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Grand Slam of Darts 2023 | Day Six Preview and Order of Play

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Damon Heta dumps Michael van Gerwen out of the Grand Slam of Darts

Jamie Shaw in Grand Slam of Darts 17 Nov 2023

Heta celebrates victory (Photo by Kieran Cleeves/PDC)

Damon Heta denied three-time champion Michael van Gerwen with a 10-7 victory to book his place in the Quarter-Finals of the Grand Slam of Darts on Thursday.

Heta ensured there will be a new name on the Eric Bristow trophy come Sunday night as he punished a below-par MVG at the Aldersley Leisure Village.

Van Gerwen, who lifted a hat-trick of Grand Slam titles between 2015 and 2017, led 4-2, but a nerveless Heta recovered from a sluggish start to inflict the Dutchman’s earliest exit at this event in a decade.

The Australian number one turned the contest on its head with consecutive 76, 112 and 92 finishes to move into the lead, and he extended his winning run to five straight legs to establish a 7-4 advantage.

Van Gerwen displayed glimpses of his brilliant best with some exquisite cover shooting in the closing stages, but Heta kept his cool to complete a 10-7 success, sealed with an 80 finish.

“I’m absolutely stoked with the win,” admitted Heta, who has now broken into the world’s top ten for the first time in his career.

“I had so many treble-less visits, but my checkout percentage was great, and that is what wins you games!

“Obviously Michael didn’t turn up tonight, but things just happened for me in that second session and I was riding the wave.”

Heta’s reward for defeating Van Gerwen is a Quarter-Final showdown against Rob Cross – who averaged 104 to edge out World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall 10-8 in a gripping contest.

Aspinall, last year’s runner-up, averaged 103, fired in six 180s and converted 62 per cent of his attempts at double, but it was not enough to deny a merciless Cross.

The 2018 World Champion stormed into a 4-1 lead at the first interval, capping off a dominant opening session with a 116 checkout, and the high-quality continued as Aspinall reduced the deficit to 6-4.

The Stockport star refused to relent, producing brilliant 12, 10 and 13 dart legs to cut the gap to 8-9, but he was unable to force a decider, as Cross pinned his favourite double 18 to prevail with a 14-darter.

“Huge credit to Nathan. He was so resilient, but I was the better player tonight and I got it done,” said Cross, who landed seven 180s and pinned 50 per cent of his attempts at doubles.

“I feel great. I have had my ups and downs like every professional, but now I’m ready to compete and perform, and I want it more than ever.

“I want to win everything. If I get myself right mentally, I believe I can do great things, but I will take one game at a time, because Damon is a great player.”

Earlier in the night, Stephen Bunting overcame world number seven Danny Noppert in a contest dominated by missed doubles to move through to the Grand Slam Quarter-Finals for the first time since 2014.

Bunting fired in three 180s in as many legs to race into a 4-1 lead, before Noppert hit back with a stunning 136 checkout in leg six, after Bunting had opened the leg with seven perfect darts.

Despite that moment of magic, Noppert spurned 23 darts at double in a disastrous display on the outer ring, as Bunting followed up a 13-darter with a brilliant 121 on the bull to complete a 10-4 victory.

“Danny really struggled and I think I got caught up in his game to be honest,” reflected the former Lakeside Champion.

“I’m delighted with the result, but not with the performance. In the practice room I was hitting everything, and I felt really confident tonight, but it just didn’t happen.

“Stowe is a fantastic player. When I played him the first time I didn’t really know what to expect, but now I know how good he can be, and I can promise you that I won’t play like this again.”

Stowe Buntz continued his fairy-tale run by punishing a wasteful display of doubling from UK Open champion Andrew Gilding to become the first American to progress to the Grand Slam Quarter-Finals.

The debutant won the opening five legs of the contest and retained that buffer throughout, defying seven maximums from Gilding, who paid the price for squandering 21 of his 26 darts at doubles.

“I had no expectations this week. I just wanted to give it my all and savour every moment,” reflected Buntz, who won last month’s CDC Continental Cup to seal his Grand Slam qualification.

“Andrew gave me opportunities the whole match. I can only play the opponent in front of me, and if they give me opportunities, then it’s up to me to capitalise.”

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Grand Slam of Darts 2023 Day Six Results

Thursday November 16

Second Round

Stowe Buntz 10-5 Andrew Gilding
Danny Noppert 4-10 Stephen Bunting
Michael van Gerwen 7-10 Damon Heta
Nathan Aspinall 8-10 Rob Cross

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Damon Heta dumps Michael van Gerwen out of the Grand Slam of Darts

Grand Slam of Darts 2023 Day Six Results

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