Durrant produces excellence to dispel Smith and set up semi-final clash with Wright at Grand Slam of Darts
PDC
Glen Durrant is through to the semi-finals at the Grand Slam of Darts after producing brilliance to dispel Michael Smith in Wolverhampton.
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Durrant was 5-3 down and he looked to be potentially sinking under the pressure but some real clutch darts from the multiple Lakeside champion saw him go four legs ahead for most of the rest of the tie and he concluded it in a 16-12 win.
He will face off against Peter Wright now in a semi-final that not many would have expected at the start of the night; he also gains revenge on Smith for two successive televised defeats in a row.
Smith was excellent to begin proceedings taking control of the match early on; but he missed darts to make it 3-0 and Durrant pounced on it making it a 2-1 deficit.
A miscount from Durrant saw Smith regain the lead at 3-2 up at the first interval. A 103 checkout from the Teesside ace saw him draw it up at 3-3 again.
Durrant couldn't take out the 138 to break; Smith didn't need a third opportunity hitting double eight to go 4-3 up.
Durrant couldn't hold his throw and went to 3/10 on doubles in the process; Smith moved two clear at 5-3 up.
Smith missed chances to break again; Durrant held throw to go 6-4 at the second interval. A 32 checkout saw Durrant break again to make it 5-6 and throw it up in the air.
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Durrant levelled it up at six a piece from there; as he began to find himself into the contest. A 110 checkout saw him go ahead with another break of throw, he kicked off the following leg with a 180 as he really had the impetus in the tie.
He lead by two with a 48 checkout as he went 8-6 up. In the following leg, Durrant pressured with a 174 and Smith buckled allowing the former a 9-6 lead.
A 52 checkout saw Duzza continues his sudden rout in the tie at 10-6 up. He was well back though in the next leg; Smith held throw with a 59 checkout.
Smith missed doubles again and Durrant produced a clutch double 16 to regain momentum at 11-7 up. It was Durrant's turn to miss doubles and Smith looked up to the heavens as he held throw at 11-8 behind.
A 56 checkout saw Durrant go 12-8 up and for Smith he needed to find something to pull it back. Smith held throw but was in need of a break of throw and it wasn't forthcoming as Durrant hit an 85 checkout to see him restore a four leg cushion at 13-9 up.
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'Bully Boy' suffered a major blow as Durrant went 14-9 up; but Smith pounced on Durrant missing the big number when going for a 100 checkout and he was handed a real lifeline.
This was snatched away though with a 102 checkout last dart in had on double 16 to go one away at 15-11 up. It was Smith's chance for some clutch darts; as Durrant missed a match dart allowing Smith to return for 93 on the bull.
Durrant though concluded the tie with a 48 checkout on double eight; he looked good in the process as the BDO representative goes on.
Click here to view more information on the Grand Slam of Darts, the only cross-code tournament on the PDC calendar.
Grand Slam of Darts 2019 schedule
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Day Seven
Dave Chisnall (98.64) 12-16 (101.25) Peter Wright
Glen Durrant (98.15) 16-12 (97.95) Michael Smith
Glen Durrant (98.15) 16-12 (97.95) Michael Smith
https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/1195465941540229120?s=20
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