BDO stars Glen Durrant & Darryl Fitton secured qualification to the knockout stages of the Grand Slam of Darts at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Monday evening on a night which saw Phil Taylor whitewashed by the already eliminated Darren Webster.
Defending champion Michael van Gerwen maintained his 100% group-stage record with a thumping 5-1 victory against World-Youth finalist Max Hopp. ‘The Green Machine’ wasn’t at his brilliant best, but still posted four maximums and averaged 95.93 to top Group A in emphatic fashion.
Elsewhere in Group A, Martin Adams’ Grand Slam campaign ended as he was was beaten 5-3 by Brendan Dolan, who came through an attritional tussle to secure his place in the last 16. Adams landed two maximums but only converted 17% of his double attempts as Dolan won through to join MvG in the last 16, despite averaging just 80.
‘Wolfie’ was unable to replicate the form he displayed last year which is entirely understandable given his well-documented health problems. However, he’s conducted himself superbly and played with refreshing enjoyment throughout the week; hopefully he’ll return to next year’s event in better health.
World champion Gary Anderson has topped Group E; maintaining his exemplary group-phase record with a convincing 5-2 victory against German Darts champion Alan Norris, who suffered defeat in all three of his group fixtures.
‘The Flying Scotsman’ wasn’t at his vintage best, but he was absolutely clinical in the latter stages of legs, converting five of his six attempts at double and landing a 116 checkout en route to victory, where he completed the triumph with a solid 97.33 average.
The other player to progress from Group E was BDO world number one Glen Durrant, who produced a classy display to whitewash Nathan Derry and book his spot in the last 16. Derry struggled throughout but ‘Duzza’ was extremely impressive, averaging 97.6, hitting two maximums and nailing a stunning 150 checkout.
Six-time Grand Slam winner Phil Taylor suffered a shock whitewash defeat to Darren Webster, who departs the tournament despite his last-gasp heroics. Taylor’s spot in the knockout phases was confirmed prior to Monday’s game, but ‘The Power’ was very lacklustre, averaging just 87 and missing all eight of his double attempts.
However, Webster produced arguably his best ever televised performance to record a wonderful victory. ‘The Demolition Man’ averaged 96.35 and converted 45% of his attempts at double to exit the tournament on the ultimate high.
Darryl Fitton became the second BDO player to clinch his spot in the last 16 after surviving match darts against Ian White in a nerve-jangling affair. White led 4-2, but the Stoke star spurned three match darts across two legs and was ruthlessly punished as Fitton pinned D8 with his last-dart in hand to prevail 5-4 with an 87.27 average.
Benito van de Pas confirmed top spot in Group H with an impressive 5-2 victory over two-time world champion Adrian Lewis, who departs Wolverhampton without a win. ‘Jackpot’ boasts a tournament average of over 102, but a combination of bad luck and missed doubles sees Lewis finish bottom, having won just six legs all tournament.
Nevertheless, Van de Pas was in sparkling form to record his third successive victory of the week. ‘Big Ben’ averaged 100.90, landed two maximums and converted an impressive 71% of his shots at double as Lewis was punished for an indifferent checkout success ratio of 33%.
Van de Pas will be joined in the last 16 by Chris Dobey who edged out former Lakeside world champion Scott Mitchell in a nervy winner-takes-all showdown. Dobey stormed into a 3-0 lead, but Mitchell levelled up proceedings by capitalising on missed doubles from the youngster.
The pair both averaged just over 92, but Mitchell squandered a number of key opportunities at the double, finishing with a miserly checkout ratio of 21%. ‘Scotty-Dog’ missed four darts at double to force a decider, as Dobey clinically converted 96 in two darts to clinch the win and book his spot in the second-round.
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/PDC
SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts
Monday November 14
Groups A-D-E-H Final Games
Adrian Lewis 2-5 Benito van de Pas (H)
Gary Anderson 5-2 Alan Norris (E)
Phil Taylor 0-5 Darren Webster (D)
Michael van Gerwen 5-1 Max Hopp (A)
Brendan Dolan 5-3 Martin Adams (A)
Chris Dobey 5-3 Scott Mitchell (H)
Nathan Derry 0-5 Glen Durrant (E)
Ian White 4-5 Daryl Fitton (D)
LEAGUE TABLES
GROUP A
| P | W | L | +/- | Pts | |
| Michael van Gerwen (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | +11 | 6 |
| Brendan Dolan (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| Max Hopp | 3 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 2 |
| Martin Adams | 3 | 0 | 3 | -7 | 0 |
GROUP D
| P | W | L | +/- | Pts | |
| Phil Taylor (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | +3 | 4 |
| Darryl Fitton (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | -2 | 4 |
| Ian White | 3 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 2 |
| Darren Webster | 3 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 2 |
GROUP E
| P | W | L | +/- | Pts | |
| Gary Anderson (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | +9 | 6 |
| Glen Durrant (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | +8 | 4 |
| Nathan Derry | 3 | 1 | 2 | -9 | 2 |
| Alan Norris | 3 | 0 | 3 | -8 | 0 |
GROUP H
| P | W | L | +/- | Pts | |
| Benito van de Pas (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | +8 | 6 |
| Chris Dobey (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | +3 | 4 |
| Scott Mitchell | 3 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 2 |
| Adrian Lewis | 3 | 0 | 3 | -9 | 0 |
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