Sporting Life
Gerwyn Price beat Martin Schindler
Gerwyn Price beat Martin Schindler

Darts results: Gerwyn Price charges into round two of the World Grand Prix but James Wade crashes out

By Sporting Life
Darts
Tue October 05, 2022 · 2y ago

Gerwyn Price cruised into the second round of the World Grand Prix with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Martin Schindler but James Wade crashed out in Leicester.

The top seed and 2020 champion, who was also runner-up to Jonny Clayton here 12 months ago, won six of the seven legs played in double quick time although his task was made easier by his German opponent.

The debutant missed 12 of his 13 darts at finishing doubles and averaged 82.96 compared to Price's 86.9, which wasn't helped by his pretty poor checkout percentage of 24%.

Price did hit a classy 101 checkout in the second set, which he breezed through 3-0, and will next face a much sterner test in Joe Cullen.

"I've done well in the last couple of years in this event and I'd love to win it again," said Price, who was cheered on by Leicester City's James Maddison just 24 hours after being the footballer's guest at their win over Nottingham Forest. "I know my game's in the right place, it's just performing on that big stage.

"I think my scoring was alright but towards the end I was rubbish trying to check out. I'm sure that my game will improve, and it needs to. When everything's going right, I'm a hard person to beat."

Cullen emerged victorious in a see-saw three-set thriller against Damon Heta to move into the last 16 for the third time in seven World Grand Prix appearances.

The Masters champion and Premier League runner-up edged the opening set, only to see the World Cup winner take the second without reply in just 44 darts, but the Englishman came from a leg down in the decider to progress.

"I'm finding different ways to win now and I can carry on grinding wins when I'm not at my best," said Cullen. "It's a cut throat format and if you don't get away, you're chasing because it's the best players in the world.

"He got on a roll in that second set. He blew me away but I had to reset for the last set and put him under pressure.

"I turn up now knowing I can win, not hoping I can win, and hopefully I can produce my best stuff at the back end of the year."

Two-time champion Wade became the biggest casualty so far as suffered a shock exit at the hands of debutant Martin Lukeman.

Watford's Lukeman has made his breakthrough in 2022, reaching a European Tour final and making his first World Matchplay appearance in July.

He had lost in that event to Wade, but made amends with a memorable win in a sudden-death leg at the Morningside Arena.

Lukeman capitalised on a slow start from Wade to win the first set without reply, only for the 2007 and 2010 winner to come from a leg down to claim the second.

Wade shared opening four legs of the deciding set as a 121 finish took the tie to a sudden-death leg, but he was unable to land tops as Lukeman returned from an earlier miss to land double eight for the biggest win of his career.

"I'm buzzing," admitted Lukeman. "I know I can go further in these competitions and I want to - this is only one round.

"I enjoy this format but it's different on TV. I've not had much experience on TV but I've beaten James before and I ground it out.

"The European Tour this year has done me the world of good. I was fighting for my Tour Card at the beginning of the year but I've worked hard - I'm up for a battle.

"I don't want to go back to a building site, working 50 hours a week. I can win some of these [tournaments], I know I can. I've beaten world-class players this year."

Lukeman will now take on Ross Smith, who came from a set down and 2-1 down in set two to snatch victory against Andrew Gilding, with the Kent thrower producing timely legs of 14 and 11 darts in the deciding set.

2017 champion Daryl Gurney battled past Rob Cross in three sets, with the former world champion taking out 111 to secure the second only to see the Northern Irish ace win the decider without reply.

Gurney's second round opponent will be Madars Razma, who enjoyed a three-set win over Ryan Searle on his World Grand Prix debut.

The Latvian ace punished a total of 18 missed finishing doubles from the 2021 quarter-finalist and claimed the final set without reply as he moved into the last 16.

Danny Noppert was a straight sets winner against Germany's Gabriel Clemens, dropping just two legs as he progressed.

The UK Open champion won the second leg of the opening set despite 13 missed starting doubles, and he came from 2-1 down in set two to book a last 16 place.

Nathan Aspinall completed the second round line-up as he overcame a mid-game wobble against Michael Smith to move through to a meeting with Noppert.

He won the opening set 3-1 but missed four match darts in the second as Smith hit back to level - but he regained his composure to win the deciding set without reply.

World Grand Prix: Daily results and schedule

Monday October 3 (7pm)
First Round (Best of three sets)

  • Callan Rydz 0-2 Krzysztof Ratajski
  • Brendan Dolan 0-2 Stephen Bunting
  • Chris Dobey 2-0 Luke Humphries
  • Dimitri Van den Bergh 2-1 Dave Chisnall
  • Jonny Clayton 2-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode
  • Peter Wright 2-0 Kim Huybrechts
  • Michael van Gerwen 2-0 Gary Anderson
  • Jose de Sousa 0-2 Adrian Lewis

Tuesday October 4 (7pm)
First Round (Best of three sets)

  • Madars Razma 2-1 Ryan Searle
  • Ross Smith 2-1 Andrew Gilding
  • Danny Noppert 2-0 Gabriel Clemens
  • Joe Cullen 2-1 Damon Heta
  • Rob Cross 1-2 Daryl Gurney
  • James Wade 1-2 Martin Lukeman
  • Gerwyn Price 2-0 Martin Schindler
  • Michael Smith 1-2 Nathan Aspinall

Wednesday October 5 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of five sets)

  • Adrian Lewis v Chris Dobey
  • Peter Wright v Krzysztof Ratajski
  • Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting
  • Jonny Clayton v Dimitri Van den Bergh

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Thursday October 6 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of five sets)

  • Martin Lukeman v Ross Smith
  • Nathan Aspinall v Danny Noppert
  • Gerwyn Price v Joe Cullen
  • Daryl Gurney v Madars Razma

Friday October 7 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-Finals (Best of five sets)

  • Four Matches

Saturday October 8 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Semi-Finals (Best of seven sets)

  • Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2
  • Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4

Sunday October 9 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Final (Best of nine sets)

  • Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2

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