SMITH WINS A THRILLER! Michael Smith wins a last-leg decider to come out on top of a truly epic quarter-final against Joe Cullen! #GSOD | QF 📺 bit.ly/GSOD22Live
Michael Smith fires 14 180's in thrilling sudden death victory over Cullen to book Semi-Final spot at Grand Slam of Darts
PDCFriday, 18 November 2022 at 21:49
Michael Smith is into the Darts">Grand Slam of Darts semi-final after beating Joe Cullen 16-15 in an enthralling encounter.
Smith is into his 3rd Grand Slam semi-final after coming from 13-15 down in a thriller versus Joe Cullen, hitting 14 180s and averaging 100.1.
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Settling immediately, Smith would win the opening leg in 15 darts, getting his first 180 in the process. Cullen fired back with a maximum of his own, en route to a 14-dart hold in the second leg but after Smith held in the third, he fired in a 4th 180 in as many legs to set up 41 and earn the first break of the match for a 3-1 lead. It could have been even better for the St Helens thrower but 3 missed darts at double in the final leg before the first break from Bully Boy allowed Cullen back in and he gladly checked out 25 to stay in touch at 3-2 behind, despite Smith averaging almost 13 points higher.
With Smith wiring D18 for a 156 finish in the first leg after the break, a nerveless Cullen fired in a 116 checkout to get back on level terms. In truth though, Cullen was just barely holding on at this point and after Smith took the 7th leg, the Rockstar needed to reel in the big fish just to hold throw in the 8th leaving Smith stranded on 81 after three 140s. Pushing his average up to 109.5, Smith took the final 2 legs of the session, going into the 2nd break with a 6-4 lead.
Bully Boy's treble twenty hitting was relentless, an eighth 180 helping him extend his lead to three legs at 7-4. Despite Smith missing three clear darts at tops for an 8-5 lead, Cullen couldn't punish, missing 2 darts of his own allowing Smith to return and clean up. Joe Cullen is a fighter though, he does not know when to quit and as Smith's levels momentarily dropped, the Rockstar won back-to-back legs to pull to one behind at the 3rd break with the score 8-7 in Smith's favour.
A 14-dart hold once they had returned to the stage from Cullen and we had a level game once again at 8-8. After each player held throw, Smith missed two darts for a 10-9 lead allowing Cullen to pounce and take the front for the first time in the match. A relatively comfortable hold later and all of a sudden the Rockstar was two in front and the momentum was well and truly on his side. 11-9 Cullen at the 4th break.
After the break, Cullen kept the pressure on, pinning D9 for a 12-dart break and a three-leg advantage only for Bully Boy to come roaring back with a 110 checkout and a break back. But Smith failed to consolidate the break, offering nothing of note on his own throw allowing Cullen to restore his three-leg lead.
The see-saw would swing again though, with Smith breaking the Cullen throw again and this time following it up with a successful hold of throw to get back to one leg behind at 12-13. With time running out Smith knew he needed one more break if he was to win but Cullen was doing all he could to prevent it, reaching the hill with a successful hold at 15-13 leaving Bully Boy at the point of no return.
With Cullen waiting on D4 for the match Smith checked out a nerveless 70 checkout for one leg back. Rattling in his 14th maximum, he would then get that required break, sending the match to a sudden death leg with Smith having the advantage of throw. With Cullen firing in a 180 to set up 64 and put the pressure on, Smith was ice cold, checking out 76 and booking his semi-final spot.
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