Smith breezes past Anderson to seal Last 16 spot, Defending champion De Sousa edges past Suljovic

Michael Smith is the latest player through to the knockout stages of the 2021 Grand Slam of Darts after breezing past his former mentor Gary Anderson in a 5-2 win.

Smith averaged 98.3 in seeing off Anderson meaning that the latter will need to beat Raymond van Barneveld in a bumper clash to move through.

He raced into a 3-0 lead to start the clash sending Anderson into all sorts of bother. Before he found himself back into the contest at 3-2 down capped off with an 87 checkout on the bull.

But this break was immediately pegged back by Smith who went 4-2 up before sealing it with a 13-dart hold with Anderson way back.

Read also

Tournament centre 2021 Grand Slam of Darts: Schedule, results, prize money breakdown and TV guide

Before that, defending champion Jose de Sousa put himself in pole position in Group F by edging past Mensur Suljovic 5-4.

Both players exchanged early breaks with Suljovic in particular pinning a 106 to make it 1-1.

But in typical De Sousa fashion, it was two double 20's for an 80 checkout to go 2-1 up. He held throw from there for a 3-1 lead only for a 101 checkout for Suljovic to see him just one behind at 3-2.

De Sousa surged ahead again though with a hold to make it 4-2 before a break of throw from Suljovic on double 16 saw him make it 4-4 and it went all the way to a decider.

In the end, it was De Sousa who edged through claiming a 76 checkout to see off the Austrian.

PDC Darts

@OfficialPDC

·Follow

𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗢! Michael Smith has secured his spot in the knock-out stages after completing a clinical 5-2 win over his former mentor Gary Anderson!

Watch on Twitter

63

Reply

Copy link

Read 3 replies

PDC Darts

@OfficialPDC

·Follow

𝗝𝗢𝗦𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗧! 🇵🇹 It was looking like neither player wanted to win that deciding leg, but it's Jose de Sousa who secures the two points, defeating Mensur Suljovic 5-4!

Watch on Twitter

77

Reply

Copy link

Read 3 replies