Darts results: Glen Durrant beats Rob Cross in World Grand Prix classic as Peter Wright crashes out
A review of Wednesday's action at the World Grand Prix as Glen Durrant beat Rob Cross in a thriller while Dave Chisnall also advanced to the quarter-finals.
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Glen Durrant came through a titanic battle with Rob Cross to maintain his dream debut at the Boylesports World Grand Prix in Dublin.
The three-time BDO world champion, who has won two PDC titles since earning his Tour Card back in January, is now one win away from matching his fairytale run to the World Matchplay semi-finals although he'll no doubt be targeting much more than that this week.
This eagerly-anticipated contest was slow to get going as Duzza edged a scrappy opening set but the next four were packed full of 100+ checkouts and drama as the former Lakeside king triumphed 3-2.
The fireworks were set off after Duzza's 13-darter put him 1-0 up in sets, with Cross hitting back in emphatic fashion with successive checkouts of 144 and 134 to wrap up the next 3-0.
The World Matchplay champion was unable to build on his momentum as he struggled with his starting and finishing doubles, and the only leg he managed to win in the third set was a calamitous one in 28 darts.
Durrant clinched it with a fine 15-darter, finished off with a 109 checkout, and it wasn't long before he had the crowd on their feet with a 116 to complete a 12-darter in the fourth set.
It would prove to be in vain as far as this set was concerned, with Voltage cranking up the heat with his third 100+ checkout - this time from 138 - to take a deciding leg in 12 fantastic darts.
Durrant, however, was not to be denied and upped his game to a new level by reeling off three legs on the trot in 15, 16 and 14 darts to book his quarter-final spot.
The Teesider averaged 85.3 compared to Voltage's 86.44 and hit two fewer 180s with two but ultimately his finishing doubles were far superior, pinning 11 of his 20 as his opponent spurned 19 of his 28.
The 48-year-old will now meet Jermaine Wattimena, who broke down in tears after reaching his first individual televised quarter-final thanks to the biggest win of his career against Peter Wright.
The Machine Gun was quite the underdog heading into the clash and looked as though he had a mountain to climb when the in-form Snakebite, who has won three titles in the second half of the season, followed up checkouts of 111 and and 78 with a showstopper from 148 to take the opening set.
However, the 2018 runner-up quickly saw his work undone as a mixture of faulty starting and scoring combined with Wattimena's consistency enabled the Dutchman to run away with the second set 3-0 thanks to legs won in 16 (x2) and 14 darts.
Wright's superb 12-darter, sealed with an 88 checkout, edged him 2-1 up in the third but after Wattimena levelled, he would go on to miss three set darts in the decider before his opponent punished him with a killer 100 checkout.
The fourth also went the distance and again it was the Machine Gun who fired the final shot, pinning double 12 for a fine 13 darter to prompt emotional scenes of celebration.
Earlier, Dave Chisnall stormed into his fourth World Grand Prix quarter-final as he punished Stephen Bunting's double troubles to run out a dominant 3-0 winner.
Chizzy came out on top of the all-St Helens battle for the loss of just three legs and although his job was made easier by the Bullet missing 43 starting doubles and 10 of his 13 attempts to finish.
By contrast Chisnall spurned 22 darts to get away - with as many as 15 of those spanning just two legs including one he nicked anyway in 18 darts thanks to visits of 96, 140, 171 and s 94 checkout.
The 2013 runner-up, who is still seeking his first televised major, averaged a fairly impressive 86.35 but he'll need to brush up on his doubling at the other end of legs, missing 20 of his 29 in this contest.
It could have been so much different had Bunting made the most of his 2-0 lead in the opening set but that's when his problems to get away began and Chizzy took full advantage.
Chisnall has been in great form this season by winning three titles, including his first on a stage environment since 2013 at the Danish Darts Open, and you just have to wonder whether his game and confidence is all clicking into place at just the right time.
However his next opponent, Nathan Aspinall, is enjoying a dream World Grand Prix debut in what has already been a stunning 2019 for the Stockport man.
Since thrusting his way into the darting spotlight with a memorable run to the World Championship semi-finals last December, which showed not only showed off his ability but also his battling qualities, Aspinall has gone on to win the UK Open and US Darts Masters as well as reaching three other finals on the PDC circuit.
After blitzing past Vincent van der Voort for the loss of one leg on Monday night, this time he was made to dig deep by Danny Noppert, who had previously knocked out Daryl Gurney.
The Dutchman fought back from 2-1 down to take the opening set and although Aspinall stormed back to win the next 3-0, he landed impressive checkouts of 88 and 77 to move one set away from victory.
But Asp fought back with an 88 checkout of his own to clinch set four and as Noppert began to fade, Aspinall raced through the decider 3-0 with 92 and 89 checkouts to finish with a flourish.
The 28-year-old posted an average of 87.26 and hit five maximums although he only made 12 of his 39 attempts at doubles to win legs.
World Grand Prix: Wednesday results & Thursday schedule
Wednesday October 9 (7pm)
Second Round (Best of five sets)
- Danny Noppert 2-3 Nathan Aspinall (3-2, 0-3, 3-1, 1-3, 0-3)
- Dave Chisnall 3-0 Stephen Bunting (3-2, 3-1, 3-0)
- Rob Cross 2-3 Glen Durrant (2-3, 3-0, 1-3, 3-2, 0-3)
- Peter Wright 1-3 Jermaine Wattimena (3-2, 0-3, 2-3, 2-3)
Thursday October 10 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-Finals (Best of five sets)
- Ian White v Chris Dobey
- Dave Chisnall v Nathan Aspinall
- Michael van Gerwen v Mervyn King
- Glen Durrant v Jermaine Wattimena
Click here for full World Grand Prix draw, schedule & TV guide