The race for the quarter final places on the Champions League of Darts is hotting up after the first day of the BBC tournament in Cardiff. Only Mensur Suljovic is sure of a place in the next round later today.
The Austrian won against Peter Wright and Gary Anderson, and can therefore no longer be passed by the two other players in the group. Suljovic faces Dave Chisnall on Sunday afternoon. Anderson and Wright compete in a all-Scottish affair for a place in the semi-finals.
In the other group, the situation is a bit more complex. Phil Taylor is not yet certain of a place in the next round of the knockout phase despite two wins, while Adrian Lewis with two defeats has been definitively eliminated.
If Michael van Gerwen wins a big (four-legged) difference from Taylor, "Mighty Mike" is sure to qualify for the last four, knocking out Phil Taylor in the process. However, Van Gerwen is dependent on the outcome of the match between Van Barneveld and Lewis. Van Barneveld is placed for the semi-finals if he puts in a better result (wider victory, smaller defeat) than Van Gerwen.
Group A
P | W | L | +/- | Pts | |
Phil Taylor | 2 | 2 | 0 | +7 | 4 |
Raymond van Barneveld | 2 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 2 |
Michael van Gerwen | 2 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 2 |
Adrian Lewis | 2 | 0 | 2 | -9 | 0 |
Group B
P | W | L | +/- | Pts | |
Mensur Suljovic (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | +9 | 4 |
Peter Wright | 2 | 1 | 1 | +3 | 2 |
Gary Anderson | 2 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 2 |
Dave Chisnall | 2 | 0 | 2 | -8 | 0 |