Gerwyn Price survives Dave Chisnall scare to seal Grand Slam knock-out qualification
Gerwyn Price survived two match darts from Dave Chisnall before prevailing in an epic last-leg decider to keep his Grand Slam of Darts title defence alive in Wolverhampton on Monday.
Price has won all three previous stagings of the Grand Slam at the Aldersley Leisure Village, and continued his bid for a fourth Eric Bristow Trophy by coming through a pulsating tie with a 103 average.
Price was beaten by 2012 champion Raymond van Barneveld in a high quality contest on Sunday, despite averaging 106, which set up a decisive showdown against Chisnall in Monday’s headline act as Groups A-D concluded.
Price made a breathless start to break throw in 11 darts, but a sublime 122 checkout on the bull from Chisnall moved him into a 2-1 lead.
The Welshman responded with a brilliant double-double 99 finish on tops to restore parity at two apiece, only for Chisnall to move to the cusp of victory at 4-3 with back-to-back 14-dart holds.
However, the 2014 runner-up was left to rue two missed match darts in the penultimate leg, as Price sank double five to force a decider, before following up visits of 140, 140 and 137 by converting a clinical 87 kill to prevail.
“Raymond and Dave have both played brilliant games against me, so I’m just glad to get over the winning line,” reflected Price.
“I never felt dead and buried. There is a target on my back, but I’m just fortunate I’ve got a little more in the tank that I can pull out.”
Price will now take on UK Open champion Danny Noppert in the Last 16 on Wednesday, after the Dutchman came through a gruelling nine-leg tussle against Mensur Suljovic to claim his third consecutive victory and top Group B.
Noppert recovered from 4-3 down to dump out the Austrian, which saw Simon Whitlock advance in second spot after the Australian produced a superb display of power-scoring to overcome PDC Asian Championship winner Christian Perez 5-3.
Perez opened up an early 2-0 lead, but World Cup winner Whitlock crashed in six 180s in as many legs to complete the comeback, averaging 99 to set up a last 16 showdown against Van Barneveld.
A resurgent Van Barneveld sealed top spot in Group A with an emphatic whitewash win over World Youth Champion Ted Evetts in his final round-robin tie.
The Dutch veteran was already assured of qualification following wins over Chisnall and Price, and he made it three straight victories with a dominant display, averaging 96 and taking out a superb 126 finish to seal the deal.
“I played well. I’m feeling relaxed and I have a wonderful life at the moment,” said Van Barneveld, who is through to the Last 16 in Wolverhampton for the first time since 2017.
“The hard work is paying off. I’ve got massive support, I’m the group winner and I’m amazingly proud of myself.”
Michael Smith maintained his magnificent Group Stage record at the Grand Slam with a comprehensive 5-1 success against Ritchie Edhouse to finish top of Group C – his 16th successive round-robin win in the event.
“It was about keeping my winning streak going in the groups. I want to win every game and that’s the mentality I’ve got,” insisted Smith, who averaged 102.
Masters champion Cullen progressed alongside Smith in Group C, courtesy of an impressive comeback win against four-time Women’s World Champion Lisa Ashton.
Ashton started superbly to establish a 3-1 lead, although she was punished for squandering multiple darts for a 4-1 cushion, as Cullen won the final four legs without reply to book his place in the knockout stages.
“It was really tough. Lisa was fantastic, particularly early doors, but I’m just relieved I got the job done,” admitted Cullen, who produced a terrific 158 checkout in leg six.
In the evening’s finale, Rob Cross moved through to the Last 16 at the Grand Slam for the sixth straight year, recovering from 3-0 and 4-2 down to deny Martin Schindler in a dramatic Group D shoot-out.
Schindler was unable to complete the job despite his blistering start to proceedings, and Cross capitalised in the latter stages, surviving four match darts to preserve his title hopes.
“I feel for Martin, because he was the better player tonight and he should be going through,” admitted Cross, who now faces Smith on Wednesday.
“I have struggled to settle so far but I’m expecting a better performance in the longer format, and I’m still enjoying my darts.”
Dirk van Duijvenbode had secured top spot in Group D in the evening’s opener, defying five 180s from Adam Gawlas to maintain his 100 per cent record in this year’s Group Stage.
Van Duijvenbode averaged 98, landed three 180s and converted 56 per cent of his attempts at double to continue his fine form and set up a tasty tie against Cullen.
The £650,000 televised ranking tournament continues on Tuesday, with Groups E-H drawing to a close.
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Grand Slam of Darts 2022 Day Three Results
Monday November 14
Groups A-D Third Matches
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-3 Adam Gawlas (D)
Raymond van Barneveld 5-0 Ted Evetts (A)
Simon Whitlock 5-3 Christian Perez (B)
Danny Noppert 5-4 Mensur Suljovic (B)
Gerwyn Price 5-4 Dave Chisnall (A)
Joe Cullen 5-3 Lisa Ashton (C)
Michael Smith 5-1 Ritchie Edhouse (C)
Rob Cross 5-4 Martin Schindler (D)
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