Nathan Aspinall (Picture: Taylor Lanning/PDC)

Darts results: Nathan Aspinall knocks Peter Wright out of the Grand Slam of Darts as Alan Soutar qualifies for the last 16

By Sporting Life

Darts

Wed November 16, 2022 · 2y ago

Nathan Aspinall sent Peter Wright crashing out of the Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts group stages as Alan Soutar sneaked into the last on his debut.

The world champion headed into the night as Group E leader following two wins out of two over the weekend - albeit without playing to his usual standards - but after Soutar beat Fallon Sherrock 5-2 earlier in the night, he required three legs or more to guarantee his place in the knockout stages.

Wright - without his trademark painted head as wife Jo continues to receive treatment following a recent operation - had two darts to reach his target when 2-1 up but missed them both at double 10 and Aspinall, who needed a win to qualify, made him pay by levelling the match.

Snakebite never saw another dart at a double as the Asp ran out a 5-2 winner that saw him secure top spot ahead of the unlikely Scotsman.

“I’m so happy to get through and I can’t believe I’ve topped the group,” admitted Aspinall, who will meet Jermaine Wattimena for a place in the quarter-finals.

“Peter is going through a tough time at the moment. I don’t think his head was in the game and I give my best wishes to Jo, but I had to go up there and do my job.”

Soutar, who had beaten Aspinall earlier in the competition and missed six match darts to do the same to Wright, produced an outrageous checkout to win a leg that Sherrock kicked off with back-to-back 180s.

The fireman was leading 3-2 when last year's quarter-finalist threatened to take the roof off the Aldersley Leisure Village with a nine-darter but he ended up pinching it in 15 when taking out 132 with a pair of bullseyes and a double 16.

“Watching that match backstage was the worst feeling I’ve ever had in darts - it was horrible!” admitted Soutar, who will now play Jonny Clayton in Thursday’s second round.

“The Grand Slam was a free-roll for me and I’m now in the world’s top 40 after less than two years on the tour, so I’m absolutely delighted.”

Earlier, Ross Smith set a new 180s record in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Michael van Gerwen in Group A.

The recently-crowned European champion hit nine maximums in the nine legs to break the tournament record for a group stage encounter, while he also averaged 108 in a stunning performance.

He was averaging almost 120 after racing into a 3-0 lead but back stormed van Gerwen by taking the next four legs in succession before Smith deservedly forced a decider.

'Smudger' hit his ninth 180 at the start of the leg and went on to complete his victory in 16 darts, with MVG waiting to come back on tops.

The result didn't prevent van Gerwen, who averaged 105, finishing top of the group ahead of Smith due to a superior legs difference and the pair could well meet in the quarter-final stage.

“I wanted to show everyone what I can do against the best in the world,” said Smith, who hit a maximum in every single leg.

“Hopefully I can kick on now. I’m loving my darts and I’m so happy with life in general, so I just want to keep going."

In the other Group G tie, Nathen Rafferty defeated Luke Woodhouse 5-4 to get his first win but both players exited the competition on two points.

In Group H, emerging Northern Irish star Josh Rock joined Luke Humphries in the last 16 after running out a 5-3 winner in a captivating showdown between the pair.

Scott Williams posted a stunning 107 average to come through a high-quality clash against Ryan Searle in the other Group G tie, registering six 180s and two 11-darters in the process.

That result meant that Rock needed three legs to confirm his progression, yet he was forced to a survive a scare midway through the contest after Humphries squandered two darts at double for a 4-1 lead.

Rock claimed his all-important third leg with a brilliant 121 combination in leg six, and back-to-back 15-darters capped off another imperious display from the 21-year-old.

“I believe I can win this tournament,” insisted Rock, who will play three-time Grand Slam champion Van Gerwen in a huge last 16 tie on Thursday night.

“It will be a fantastic match. I’ve never played Michael before - he’s the second best player of all time in my opinion, but I’m not scared of playing him.”

Earlier in the night, Wattimena joined Clayton in advancing through Group F, punishing a profligate display from North American Champion Leonard Gates to complete an emphatic 5-1 victory.

Wattimena sealed the deal with a clinical 108 kill, and this result meant that Damon Heta needed to whitewash Clayton to keep his Grand Slam dream alive.

The Australian was unable to produce the heroic escape act, although he bowed out on a high by averaging 93 and landing three 180s to inflict Clayton’s first defeat of the campaign.

The last 16 of the Grand Slam gets underway on Wednesday night, as reigning champion Gerwyn Price plays UK Open winner Danny Noppert, while 2012 champion Raymond van Barneveld plays Australia’s World Cup hero Simon Whitlock.

Elsewhere, former World Cup of Darts partners Michael Smith and Rob Cross collide, while Masters champion Joe Cullen meets Dutch star Dirk van Duijvenbode for a place in the last eight.

Grand Slam of Darts: Group stage standings and results

Scoring System: Each competitor plays each other once in a best-of-nine legs match, with two points going to the winner. The top two from each group will then progress to the knockout stages. Any two-way points tie in any position, the player with best leg difference will finish higher. If two players are still level then the winner of the match between them will progress. There is the potential for a Nine-Dart Shoot-Out should three or more players be tied for points and leg difference. For more details see the format section further down.

Group A

Dave Chisnall 3-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Gerwyn Price 5-1 Ted Evetts
Dave Chisnall 5-2 Ted Evetts
Gerwyn Price 4-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld 5-0 Ted Evetts
Gerwyn Price 5-4 Dave Chisnall

Final standings in Group A

Group B

Simon Whitlock 5-2 Mensur Suljovic
Danny Noppert 5-4 Christian Perez
Mensur Suljovic 5-2 Christian Perez
Danny Noppert 5-2 Simon Whitlock
Simon Whitlock 5-3 Christian Perez
Danny Noppert 5-4 Mensur Suljovic

Final standings in Group B

Group C

Joe Cullen 5-1 Ritchie Edhouse
Michael Smith 5-3 Lisa Ashton
Ritchie Edhouse 5-2 Lisa Ashton
Michael Smith 5-1 Joe Cullen
Joe Cullen 5-3 Lisa Ashton
Michael Smith 5-1 Ritchie Edhouse

Latest standings in Group C

Group D

Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-4 Martin Schindler
Rob Cross 5-2 Adam Gawlas
Martin Schindler 5-3 Adam Gawlas
Rob Cross 3-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-3 Adam Gawlas
Rob Cross 5-4 Martin Schindler

Final standings in Group D

Group E

Nathan Aspinall 4-5 Alan Soutar
Peter Wright 5-1 Fallon Sherrock
Nathan Aspinall 5-1 Fallon Sherrock
Peter Wright 5-4 Alan Soutar
Alan Soutar 5-2 Fallon Sherrock
Peter Wright 2-5 Nathan Aspinall

Final standings in Group E

Group F

Damon Heta 2-5 Jermaine Wattimena
Jonny Clayton 5-0 Leonard Gates
Damon Heta 5-4 Leonard Gates
Jonny Clayton 5-0 Jermaine Wattimena
Jermaine Wattimena 5-1 Leonard Gates
Jonny Clayton 2-5 Damon Heta

Final standings in Group F

Group G

Ross Smith 4-5 Luke Woodhouse
Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Nathan Rafferty
Ross Smith 5-2 Nathan Rafferty
Michael van Gerwen 5-1 Luke Woodhouse
Luke Woodhouse 4-5 Nathan Rafferty
Michael van Gerwen 4-5 Ross Smith

Final standings in Group G

Group H

Ryan Searle 5-4 Josh Rock
Luke Humphries 5-2 Scott Williams
Josh Rock 5-4 Scott Williams
Luke Humphries 5-1 Ryan Searle
Ryan Searle 3-5 Scott Williams
Luke Humphries 3-5 Josh Rock

Final standings in Group H

Grand Slam of Darts: Remaining schedule

Wednesday November 16 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of 19 legs)

Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock
Michael Smith v Rob Cross
Danny Noppert v Gerwyn Price
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Joe Cullen

Thursday November 17 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of 19 legs)

Nathan Aspinall v Jermaine Wattimena
Alan Soutar v Jonny Clayton
Michael van Gerwen v Josh Rock
Ross Smith v Luke Humphries

Friday November 18
Evening Session (1pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)

Two matches

Saturday November 19
Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)

Two matches

Sunday November 20
Afternoon Session (1pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Semi-finals (Best of 31 legs)

Two matches

Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Final (Best of 31 legs)

Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2