World Grand Prix darts: Dave Chisnall blows chance while Raymond van Barneveld marches on
Dave Chisnall wasted five match darts as he lost a five-set thriller to Robert Thornton at the World Grand Prix. We have a round-up, stats & updated odds from Tuesday's action.
Chisnall looked to have finally taken control of a ding-dong battle at 2-1 up in the final set, but five missed doubles allowed his opponent to sneak in and force a decider.
Thornton dominated the final leg, needing just one dart for the match with Chisnall not yet down to a finish, as he got out of jail thanks to the generosity of the St Helens man.
Chisnall had looked like a genuine title contender as he posted an average in excess of 100 in the first round of the double-in event, but it was Thornton who proved the more ruthless under pressure to progress here.
Daryl Gurney continued his breakout year as he saw off Joe Cullen 3-1 to earn a quarter-final clash with Thornton - and he's now 7/2 joint second favourite with Sky Bet for glory.
The Northern Irishman made a blistering start, hitting his opening double consistently as he raced into a 2-0 lead in sets.
To his credit, Cullen fought back to take the third set without dropping a leg, but he was made to pay for missing several darts at double when leading 1-0 in the fourth set, allowing Gurney to step in and change the course of the match with a 127 checkout.
From there, 'Superchin' Gurney had little trouble collecting the two legs he required to reach the last eight.
John Henderson turned on the style to come from a set down and beat Alan Norris 3-1.
Two days on from a shock victory over Michael van Gerwen, Henderson again defied his underdog status to make the quarter-finals.
Norris took the opening set 3-1, but Henderson responded by taking the next three legs and with them the second set.
The third set went to a deciding leg where Norris closed the gap following a slow start, but was made to pay for failing to take out 90 as Henderson hit double 12 to move ahead in the match.
As Norris began to struggle to get into legs, Henderson took full advantage, winning the fourth set 3-0.
Things don't get any easier for Henderson, as he faces Raymond van Barneveld next.
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World Grand Prix: Sky Bet odds
The former world champion, who is now 7/2 alongside Gurney for the title, beat an out-of-sorts Steve Beaton 3-0, taking out 80 on double top to complete a straightforward success in double-quick time.
Twice beaten by Phil Taylor in the final of the World Grand Prix, van Barneveld may need to prove more ruthless with his finishing than was the case here, but Beaton was seldom close enough to take advantage.
"Never ever comfortable," said van Barneveld. "Sometimes you forget to focus (when last on the oche). Steve gave (the second leg of the match) away to me as a late birthday present maybe. I was lucky to win that first set.
"Steve wasn't playing, I wasn't playing. It was never a good game."
Tuesday's World Grand Prix results & statistics
Click here for the full tournament schedule & results
Robert Thornton 3-2 Dave Chisnall
- Three-dart averages
Thornton: 91.02
Chisnall: 90.98 - 180s
Thornton: 9
Chisnall: 7 - 100+ checkouts
Thornton: 123, 101
Chisnall: 130, 116, 100 - Finishing checkout percentage
Thornton: 34.29% (12/35)
Chisnall: 33.33% (9/27)
Daryl Gurney 3-1 Joe Cullen
- Three-dart averages
Gurney: 89.13
Cullen: 85.39 - 180s
Gurney: 2
Cullen: 2 - 100+ checkouts
Gurney: 127, 107
Cullen: 116 - Finishing checkout percentage
Gurney: 75% (9/12)
Cullen: 30.43% (7/23)
John Henderson 3-1 Alan Norris
- Three-dart averages
Henderson: 87.10
Norris: 82.78 - 180s
Henderson: 5
Norris: 4 - 100+ checkouts
Henderson: 124
Norris: 0 (Highest: 40) - Finishing checkout percentage
Henderson: 43.48% (10/23)
Norris: 38.46% (5/13)
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Steve Beaton
- Three-dart averages
Van Barneveld: 84.95
Beaton: 78.79 - 180s
Van Barneveld: 1
Beaton: 0 - 100+ checkouts
Van Barneveld: 0 (Highest: 89)
Beaton: 0 (Highest: 80) - Finishing checkout percentage
Van Barneveld: 34.62% (9/26)
Beaton: 30.77% (4/13)
Wednesday's World Grand Prix Schedule
Sky Bet odds in brackets
Second Round (Best of five sets)
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 BST)
CLICK HERE FOR OUR WEDNESDAY PREDICTIONS
Gerwyn Price (4/5) v Benito van de Pas (1/1)
Mensur Suljovic (1/3) v Steve West (5/2)
Richard North (2/1) v Simon Whitlock (2/5)
Peter Wright (2/9) v Mervyn King (100/30)