BoyleSports World Grand Prix – Day 4 Review

Glen Durrant, Nathan Aspinall, Dave Chisnall and Jermaine Wattimena were all victorious in Dublin on Wednesday to complete the quarter-final line-up at the 2019 BoyleSports World Grand Prix.

Durrant and Wattimena will meet in Thursday’s quarter-finals after the Lakeside Champion performed under pressure in a five-set thriller with Rob Cross and the Dutchman knocked out Peter Wright.

After a staccato start, the first ever meeting between former World Champion Cross and Lakeside Champion Durrant blossomed into one of the most memorable matches of the tournament so far this year.

The opening set’s decider was won by debutant Durrant, before the second set saw Cross land finishes of 144 and 134 to level with a 3-0 scoreline.

With Durrant being outscored, he relied on missed finishing doubles from Cross to stay ahead in the third set before a 109 checkout saw him regain his one-set lead.

The deciding set began with both players hitting their stride as they exchanged 180s before Durrant found double 16 with his last dart in hand to go 1-0 up.

The third leg saw Cross miss three darts at double, before Durrant found double five to go within a leg of the match once again and this time he drove home the advantage, kicking off with a 152 and taking out 54 to bring the curtain down on a dramatic affair.

“I wish I could stand here being really happy but there’s something not quite right with the way I’m playing at the moment,” Durrant admitted.

“One thing I don’t lack is bottle and that’s what got me through tonight. I’ve come through a really tough section of the draw without playing well.

“I know I need to up my game in the next round if I’m to progress and that’s what I’m working towards now.”

Meanwhile, Wattimena was left in tears after beating Wright 3-1 to reach his first individual televised quarter-final

– following June’s run to the World Cup semi-finals for the Netherlands.

Wright followed up an earlier 111 finish by taking out 148 in the set one decider, but Wattimena was not disheartened and replied by taking set two 3-0.

The third set also went to a fifth leg and after Wright missed three darts to regain his one-set lead, Wattimena pinned two double tops to take out 100 and deal a body blow to the World Cup-winning Scot.

Having gone two legs down in the fourth set, Wright fought back to 2-2, only for Wattimena to show great composure, hitting a huge 145 score and then making no mistake on double 12 to seal a memorable victory.