Gary Anderson defeated Michael Smith (Picture: Lawrence Lustig)

Grand Slam of Darts: Brilliant Gary Anderson reaches quarter-finals as Glen Durrant of the BDO also progresses

Darts

Fri November 17, 2017 · 7y ago

A review of Wednesday's action at the Grand Slam of Darts, as Gary Anderson produced stunning darts to reach the quarter-finals while BDO world champion Glen Durrant beat Dave Chisnall.

Gary Anderson rattled off seven legs in a row during a sizzling display of darts as he came from 4-1 down to beat his former protege and close friend Michael Smith 10-6 and reach the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals.

The Flying Scotsman, who mentored Bully Boy during the former youth champion's early years on the circuit, was blown away in the first mini session despite a 124 checkout on the bullseye to make it 1-1 as Smith fired 12 and 11-dart legs followed by a pair of 15 darters, while his 110 checkout in the fifth came after Anderson saw his bull attempt for a 170 hit the wire.

It was a completely different story after the interval as Anderson - Sky Bet's Price Boosted 9/2 second favourite for the title - bounced back instantly with a bull finish to take out 164, with Smith waiting on 25, and from there it was one-way traffic.

The two-time world champion won the next six in no more than 15 darts apiece, including legs of 11, 12 and 13 (twice), before the St Helens thrower managed to pull one back but it was too little too late.

A fourth 180 of the match helped Anderson land another 11-darter as he moved a leg away from victory although he ruined his average somewhat in the next after missing six darts at a double as Smith stole one.

Anderson ensured there would be no late wobble as a sixth 180 helped him complete a match-clinching 14-darter which meant that he used no more than 15 darts in any of the 10 legs he won while he finished with an average of 106.91.

The 46-year-old will next meet Mensur Suljovic (16/1) after the Austrian produced his highest televised average of 105.84 in a resounding 10-2 triumph over Berry van Peer, who again battled bravely in his struggles with dartitis.

The Champions League of Darts winner set the tone with a 110 checkout in the very first leg and continued to show no mercy to the young Dutchman as a 12-darter, which began with back-to-back 180s, saw him power into a 7-0 lead.

It was an achievement for van Peer just to have reached this stage thanks to a pair of group wins despite his obvious on-stage problems but he finally got on the board against Suljovic with checkouts of 119 and 96 while he ended the match with a very creditable average of 95.39.

Suljovic has beaten Anderson in their last three meetings, including twice at the Champions League back in September, so he'll fancy his chancing of upsetting the Scotsman's rhythm once more.

BDO world champion Glen Durrant (18/1) reached the quarter-finals as he saw off Dave Chisnall 10-8 - and he'll next meet Peter Wright (10/1) for the second time in the tournament.

The Middlesbrough thrower is his organisation's sole surviving representative in the tournament after the other seven were eliminated during the group stages but showed just why he should be considered a genuine contender for glory with another impressive performance.

Durrant topped the so-called 'group of death' ahead of Snakebite, Alan Norris and Corey Cadby despite suffering a deciding-leg defeat to the latter in what was a dead rubber and was therefore a marginal favourite to see off established PDC star Chizzy in the last 16.

A stunning 161 checkout put him 2-0 up and although Chisnall was later able to level matters up at 5-5, Durrant was consistently the better player throughout and showed few signs of nerves as he sealed a 10-8 victory with his second match dart.

Durrant, who ended up with an average of 99 and fired seven 180s, said he'd rather play Wright than Stephen Bunting in the last eight and he got his wish when the PDC's number two eased to a resounding 10-4 triumph.

Snakebite was always in front after taking the opening leg and while his scoring was strong if not spectacular, it was his clinical finishing which proved the difference as he nailed 10 of his 19 attempts at doubles.

The highlight of the match came in the eighth leg when Wright followed up his only 180 of the match with a 161 checkout to complete a 12-darter.