Van Barneveld, Price, Wright and Van Gerwen among opening day winners at the Grand Slam of Darts
Gerwyn Price and Raymond van Barneveld were among the notable winners on the opening day of the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton on Saturday.
Reigning champion Price began his bid for a fourth Grand Slam title at the Aldersley Leisure Village with a commanding 5-1 victory over Ted Evetts in Group A.
The world number one averaged 101 in a clinical display against the World Youth Champion, and went close to a nine-dart finish before closing out an emphatic win.
“I concentrated on my own game and it was a pretty decent performance,” said Price. “I’m in a good place and I felt pretty comfortable in that game.
“I love being defending champion and it’s nice to come back here – I’ve never lost in this venue and I’m playing well enough.
“I played Raymond [van Barneveld] a couple of weeks ago and missed doubles which cost me the match, so I know I have to be on my game and hit my doubles. Today they were, and hopefully they will be tomorrow.”
2012 Grand Slam champion Van Barneveld began his Group A challenge with a 5-3 win over Dave Chisnall – who led 3-2 but was punished for missed doubles as the Dutchman sealed the two points.
“I’m really happy with this win,” said Van Barneveld. “I know what I can do, it means a lot to be here and I still believe and I’ll keep on fighting.”
Three-time Grand Slam champion Michael van Gerwen averaged 101 and missed just one dart at a double in his clinical 5-2 defeat of Northern Irish youngster Nathan Rafferty.
“To get the first win out of the way always gives you a little bit of confidence but there’s still a long way to go,” said Van Gerwen.
“Everyone knows how hard this tournament is to win – it’s been too long since I won this but I feel good and there’s more in the tank.”
Third seed Van Gerwen will now meet Luke Woodhouse in their second Group G contest on Sunday, after the debutant qualifier took out 104 in the deciding leg of his tie with European Champion Ross Smith.
World Champion Peter Wright set up an all-Scottish show-down with Alan Soutar in Group E after the compatriots enjoyed opening-day wins in Wolverhampton.
Wright, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, finished five doubles from 11 attempts in a 5-1 win over Women’s World Matchplay champion Fallon Sherrock.
“It was a good start for me today – Fallon gave me chances and I took them,” said Wright. “I used a new set of darts and I feel really good with them, but they didn’t quite go how I wanted.”
Soutar, meanwhile, landed a magnificent 145 checkout in the deciding leg of his opener against Nathan Aspinall to make a winning Grand Slam debut.
Jonny Clayton provided the only whitewash win of the day, restricting North American Champion Leonard Gates to just one dart at a double in their Group F encounter.
Clayton will come up against Jermaine Wattimena on Sunday after the Dutchman enjoyed an impressive 5-2 victory over World Cup winner Damon Heta.
Fourth seed Michael Smith survived a scare against Lisa Ashton, who shared the opening six legs of their Group C opener before the World Championship finalist closed out a 5-3 win.
Smith now plays Masters champion Joe Cullen, who finished five doubles from eight attempts in a clinical 5-1 win over debutant Ritchie Edhouse in their opening Group C contest.
Danny Noppert survived a missed match dart from PDC Asian Championship winner Christian Perez in the deciding leg of their Group B contest before prevailing on double 14.
The UK Open champion now plays Simon Whitlock, who opened his challenge with a 5-2 success over Mensur Suljovic, landing a handful of 180s and finishing five doubles from ten attempts.
Rob Cross and Dirk van Duijvenbode will clash in Group D on Sunday afternoon following impressive opening performances.
Former World Champion Cross came from two legs down against Czech youngster Adam Gawlas to race to a 5-2 victory, averaging over 100 in the process as he hit legs of 11 and 12 darts amongst five in a row.
Van Duijvenbode survived a missed match dart from Martin Schindler to claim a 5-4 success a see-saw Group D opener, averaging 103 in a high-quality display.
The Dutchman took out 127 as he led 3-1, only for Schindler to finish 133 as he took three successive legs – but the German missed a chance to claim victory in leg eight before Van Duijvenbode landed two 180s in a superb 11-darter to claim the decider.
Sixth seed Luke Humphries, a four-time European Tour winner this year, made a confident start to Group H with a 5-2 win over debutant Scott Williams, sealing victory with a 121 finish.
Humphries’ second group match will see him face Ryan Searle on Sunday, following the Somerset ace’s narrow 5-4 win over emerging star Josh Rock.
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Grand Slam of Darts 2022 Day One Results
Saturday November 12
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Groups A-D Opening Matches
Simon Whitlock 5-2 Mensur Suljovic (B)
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-4 Martin Schindler (D)
Joe Cullen 5-1 Ritchie Edhouse (C)
Dave Chisnall 3-5 Raymond van Barneveld (A)
Rob Cross 5-2 Adam Gawlas (D)
Danny Noppert 5-4 Christian Perez (B)
Gerwyn Price 5-1 Ted Evetts (A)
Michael Smith 5-3 Lisa Ashton (C)
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Groups E-H Opening Matches
Ross Smith 4-5 Luke Woodhouse (G)
Ryan Searle 5-4 Josh Rock (H)
Damon Heta 2-5 Jermaine Wattimena (F)
Nathan Aspinall 4-5 Alan Soutar (E)
Luke Humphries 5-2 Scott Williams (H)
Peter Wright 5-1 Fallon Sherrock (E)
Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Nathan Rafferty (G)
Jonny Clayton 5-0 Leonard Gates (F)
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