BoyleSports Grand Slam Of Darts – Day 2 Review

Michael Smith recorded the third highest average in BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts history as he joined Michael van Gerwen, Dave Chisnall and Gabriel Clemens in qualifying for the knockout stages in Wolverhampton on Sunday.

Smith averaged 113.62 in a brilliant 5-1 win over Nathan Aspinall as the world number three ensured his place in the last 16.

Durrant bounced back from his opening loss to Smith with a dramatic 5-4 win over Martin Schindler, the young German who now cannot qualify.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Michael van Gerwen stormed back from 2-0 down against Adrian Lewis to qualify from Group A with a 5-2 victory.

“I’ve not been at my best but my darts didn’t let me down and I found an extra gear when I had to against Adrian,” said van Gerwen. “He tried to push me, especially at the beginning, but I did the right things at the right moments.

“I’m through to the next round and I can look ahead to that, but I’ll still concentrate on the last group match. Ross Smith beat me in the European Championship and of course I want to put that right.”

Chisnall, meanwhile, ensured his qualification from Group E, defeating Rob Cross 5-3 to force the world number two into a shoot-out with Jamie Hughes on Monday night.

“I’m over the moon to win and be through,” said Chisnall, the BoyleSports World Grand Prix runner-up in Dublin last month.

Hughes produced a strong display to open his account in Group E, landing four 180s in a 5-1 win over Lisa Ashton, eliminating the four-time Women’s World Champion in the process.

Germany’s Clemens continued his superb Grand Slam debut as the qualifier defeated Daryl Gurney 5-4 to secure his progression to the last 16, hitting a 12-darter in the deciding leg of a high-quality contest.

Reigning champion Gerwyn Price survived two missed match darts from Robert Thornton before claiming his second Group C victory with a 5-4 defeat of the Scot.

Van den Bergh finished five doubles from nine attempts as he claimed a first Group C win, defeating Japan’s Mikuru Suzuki 5-1 in their second contest.

Two-time finalist Gary Anderson averaged a superb 105.08 as he claimed a second victory in Group D, defeating William O’Connor 5-3 despite the Irish ace taking out a 158 finish.

Darren Webster bounced back from Saturday’s defeat to Anderson with a 5-2 win over Dave Parletti, taking out a key 125 checkout of bull-25-bull on his way to a first Group D victory.

James Wade survived two missed match darts as he came from 4-2 down to defeat Ian White 5-4, with Steve Lennon coming from 3-0 down to defeat Wesley Harms 5-4 by taking out a stunning 167 finish in the deciding leg.

Peter Wright, Danny Noppert and Ryan Harrington remain alive in Group F going into Monday’s final fixtures, with only Wales’ Wayne Warren unable to progress.

Monday night’s action sees the players in Groups E-H return to the Aldersley Leisure Village stage to complete their round-robin fixtures, with the players in Groups A-D facing off on Tuesday evening.