead and 100 for a 12-darter to edge four legs clear.
Jones fired in an 11-darter, featuring a 171 score, to take the ninth and then won the next three to hit back and level - including a 74 finish to break. Anderson replied with a 180 in a 12-darter to stop the run, with Jones checking out 81 in the next but only able to watch on, needing 40, as the Scot powered home a maximum 170 checkout to lead 8-7. Double 16 saw Jones level again, but an 11-dart leg inspired another three-leg burst as Anderson took out tops to break and a 124 checkout to lead 11-8.
Jones took out a 101 finish and an 11-darter of his own to win two of the next three, before Anderson posted a 120 checkout for a 13-10 advantage. Jones cut the lead to one leg by winning the next two, but then missed double 16 for a 100 finish to level as Anderson atoned for earlier misses with double five.
He also won the next on double 15 to move a leg away from the win, but would never get a dart to reach the semis as Jones hit back. He hit his first 180 of the game in a 13-darter and posted double 16 twice to level the game and force a decider.
Jones hit three tons, with Anderson replying too late with a 180 before missing a single 20 to leave double top - as the home favourite returned to finish 80 for a 14-darter to wrap up the triumph.
"I lost my way a little bit at the end and started to snatch my darts but Wayne was great and never gave in," said Anderson. "He played really well and came back brilliantly - I could never shake him off!"
James Wade 16:15 Terry Jenkins
James Wade dramatically won through to the Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals in a final leg
thriller against 2008 runner-up Terry Jenkins.
The world number two continued his best-ever run in the Wolverhampton Civic event to silence Jenkins' hefty support in a sensational contest as the pair battled out a classic, hitting 11 ton-plus finishes in the match.
Wade moved 14-11 up in pursuit of victory before Jenkins hit back to force a deciding leg - only to miss one dart to snatch victory as Wade sneaked through.
While Wade took the game's opening leg, Jenkins took the next three to establish a 3-1 lead, before a second double top finish of the game saw the left-hander take the fifth. Jenkins finished 130 to win the sixth, only for Wade to reply with checkouts of 120 and 124 to tie up the match - but then missed his chance to regain the lead as tops put the Ledbury man 5-4 up.
Wade then took out an 11-darter to level and finishes of 107 and 121 to regain the lead, and a 66 finish gave him an 8-5 cushion. Jenkins then roared back to win three in a row to square the contest, punishing three misses from Wade to break in one leg and also hitting a 13-darter as the game was levelled at eight-all. While Wade finished 78 for a 9-8 lead, Jenkins took out finishes of 156 and 140 for back-to-back 12-darters to move 10-9 up.
He also missed two darts to win the 20th leg as Wade levelled on double ten, before posting a 180 and tops to edge himself back ahead at 11-10. Wade missed the bull for a 135 checkout to take the next, with double top pulling Henkins level only for him to then waste three darts at double 18 as Wade moved 12-11 ahead. Wade then took out 78 to break in 14 darts, and a 100 finish saw him edge towards victory at 14-11.
Jenkins, though, hit double eight in the next and broke with a 120 finish, before finishing 100 himself for a 12-darter to tie up the game. A 107 checkout from Wade in the next took him to the brink of victory, only for Jenkins to produce his best leg of the game with an 11-darter to force a decider.
Wade was first to a double, but missed two darts at top as Jenkins earned his chance - only to see one dart miss the same bed before the left-hander posted double five with his third dart for the win.
"I've got a mixture of relief and joy at winning that," admitted Wade. "Terry's a fantastic player and you have to play really well to beat him. I missed a few shots and he hit me where it hurts a few times, but I'll take the win gladly."
Quarterfinals - Evening
Scott Waites 16:10 Co Stompe
Scott Waites punished a lacklustre display from Co Stompe to win through to the semi-finals of the Daily
Mirror Grand Slam of Darts with a 16-10 victory at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Waites remains on course to reach a second successive Grand Slam final, although he will face either Steve Beaton in the last four on Sunday after this triumph.
The Yorkshireman made a fine start, winning the opening two legs after Stompe missed eight darts at a double before hitting a 14-darter in the third for a 3-0 lead. Stompe got off the mark with a two-dart 94 checkout in the fourth, but then missed two more darts at a double as Waites hit double five before setting up double 16 with a 170 score for a 5-1 lead.
Stompe kick-started his challenge with a 180 and an 81 finish for a 12-darter and then took out double top to pull back to 5-3. He also left eight with a 168 score in the next, only to see three darts to punish misses by Waites miss double four as the 2009 finalist sneaked home double two with his final dart. The pair traded 180s in the next as Stompe finished a 14-darter, and after Waites won the 11th with a 13-dart leg it was the Dutchman who briefly took control.
Stompe landed a 74 finish, double top for a break of throw and a 110 checkout to reel off three successive legs and draw level at seven-all. He opened the next with a 174, but missed three darts to lead as Waites posted double four. He then broke throw on double top after three more misses from his opponent and hit double 12 to force a 10-7 cushion.
Stompe hit tops to snatch the next, but could do little to halt Waites' charge as the Yorkshire ace won five straight legs to move to 15-8 up, twice breaking throw and also landing a pair of 180s. Victory was delayed as Stompe hit double top in back-to-back legs to pull back to 15-10, but when he missed double five for a 130 finish in the next Waites took his chance with a 98 finish to wrap up the win.
"My scoring wasn't as strong as I wanted but I hit my doubles when I needed to," said Waites. "It's brilliant to be in the semi-finals and it would be great to go all the way this year."
Stompe added: "I missed too many doubles early in the game and that gave Scott the lead. He gave me chances but I didn't take them, and that proved the difference. I've really enjoyed the week though and it's just a shame that my tournament ended tonight."
Steve Beaton 16:14 Phil Taylor
Steve Beaton sensationally ended Phil Taylor's reign as the Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts champion,
coming from 14-11 down to take a 16-14 quarter-final win at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Saturday.
Taylor has won the first three years of the Grand Slam tournament, and his bid for another £100,000 title looked set to continue when he took leads of 10-7 and 14-11.
But Beaton - who had also led 7-5 at one stage - produced some superb darts to reel off five straight legs to claim a momentous victory.
He almost stumbled at the winning line in the final leg, when he missed three darts at double top to take the triumph, only for Taylor to miss the bullseye and give him a reprieve, which he gleefully took on double 16 to set up a semi-final with Scott Waites.
"I didn't think I would get a second chance because you generally don't when you play Phil," said Beaton, the 1996 Lakeside Champion. You don't get many chances when you play Phil and you've got to take them, and I did tonight. It's amazing and I'm determined to go on and win the tournament now on Sunday."
After Taylor twice hit top to hold throw in the opening exchanges, he produced a moment of magic to break in the fourth when, with Beaton waiting on a finish, he checked out 161 for a 3-1 lead. The advantage was extended to three legs when he hit a 177 and tops to take the fifth, although Beaton replied with a maximum to set up a 76 finish in the sixth.
Taylor took the next on double 16 to lead 5-2, but Beaton then produced a brilliant run to win five successive legs - hitting three 12-dart finishes and a pair of 14-dart legs. Having hit an 81 finish, Beaton took out 161 and 121 on the bull to win the next two and then checked out double 16 and a two-dart 64 to move 7-5 up. Taylor hit back in similarly destructive fashion, winning three successive legs to regain the lead before powering home a 167 finish for a 9-7 cushion, with the lead becoming three legs courtesy of double eight.
He could also have taken the 18th leg, but a miss at double 16 for a 104 finish allowed Beaton in to hit the same double to hit back. However, he then wasted four darts to take the next and pull back to 10-9, with Taylor hitting tops to lead 11-8 before checking out 151 for a four-leg advantage.
Taylor also posted a 12-darter but Beaton won three of the next four, including checkouts of 88 and 84 for a 12-dart finish of his own, to reduce the gap to 13-11. Taylor, though, landed what appeared to be a killer blow with a 124 checkout as Beaton waited on 32, putting him 14-11 up and two legs away from the win. The world number one also hit a 180 in the next, but Beaton took out 64 for a 14-darter and then took out 68 to break, before then landing tops to level a thrilling contest.
Taylor then saw his doubles desert him, missing four darts to win a high-quality leg as Beaton posted a 68 finish to move back ahead at 15-14. Three tons put him first to a finish in the next, but when he missed three darts at tops to seal victory Taylor had a chance at 93 to force a deciding final leg.
However, Taylor this time missed the bullseye and gave Beaton a reprieve, with double 16 at the third time of asking giving Beaton a famous win.
Taylor, who hit four ton-plus finishes, admitted: "Steve played fantastically and his finishing was the best I've seen from him. He was superb and every time he had a dart at a double he took it."