Grand Slam of Darts, day seven schedule and preview

Day six of the Grand Slam of Darts sees the completion of the first knockout round. With four of the eight ties complete, the next four will confirm the quarter-final line-up. We already know Glen Durrant will play Peter Wright and Mensur Suljovic will take on Gary Anderson tomorrow.
But who will join them in the last eight? Every former Grand Slam champion (whose name isn't Scott Waites) continues their bid for glory at the Wolves Civic. The best of 19 ties also include last year's runner-up and more than a couple of rising stars.

Play begins in Wolverhampton at 7pm GMT.
Daryl Gurney vs James Wade: Gurney's fine 2017 form continues as he seeks to reach the Grand Slam quarter-finals in his first appearance. The Northern Irishman has been in sensational form this year. After reaching the World Championship quarter-finals, 'Superchin' made it to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, the UK Open and the European Championship. Best of all was his World Grand Prix win in Dublin. His form this year couldn't contrast more with Wade, who reached the same stage at the Alexandra Palace, but has fallen well short in every major since. He was extremely lucky to escape Group D too. A combination of Peter Machin's shock victory over Robbie Green and Phil Taylor's failure to turn up against Wade saw the 'Machine' through. Gurney has to be the favourite here. But Wade performs well under pressure and, as against Taylor in the groups, he'll take chances if they are offered to him.
Phil Taylor vs Darren Webster: No player scraped into the knockout phase as much as Webster, who beat namesake Mark Webster by a paltry three points in a tense nine-dart shootout. His reward is a tie with Taylor, who wants his last hurrah in the Grand Slam to be glorious. The six-time winner didn't need to show up against Wade - and didn't - but impressed in a comeback against Robbie Green. Webster is excellent when he gets a head of steam, but the longer format may make consistency a real problem for the 'Demolition Man'. His hopes of victory will be demolished if Taylor's trademark ruthlessness is in effect.
Michael van Gerwen vs Steve Lennon: Amid the many stories generated by the Grand Slam of Darts, Lennon has passed under his radar. That seems to be his style. Lennon is quiet, subdued, but brilliant at scoring. The young Irishman, who qualified for the Grand Slam on the same day as losing in the World Youth Championship first round, eliminated Gerwyn Price by making it out of Group B. Van Gerwen, though, is another prospect entirely. 'Mighty Mike' proved in both routine wins over Ross Montgomery and Joe Murnan, and the comeback win against Rob Cross, that when he turns it on he's nearly impossible to stop. Lennon's best hope will be to try to match the world number one's heavy scoring, and take what few chances he is afforded.
Raymond van Barneveld vs Rob Cross: The final clash of the night is between two men at very different stages in their career. Cross' star rises just as van Barneveld's looks to be on the wane. In fact, Cross broke Barney's record by having the most lucrative opening year as a PDC pro since the organisation was formed. The 27-year-old has flown into the top 20 in the Order of Merit and, by the looks of things, will overtake the Dutch master before long. But that, however, is not the present situation. Van Barneveld is still extremely dangerous, as the rest of Group B can attest to. His ability to pluck a three dart combination checkout from almost nowhere can be matched by very few players. Cross' power-scoring could set Barney back, though. This is, by far, the most difficult match to call of the night. Whichever way it goes, it will be worth waiting up for.