GEZZY CONFIRMS PLAY-OFFS SPOT AND KEEPS HIS TITLE DEFENCE ALIVE
Defending Grand Slam champion Gerwyn Price booked his spot in the Last 16 of this year’s competition after beating Dave Chisnall 5-4, in a match that would see the winner qualify. Danny Noppert made it three wins out of three after beating Mensur Suljovic 5-4 to finish as the leader of Group B.
The Iceman produced a sensational 12 dart leg in what was a last leg decider between himself and the Belgian Darts Open champion. The Welshman found two trebles every visit on the oche and concluded the match with an 87 finish, hitting double eighteen with his last dart to confirm his spot as the Runner Up in Group A.
The World Number 1 averaged 103.16 in Wolverhampton in what was a huge pressure match for Price, as his title was put on the line as well as his spot as the World Number 1 with the World Championship only around the corner.
Raymond van Barneveld finished top of the group after dealing Ted Evetts his third straight defeat in the competition, with the former Five Time World Champion including a 126 checkout on double six to seal a whitewash victory missing just five darts on the outer ring.
Danny Noppert also came through a last leg decider, including the only three maximums in his tungsten tussle with Mensur Suljovic. The Austrian needed to win by three legs to qualify but missed out after The Freeze found tops to break throw in the sixth leg.
The Gentle misses out to Winmau and World Cup winner Simon Whitlock, who dealt a 5-3 defeat to Christian Perez in the other match in Group B. The Wizard found six maximums and averaged just shy of a ton on the oche with his Philippian opponent, missing just four darts at double over the eight legs.
The Australian will be relieved to have come back strong in Wolverhampton having narrowly missed out on a place in the World Matchplay, with Whitlock just short in ranking money on the PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit back in July.
Joe Cullen qualified as the Runner Up from Group C, winning his second match of the group stage against Lisa Ashton on Monday night. The Rockstar came from 3-1 down to claim a 5-3 win, including a fantastic 158 finish in the sixth leg to break the throw of the Lancashire Rose.
The recent Premier League finalist finishes behind Michael Smith who topped the group after beating Ritchie Edhouse 5-1, averaging 102.20 in earning a 100% record from his three Group C matches at Aldersley Leisure Village.
Elsewhere, tournament number 5 Rob Cross came through a last leg decider against Martin Schindler to qualify in 2nd place from Group D, behind Dirk van Duijvenbode who opened Monday’s evening session with a 5-3 victory over Grand Slam debutant Adam Gawlas.
The final group stage action concludes on Tuesday in Wolverhampton with Michael van Gerwen hoping to secure top spot in Group G against European Champion Ross Smith, whilst Peter Wright still needs to secure qualification from Group E in a tough encounter with former UK Open champion Nathan Aspinall.
By Harry Masterson
2022 Grand Slam of Darts Results:
Group A:
Gerwyn Price (1) 5-4 Dave Chisnall
Raymond van Barneveld 5-0 Ted Evetts
- Raymond van Barneveld: 6pts
- Gerwyn Price (1): 4pts
- Dave Chisnall: 2pts
- Ted Evetts
Group B:
Danny Noppert (8) 5-4 Mensur Suljovic
Simon Whitlock 5-3 Christian Perez
- Danny Noppert (8): 6pts
- Simon Whitlock: 4pts
- Mensur Suljovic: 2pts
- Christian Perez: 0pts
Group C:
Michael Smith (4) 5-1 Ritchie Edhouse
Joe Cullen 5-3 Lisa Ashton
- Michael Smith (4): 6pts
- Joe Cullen: 4pts
- Ritchie Edhouse: 2pts
- Lisa Ashton: 0pts
Group D:
Rob Cross (5) 5-4 Martin Schindler
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-3 Adam Gawlas
- Dirk van Duijvenbode: 6pts
- Rob Cross (5): 4pts
- Martin Schindler: 2pts
- Adam Gawlas
Tuesday Order of Play:
Jermaine Wattimena v Leonard Gates (F)
Jonny Clayton (7) v Damon Heta (F)
Luke Woodhouse v Nathan Rafferty (G)
Michael van Gerwen (3) v Ross Smith (G)
Alan Soutar v Fallon Sherrock (E)
Peter Wright (2) v Nathan Aspinall (E)
Ryan Searle v Scott Williams (H)
Luke Humphries (6) v Josh Rock (H)