πͺπ₯ππππ§ ππππππ§π¦ πππππ’π‘! π It's a superb start to Peter Wright's Grand Slam campaign, closing out a dominant 5-1 success over fan-favourite Fallon Sherrock!
Wright breezes past Sherrock in dominant display, Smith denies Van Barneveld in thrilling decider
PDCSaturday, 13 November 2021 at 23:40
Peter Wright has stopped the potential fairytale of Fallon Sherrock making history once more at the 2021 Grand Slam of Darts with a dominant 5-1 win over the 'Queen of the Palace' with four 180's and a 96.5 average.
Wright who has not been in great form as of late a few missed doubles aside (5/16) looked good against the fans favourite who will now face Mike de Decker tomorrow.
Next up for the World Matchplay champion will be Gabriel Clemens who knocked him out at the World Championship last year.
Wright hit first with a 180 but missed three for the opening leg. Sherrock wasn't in the position to pounce though and could only pressure as Wright claimed it.
It was another maximum for 'Snakebite' which he finished off with a 41 checkout for a break and a 2-0 lead.
He couldn't pin 146 though and gave Sherrock a chance at 36 with the Milton Keynes ace pinning double nine for a break to make it 2-1 and head back towards parity.
Wright missed 120 for an immediate break back but with Sherrock not taking out 92 on the bull, he returned for a 3-1 lead.
Both players exchanged 180's but Wright despite having it in his own hands missed multiple visits to hold before finally claiming double five for a 4-1 lead. A 62 checkout saw Wright finish it off at 5-1.
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While another fairytale ended the night with the return of Raymond van Barneveld to Sky Sports and the Grand Slam but it was Michael Smith who won through in an entertaining deciding leg tie.
Smith held his nerve to edge past the 2012 champion 5-4 with a 100.4 average in a potentially pivotal two points in a group also including Gary Anderson who will now face his former protege tomorrow.
He took an early break but he was punished after missing three darts on double 20 with a 122 checkout from Van Barneveld surging him into life.
A 180 from Smith left him on 146 alongside Van Barneveld but he couldn't make a dent in it and Barney returned for bull again for an 86 checkout and a 2-1 lead.
A 134 set up left 40 for Smith which he pinned for parity after Van Barneveld couldn't claim 170. He pinned a second 180 which gave him first shot at Van Barneveld's throw which didn't materalise.
The doyen of Dutch darts returned but missed two darts at double 20 for a 97 checkout and Smith pounced for the same target for 3-2.
A 62 checkout saw the five time World Champion break back for 3-3. He missed double 16 for a 112 checkout but returned to make it 4-3.
Both exchanged 180's but a brilliant set up left double 20 which Smith pinned to send it all the way.
Missing 170 for the win, Smith returned though for a 25 checkout for the win with Van Barneveld unable to claim a 157 checkout.
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