The second round is here at the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts as sole walk-ons return and the format increases to Best of 19. With it, Quarter-Final spots are on the line.
In the opening tie, it is a major chance for two popular players to move into the latter stages with Raymond van Barneveld who has been the player mainly talked about this week with the 2012 champion rolling back the years with a flawless group win over Gerwyn Price, Dave Chisnall and Ted Evetts.
Van Barneveld now faces Simon Whitlock and beware the injured indeed in the case of 'The Wizard' who has documented that he has bursitis in his heel but has still gone about his business this week and will look to take down the five-time World Champion after defending most of his ranking money from two years ago.
Rob Cross was lucky to get through by his own admission with Martin Schindler spurning chances and post match, 'Voltage' gave a ruthless assessment and said that he was thinking about his son's birthday also on Wednesday and being there for the first time in six years.
But instead, it will be business and the task at hand is Michael Smith who again has been superb this tournament keeping the winning feeling going throughout to top the group alongside Joe Cullen. Another major chance could yet beckon.
One that Danny Noppert took away from Smith earlier in the year at the UK Open and another player and the one who 'The Freeze' will face is 'The Iceman' as the two players with their nickname based on temperatures below zero collide as the imperious at Aldersley Leisure Village, Gerwyn Price stands in his way.
Well not so much this week with Price losing to Raymond van Barneveld and surviving only just against Dave Chisnall but the mark of a champion is having scares and dealing with them and building on that and it could yet be an ominous sign.
Then ending the night is Joe Cullen and Dirk van Duijvenbode in a match which could save the best till last with two of the ever improving players on the tour in the Masters champion and the latter a multiple major finalist. They will do battle on Wednesday.
Wednesday November 16 (1900 GMT)
4x Second Round Matches
Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock
Michael Smith v Rob Cross
Danny Noppert v Gerwyn Price
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Joe Cullen