Grand Slam of Darts 2022 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play
Groups A-D draw to a close at the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton on Monday, with six knock-out places up for grabs.
Following an intense weekend of round-robin action, the third and final group fixtures will determine the fate of a number of players at the Aldersley Leisure Village.
Raymond van Barneveld was among the first to seal a place in the knock-out phase with a game to spare, and the 2012 Grand Slam champion will be looking to wrap up top spot in Group A.
The five-time World Champion, who came through last week’s Tour Card holder qualifier to seal his spot in the event, has defied the odds to defeat Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price in his opening two matches, averaging 100.7 in the latter.
Van Barneveld now comes up against 2021 World Youth Champion Ted Evetts – who has suffered back-to-back defeats with just three legs to show for his efforts – and cannot progress from the group.
A straight shoot-out then sees reigning and three-time champion Price take on 2014 finalist Chisnall in a quest to join Barney in the Last 16.
World number one Price has averaged 101.4 and 106 in his outings so far and is out to protect his 100 per cent title winning record at this venue.
Chisnall, meanwhile, recovered from his opening defeat to Van Barneveld by averaging 101.5 in a 5-2 win over Evetts, and will be eyeing revenge for his defeat to Price in July’s World Matchplay.
Dirk van Duijvenbode is already assured of a place in the knock-out phase for the first time, and ‘The Titan’ will look to clinch top spot in Group D by overcoming the eliminated Adam Gawlas.
Van Duijvenbode edged past martin Schindler 5-4 in his opener before recovering from 3-1 down to defeat Rob Cross 5-3, and will now have his sights set on the £3,500 group winner’s bonus.
Cross and Schindler will then go head-to-head in an effective knock-out tie as they bid to reach the Last 16.
Schindler is yet to get out of the group in three previous Grand Slam appearances, while Cross is vying to maintain his 100 per cent qualification record in what is his sixth consecutive Grand Slam campaign.
It remains all to play for in Group B, with all four players still in with a chance of making the knock-out stages, though Danny Noppert finds himself in the driver’s seat following back-to-back wins.
The UK Open champion, who last reached the Second Round on his debut in 2016, can confirm top spot if he can defeat 2018 semi-finalist Mensur Suljović.
Suljovic lost his opener 5-2 to Simon Whitlock before reversing that scoreline against Christian Perez, but faces arguably his toughest test so far in a game he must win in order to keep destiny in his own hands.
PDC Asian Tour winner Perez faces a mountain to climb if he is to gate-crash the Last 16, having lost his opening two matches, and he takes on World Cup winner Whitlock – who is tied with Suljovic on two points and a zero legs difference.
Michael Smith can secure top spot in Group C with maximum points if he can defeat debutant Ritchie Edhouse.
This year’s World Championship, UK Open and European Championship runner-up has registered successive wins despite not being at his best, but has one foot in the knock-out phase for the sixth year running.
Edhouse recovered from his 5-1 defeat to Joe Cullen by seeing off Lisa Ashton 5-2, but realistically must beat ‘Bully Boy’ and hope for a favour from the Women’s Series Order of Merit winner if he is to progress.
Masters champion Cullen has a superior legs difference to Edhouse and will be targeting a heavy win over Ashton in order to reach the knock-out phase for the second time in three attempts.
The action gets under way from 7pm GMT, with group matches to be contested over the best of nine legs.
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Grand Slam of Darts 2022 Day Three Schedule
Monday November 14
Groups A-D Third Matches
7pm-11pm
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Adam Gawlas (D)
Raymond van Barneveld v Ted Evetts (A)
Simon Whitlock v Christian Perez (B)
Danny Noppert v Mensur Suljovic (B)
Gerwyn Price v Dave Chisnall (A)
Joe Cullen v Lisa Ashton (C)
Michael Smith v Ritchie Edhouse (C)
Rob Cross v Martin Schindler (D)
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