Grand Slam of Darts day one: Glen Durrant beats Peter Wright while Phil Taylor and MVG open up with wins
A review of Saturday's action at the Grand Slam of Darts, including BDO world champion Glen Durrant's stunning victory over Peter Wright.
Saturday evening round-up
Phil Taylor got his final Grand Slam of Darts campaign off to a winning start as he crushed Peter Machin of the BDO 5-1 in Wolverhampton while two-time defending champion Michael van Gerwen also opened up with a resounding victory.
The six-time champion, who retires at the end of the season, averaged just short of 100 in a solid display to put himself in a prime position to qualify for the knockout stages and he's now Sky Bet's 8/1 fourth favourite for glory.
On Sunday he will face Robbie Green, who only needed an average of 88.42 to thrash the 2016 runner-up James Wade 5-1 in the night's other Group C showdown.
Hot 4/5 favourite MVG, the 2015 and 2016 champion, averaged just under 101 and hit five of his nine attempts at doubles as he beat Ross Montgomery of the BDO 5-1.
In the same group, Rob Cross (20/1) also turned on the style as he put Joe Murnan to the sword 5-1.
The rising star of the PDC, who has won four PDC tournaments in his debut season as a professional as well as reaching a major televised final at the recent European Championship, averaged 103.87, hit two 180s and managed a high checkout of 130 during a sizzling display.
Raymond van Barneveld also got in on the act of big wins as he claimed a 5-1 victory over highly-rated BDO thrower Jamie Hughes.
The Tipton thrower topped his group on his tournament debut last year and broke Barney's throw in the opening leg, but the veteran Dutchman stormed back to win the next five legs, finishing the match with an average of 98.77.
Gerwyn Price struggled on his doubles but still managed to average 102.83 - with the help of three 180s - in a 5-3 victory over young Irish ace Steve Lennon.
World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney surged to the top of Group D with a 5-1 triumph over BDO world championship runner-up Danny Noppert, averaging 97 and hitting five of his eight darts at a double, which included two 16s to finish off a 110 checkout.
In a hard-fought battle of the Websters, former Lakeside champion Mark claimed a 5-3 victory over Darren, who let himself down on his finishing despite a stunning checkout of 156 in the fourth leg
Saturday afternoon round-up
Glen Durrant produced a stunning display to beat PDC star Peter Wright at the Grand Slam of Darts on Saturday afternoon.
The BDO world champion could be backed at 80/1 with Sky Bet before the tournament but those odds have come crashing down to 33/1 after this impressive performance, in which he averaged a shade over 106, fired three 180s and managed a high finish of 127.
Durrant could also afford to miss four match darts against the UK Open champion, who has won 11 PDC titles during a stunning 2017 campaign, but eventually got the job done on double four.
Snakebite also averaged over 100 (102.84) in a high-quality showdown but was left to rue four missed doubles of his own that helped the Middlesbrough thrower claim a notable scalp.
In the other game in what has been dubbed the 'group of death', Alan Norris got the better of Australian sensation Corey Cadby.
In a thrilling tussle, Cadby's missed dart for the match allowed Norris an opportunity on double 12 and he took it, putting an end to the Australian's brave fightback.
Cadby had trailed 4-1 in a match where neither man scored as well as they can, but looked set to complete a dramatic turnaround when levelling at 4-4 with darts in hand for the final leg.
However, a timely 177 from Norris piled pressure onto Cadby, who missed double top with one dart remaining and was punished.
Mensur Suljovic came from behind to claim a 5-2 victory over the BDO's number one Mark McGeeney, finishing the match off in style on bullseye to complete a 161 checkout.
The Champions League of Darts winner trailed 2-1 but came storming back by winning four legs in a row, and ended up with an average of over 93 despite his sluggish start.
In the same group, Michael Smith kicked things off with a 5-3 victory over James Wilson, who was made to pay for his profligacy.
Former world youth champion Smith was by contrast ruthless when presented with an opportunity and while briefly pegged back having raced into a 3-0 lead, was ultimately too good for his opponent.
World number two Gary Anderson kicked off his campaign with a 5-3 win over the BDO's Cameron Menzies, who produced an impressive and entertaining performance in defeat.
Anderson hit three 180s and a high checkout of 148 but his Scottish compatriot produced a stunning 134 finish of his own, made up of a treble 18 and a pair of double tops.
Berry van Peer produced a fine turnaround to beat World Grand Prix runner-up Simon Whitlock 5-4.
Whitlock had appeared to take control when edging ahead 4-3 but was left to rue a missed dart for the match in the following leg.
Van Peer stepped in to hit double four and level things up and took control of the decider after Whitlock could only muster 21 with his first three darts.
The Australian fought back with a throw of 139 leaving him three darts for victory, but when all missed their target van Peer was again on hand to gobble up the opportunity, clinching a hard-fought win on double 10.
Stephen Bunting edged Jeffrey de Zwaan 5-4 in a quality encounter, both men averaging around the 97 mark.
While never behind in the match, Bunting was reeled in from 4-1 to 4-4 but threw two 140s in the decider, which allowed him to take advantage when his opponent missed two darts for the match.
In the same group, Dave Chisnall defied a 100+ average from the BDO's Scott Mitchell to ease to a 5-2 victory, hitting three maximums along the way.
Chisnall kicked things off with a 108 checkout and while Mitchell levelled by dominating the second leg, from there it was convincing stuff from Chisnall.
Saturday's Grand Slam of Darts results
Afternoon Session
E-H Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)
- Michael Smith 5-3 James Wilson (G)
- Stephen Bunting 5-4 Jeffrey de Zwaan (F)
- Simon Whitlock 4-5 Berry van Peer (H)
- Alan Norris 5-4 Corey Cadby (E)
- Dave Chisnall 5-2 Scott Mitchell (F)
- Mensur Suljovic 5-2 Mark McGeeney (G)
- Gary Anderson 5-3 Cameron Menzies (H)
- Peter Wright 2-5 Glen Durrant (E)
Evening Session (8pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Action
A-D Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)
- Gerwyn Price 5-3 Steve Lennon (B)
- James Wade 1-5 Robbie Green (C)
- Darren Webster 3-5 Mark Webster (D)
- Rob Cross 5-1 Joe Murnan (A)
- Phil Taylor 5-1 Peter Machin (C)
- Michael van Gerwen 5-1 Ross Montgomery (A)
- Raymond van Barneveld 5-1 Jamie Hughes (B)
- Daryl Gurney 5-1 Danny Noppert (D)
CLICK HERE FOR GROUP STANDINGS & FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Sunday's Grand Slam of Darts schedule
Afternoon Session (1pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Main Event/Arena
E-H Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)
- Jeffrey de Zwaan v Scott Mitchell (F)
- James Wilson v Mark McGeeney (G)
- Peter Wright v Corey Cadby (E)
- Simon Whitlock v Cameron Menzies (H)
- Mensur Suljovic v Michael Smith (G)
- Gary Anderson v Berry van Peer (H)
- Alan Norris v Glen Durrant (E)
- Dave Chisnall v Stephen Bunting (F)
Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Main Event/Arena
A-D Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)
- Joe Murnan v Ross Montgomery (A)
- Darren Webster v Danny Noppert (D)
- Steve Lennon v Jamie Hughes (B)
- James Wade v Peter Machin (C)
- Daryl Gurney v Mark Webster (D)
- Phil Taylor v Robbie Green (C)
- Michael van Gerwen v Rob Cross (A)
- Raymond van Barneveld v Gerwyn Price (B)
CLICK HERE FOR GROUP STANDINGS & FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE