Smith battles past Gilding in comeback win, Razma seals debut win over Searle at World Grand Prix

PDC
Tuesday, 04 October 2022 at 21:36
winmau dartboard
Ross Smith and Madars Razma are the latest players into Round Two at the World Grand Prix in Leicester after sealing battling victories to begin Tuesday night's action.
Smith sealed a comeback win to see off in-form Andrew Gilding who recently reached a final in Wieze but failed on his return to double in action.
Gilding broke early on double 12 and followed it up with a 102 checkout to go one away from the opening set which he took on double four after Smith couldn’t pin 110.
Smith began the second set though with a 91 checkout on the bull to break. Gilding missed 104 to break back after a 180 but returned after Smith missed darts to consolidate and ‘Goldfinger’ made it 1-1.
Gilding missed 76 for a 2-1 lead to hold but again finishing doubles weren’t on Smith’s side and the former returned on double two to go one away.
Smith hit double nine to send the set the distance. But Gilding failed to get in on his throw and Smith hit double eight to send it all the way.
It was on throw to begin the deciding set with Smith going one away with an 88 checkout and he sealed the win on double 10.
While on debut at the World Grand Prix, Madars Razma saw off Ryan Searle in a 2-1 win in another battle to start the evening's action.
Searle started with a 160 but Razma sealed the opening leg on double 20 for a hold. He hit double 10 from 79 to go one away from the opening set.
Searle finally got underway to break at 2-1 down. A 177 left 66 for Searle but he missed darts to hold and Razma responded on double 18 to seal the set.
Razma pinned the same target to break and begin set two. The Latvian kept missing double one though and Searle hit double 20 to break and make it 1-1.
Razma missed two darts only for Searle to miss 84 on the bull only for the Latvian to do the same on double 16 and Searle hit double four to make it 2-1.
Searle missed 111 on double 20 and Razma hit double 18 to make it 2-2. A 163 start from Razma was followed by a first maximum to leave 68 as he looked for the win.
He missed a match dart on double 18 though and Searle hit double 20 for a deciding set. He missed 100 for an opening break and Razma hit double four to hold.
Searle missed two from 97 and Razma hit double 12 for a break to go one away. A 108 checkout on double 16 saw Razma seal it.