Grand Slam of Darts day two: MVG beats Rob Cross in epic as Phil Taylor survives a scare
A review of Sunday's action at the Grand Slam of Darts, as Michael van Gerwen beat Rob Cross in an epic clash, Phil Taylor survived a real scare while Gary Anderson and Glen Durrant progressed.
Sunday evening round-up
Rapidly rising star Rob Cross landed a 170 checkout but missed two match darts as Michael van Gerwen fought back to defeat him 5-4 in a thrilling clash and book his place in the Grand Slam of Darts knockout stages in Wolverhampton.
The former election, nicknamed Voltage, is enjoying a dream debut season on the PDC circuit with four tour titles and a major TV final appearance at the recent European Championship, where he lost to MVG, and made a great start to this tournament by thrashing Joe Murnan 5-1 last night.
He blasted out of the blocks in this clash too with a 114 checkout to take the opening leg only for the two-time defending champion to respond in style by moving 2-1 up as he nailed a 134 finish in the third.
Cross was unfazed and rattled off three legs on the trot, culminating in the 'big fish' finish but after MVG pulled one back, he missed two match darts at double tops as the 108-averaging Dutchman made him pay.
Cross, who averaged 104, must now beat Ross Montgomery in his final Group A game on Tuesday night to reach the last 16 after the BDO thrower averaged 100 in a 5-3 win over Joe Murnan, while MVG faces the latter. (Click here for full standings)
Van Gerwen is Sky Bet's Price Boosted 4/5 (from 4/6) favourite to land the title while Cross is 20/1 from 16/1.
Phil Taylor (10/1) survived a huge scare as he defeated Robbie Green in a thrilling clash to put himself in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages.
The Power, playing this tournament for the final time ahead of his retirement, was hot favourite to follow up Saturday's 5-1 win over Peter Machin with another two points but underdog Green came within a whisker of claiming the biggest televised scalp of his career.
'Kong', who averaged just short of 99, led 4-2 and missed four darts for the match before Taylor took out 105 to level the scores before running away with the deciding leg.
Taylor needs three legs in his final Group C match against James Wade on Tuesday night to assure his spot in the last 16 after the Machine thrashed the BDO's Peter Machin 5-1 earlier in the evening.
Raymond van Barneveld (33/1) was another big name to come back from the brink of defeat as he rallied from 4-2 down to beat Gerwyn Price, who averaged over 100 for the second match in a row.
Barney will next meet rising Irish prospect Steve Lennon, who kept his hopes alive by averaging 100 in a 5-0 romp against Jamie Hughes of the BDO while Price takes on the BDO thrower.
Daryl Gurney (20/1) produced another clinical finishing performance as he brushed aside Mark Webster 5-3 to put himself in pole position to reach the next round.
The World Grand Prix champion has now hit 10 doubles from 15 attempts over his two matches so far, missing just twice against Webster and ending up with an average of 97.
He next plays plays Darren Webster, who kept alive his hopes of progression in some style by thrashing Danny Noppert 5-1 thanks to landing five his his six attempts at doubles.
Click here for full tournament standings
Sunday afternoon round-up
Gary Anderson (6/1) booked his place in the Grand Slam of Darts knockout stage after an emotional match with Dutch youngster Berry van Peer, who continued his struggles with dartitis.
The Flying Scotsman averaged 111.79, with the help of three 180s and nailing five of his seven darts at doubles, as he registered his second win of the group stage to go through with a game to spare.
But the story was all about van Peer's battle with his difficulties to release the dart when stepping up to the oche, although he did manage to win one leg.
Wayne Mardle led a chorus of encouragement from for the World Youth runner-up during commentary and later via Twitter, while his opponent Anderson and referee consoled the 21-year-old as the crowd cheered his name.
Van Peer was reduced to tears but having won his opening match on Saturday, he still has a chance to qualify should he beat impressive BDO player Cameron Menzies in the final game in Group H. (Click here for full tournament standings)
Menzies, one of eight BDO representatives in the field, stunned World Grand Prix runner-up Simon Whitlock 5-2 while Anderson's quest for a first Grand Slam title will see him finish the group stage against the now eliminated Aussie.
Defending BDO world champion Glen Durrant (25/1) laid down a further marker about his ambitions to become his organisation's second ever winner of this event behind Scott Waites as he claimed an impressive 5-3 victory over Alan Norris, which sealed his place in the last 16 for a second successive year.
The Middlesbrough thrower averaged 106 during his win over Peter Wright on Saturday and followed it up with an almost as impressive 103.5 while he hit five of his eight attempts at doubles and managed a high checkout of 134.
It means Norris will face a straight shoot-out with Peter Wright (11/1) for the other spot in the group after 'Snakebite' thrashed Aussie sensation Corey Cadby 5-0 - the first whitewash of this year's tournament.
The world youth champion is now out.
Mensur Suljovic (22/1) maintained his perfect start to the campaign after winning a final-leg decider in a high-quality showdown against Michael Smith in which both players averaged over 100.
The Champions League of Darts winner is not yet sure of his last-16 spot, however, ahead of his final Group G clash with James Wilson, who defeated BDO number one Mark McGeeney 5-2.
In the final match of the afternoon session, Stephen Bunting picked up his second win of Group F by seeing off Dave Chisnall 5-2 in a scrappy contest.
Bunting will next face former BDO world champion Scott Mitchell who kept alive his own hopes of progress with a gritty 5-3 win over young Dutchman Jeffrey de Zwaan.
Sunday's Grand Slam of Darts results
Afternoon Session
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Main Event/Arena
E-H Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)
- Jeffrey de Zwaan 3-5 Scott Mitchell (F)
- James Wilson 5-2 Mark McGeeney (G)
- Peter Wright 5-0 Corey Cadby (E)
- Simon Whitlock 2-5 Cameron Menzies (H)
- Mensur Suljovic 5-4 Michael Smith (G)
- Gary Anderson 5-1 Berry van Peer (H)
- Alan Norris 3-5 Glen Durrant (E)
- Dave Chisnall 2-5 Stephen Bunting (F)
Evening Session
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Main Event/Arena
A-D Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)
- Joe Murnan 3-5 Ross Montgomery (A)
- Darren Webster 5-2 Danny Noppert (D)
- Steve Lennon 5-0 Jamie Hughes (B)
- James Wade 5-1 Peter Machin (C)
- Daryl Gurney 5-3 Mark Webster (D)
- Phil Taylor 5-4 Robbie Green (C)
- Michael van Gerwen 5-4 Rob Cross (A)
- Raymond van Barneveld 5-4 Gerwyn Price (B)
- CLICK HERE FOR GROUP STANDINGS & FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Monday's Grand Slam of Darts schedule
Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Action
E-H Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)
- Corey Cadby v Glen Durrant (E)
- Peter Wright v Alan Norris (E)
- Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock (H)
- Berry van Peer v Cameron Menzies (H)
- Michael Smith v Mark McGeeney (G)
- Mensur Suljovic v James Wilson (G)
- Dave Chisnall v Jeffrey de Zwaan (F)
- Stephen Bunting v Scott Mitchell (F)
CLICK HERE FOR DAY THREE PREDICTIONS & ACCUMULATOR