In the so called Group of Death, it is Ryan Searle who has sealed an early win over highly touted debutant Josh Rock at the Grand Slam of Darts to take the early impetus on the opening night.
ADVERTISEMENT
In a group which also includes Luke Humphries and Scott Williams, some sections expected Rock to join 'Cool Hand Luke' in getting out the group but 'Heavy Metal' tore apart the script with a 5-4 success in Wolverhampton.
A commanding lead for Searle saw him go 3-1 up in the early going before Rock came back with a 111 checkout for 3-3. But breaking at the right time after 'Rocky' had gone one away, he hit double two with his last dart to seal it.
While Luke Woodhouse handed recent European Champion, Ross Smith his first major defeat since winning the title in Dortmund with a superb 5-4 success for the Bewdley ace who of course hails from just down the road.
Smith started superbly with a 164 for a 2-1 lead but it was a tight tie and Smith went 4-3 up after Woodhouse wired the bull only for Woody to force a decider and seal it with a 104 checkout on his throw.
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
WOODY WINS A THRILLER! 🪵
It's a debut victory for Luke Woodhouse who overcomes the European Champion Ross Smith in an absolute battle!
Woody taking the deciding leg on throw to seal success...
Up next 👉 Ryan Searle v Josh Rock
#GSOD | Group G
📺 bit.ly/GSOD22Live