Grand Slam of Darts - Match Reports 5. Day
Adrian Lewis 5:2 Vincent van der Voort
Adrian Lewis moved into the last 16 of the Grand Slam of Darts with a quick-fire 13 minute victory over Vincent van der Voort.
Lewis, who has struggled in this competition on four previous visits, finished top of Group H with three straight victories following a 5-2 success against the Dutchman.
Van der Voort hit a 180 in the first leg but Lewis converted a 14-dart finish to lead before the Dutchman landed double one to level. Lewis hit double 19 to win the third after van der Voort had missed a dart at tops, and the World Champion then moved 3-1 up by landing double five. The Stoke star then hit a fabulous 11-darter to take the fifth leg, which included two maximums, but he missed three chances to win the match in the next and van der Voort hit double eight with his last dart. Lewis wasted more chances to take the match in the next leg, but van der Voort could not capitalise and Lewis returned to hit double two and seal a third straight win.
"It was difficult to motivate myself for tonight's game as there was nothing riding on it," admitted Lewis. "It's important to keep a positive mentality though, and that's what I'm doing. I'm very confident to have a good run here and my form is good - I'm scoring well."
Wes Newton 5:1 Barrie Bates
Wes Newton confirmed his spot in the knockout phase of the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts at the Wolverhampton Civic with a 5-1 triumph over Barrie Bates.The UK Open finalist had never won past the group stage in Wolverhampton previously, but ended the night second in Group F to progress to a date with Phil Taylor on Friday.
The Fleetwood ace hit a 13-darter to take the first leg of the match before Bates, who has struggled for form in Wolverhampton, landed double 16 to win the second. Newton held throw to lead for the second time and then landed double 12 to win the fourth against the darts and lead 3-1. The UK Open finalist was clinical in winning the fifth leg as he hit a two-dart 100 finish to move three legs clear before posting his second 180 of the game, only to miss three match darts. The Welshman, however, could not make Newton pay as his attempt at bullseye was just off-target and the Fleetwood thrower hit double four to end the match.
"I've never managed to make to the last 16 in my two previous visits here, so I'm pleased to do it this time," said Newton. "I'm not hitting the heights yet but I'm still in it and I have a chance to make an impact."
Steve Beaton 5:2 James Hubbard
Steve Beaton won his final Group E game at the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-2 victory against James Hubbard to earn a second win of the group stage and progression to the last 16.
His win, coupled with Phil Taylor's later victory against Mervyn King, confirmed that Beaton would qualify for the second round, where he meets Paul Nicholson on Friday.
Last year's semi-finalist broke throw by hitting double ten with his third dart to win the opening leg but Hubbard won the second after Beaton was guilty of missing four darts at doubles for a 2-0 lead. The former World Champion put those errors behind as he regained the lead with an excellent 130 checkout, on the bullseye, and he took the fourth for a 3-1 lead after PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship finalist Hubbard missed four chances to level. Beaton hit a 180 in the process of the winning to fifth leg to move within touching distance of victory, but the 19-year-old showed his class to hit double nine with his third dart to keep the match alive. Hubbard had the advantage of throw in the seventh, but one dart missed at tops proved costly as Beaton stepped up to land double 16 and end the newcomer's campaign.
"I knew it was going to be tough against James tonight," admitted Beaton. "It's his first televised experience and he impressed a lot. The last few days will give him valuable experience for the future. "I had a fantastic run here last year which included victories over Ted Hankey and Phil Taylor. I would love to do something similar again this year."
Hubbard, who takes on Michael van Gerwen in the World Youth Championship final next May, admitted: "I felt more comfortable on stage against Steve and the three matches have been a great experience for me. "I'm looking forward to turning professional next year and going on from here, because this has been a fantastic week."
John Part 5:3 Arron Monk
John Part secured a vital 5-3 victory against Arron Monk in the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts at the Wolverhampton Civic as he ensured progression to the last 16.The Canadian found himself 2-1 down to the youngster but won three legs on the spin to gain control and go on to claim the two points, leaving Monk winless in six attempts in Wolverhampton over the past two year.
Part won the first leg on double one after missing several earlier opportunities before Monk - cheered on by father Colin, a veteran professional, managed to level on double ten with his third dart after the three-time World Champion missed two chances to take a 2-0 lead. The third dart came to the 21-year-old's aid again the third leg as hit double top to lead the match for the first time. Part hit back to level the score at 2-2 with a clinical 103 finish and then took the fifth against the darts to lead for the second time. Part took his third leg in a row by hitting double eight, but Monk won the seventh leg by hitting the same bed to reduce the deficit to 4-3. The eighth saw Part miss a dart at double 16 to take the match but the Under-21 World Champion could not convert 120 to set-up a deciding leg as his attempt at double top fell below the target and the Canadian returned to the oche to hit double eight and record his second win in Group G.
"I threw some impressive darts from 2-1 down to get the lead back and that's a good sign," said Part. "Arron is an excellent player and I was prepared to work hard to get the win tonight."
Martin Phillips 5:2 Co Stompe
Martin Phillips produced a clinical display to knock Co Stompe out of the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts and advance to the last 16 of the competition for the first time.Last year in Wolverhampton, the Welshman was knocked out by the Dutchman in a thrilling deciding-leg contest, but the roles were reversed this time around as he moved into round two.
"When I was 4-1 up and Co started to fire again I thought that history was going to repeat itself," admitted Phillips, who had allowed the same lead to slip 12 months ago. "It's great to be through and I will just keep doing what I've done so far and we will see what happens."
Stompe hit a 180 with his first three darts but failed to convert three darts at doubles and Phillips stepped in the hit double 16 at the first time of asking for the opening leg. Phillips hit a maximum of his own in a 13-darter to take the second and the third soon followed with an accurate attempt at double four. Stompe, who lost to Adrian Lewis in his previous Group H match, hit an impressive 116 finish to get on the scoreboard but Phillips finished double four again to restore his three-leg advantage. Stompe kept the game alive with a 14-dart finish to win the sixth leg but Phillips ended the contest in the next with a superb 13-darter to remain in the tournament.
Phil Taylor 5:3 Mervyn King
Phil Taylor secured his third straight Group E victory at the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts with a hard-fought 5-3 victory against Mervyn King.King was 2-1 ahead in the early stages of the contest, but Taylor regained control to top the group and eliminate his opponent in the process with the aid of a three-dart average of 100.93.
"That was a proper game of darts tonight," said Taylor who is looking for his fourth Grand Slam title. "Mervyn played very well and produced some excellent darts, so it's a great feeling to win the match. "I'm getting better with each game and feeling confident going into the knockout games now."
Taylor hit double ten to win the opening leg before King replied to take the second by taking out 68 in two darts. King, who defeated James Hubbard in his second Group E match, hit double 16 at the first time of asking to break throw and establish a 2-1 lead - threatening the victory which could have knocked out the three-time winner. Taylor, though, broke back immediately with an impressive 13-darter and then won his third leg of the match on double one which confirmed King's elimination from the event. King hit double eight to square the game at three apiece but Taylor won the seventh leg with his second 13-darter of the game to lead again. King held the advantage of throw in the eighth but a 180 from Taylor took control of the leg and took out a 79 finish to win the match.
Mark Webster 5:3 Jan Dekker
Mark Webster confirmed his position at the top of Group G in the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts courtesy of a 5-3 victory over Jan Dekker, ending the match with a three-dart average of 101.43 as he moved into the last 16.
Webster's victory also meant that John Part advanced to the last 16 phase of the competition in Wolverhampton and denied the Dutch debutant progression.
Webster held throw to win the opening leg of the match before Dekker fired in a 180, followed by a 104 checkout, to level the game. The former World Champion hit a 107 finish to lead again but was guilty of missing chances for a 3-1 lead, allowing the Dutch youngster to hold throw for a second time. Webster was also guilty of missing doubles in the fifth leg as two attempts at double top were off-target, and Dekker hit double nine to lead for the first time. The Welshman immediately hit back with a two-dart 88 finish and then finished double top at the first time of asking to lead 4-3. The world number six powered to victory in the eighth leg with an 11-dart finish to win the match in style and end Dekker's hopes of reaching the last 16.
"I didn't know a great deal about Jan coming into the match and it was a really tough game in the end," said Webster who now takes on fellow Welshman Martin Phillips for a place in the last eight. "I had a tough time here 12 months ago, so to qualify by topping the group feels great and shows that I have come a long way in that time."
Paul Nicholson 5:4 Magnus Caris
Paul Nicholson came from 4-3 down to defeat Magnus Caris and confirm top place in Group F at the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts.
The 2010 Players Championship Finals winner produced superb darts to win the final two legs of the contest and will now face Steve Beaton on Friday night for a place in the quarter-finals.
"I feel very relieved to have won that game", admitted Nicholson, who qualifies for the knockout phase at the third time of asking. "I came out tonight very motivated to top the group and in the end I had to do it the hard way. I will remember that 144 checkout in the eighth leg for a very long time."
Nicholson won the first leg of the game by converting a 61 finish after Caris missed a dart at double top for an early break of throw. The Swede, making his debut in this event, missed two more darts at doubles in the next leg allowing Nicholson to step in and take a 2-0 lead by landing double ten. Nicholson hit his second 180 of the game in the next leg, but Caris won it by hitting double 16 and then won the fourth with a clinical two-dart 81 finish to level. That left matters finely balanced at two-all, but Nicholson hit double top at the first time of asking to win his third leg of the match and confirm his place in the knockout phase. Both players missed darts at the bull to win the sixth leg, which Caris took by hitting double eight before he posted tops in the next leg to lead the match for the first time. The eighth leg saw Caris leave himself a two-dart finish for victory, but Nicholson hit a fantastic 144 checkout to force a deciding leg. Nicholson produced some fabulous scoring in the final leg, which included a maximum, and hit double 16 to win an excellent match.