Michael van Gerwen (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

Grand Slam of Darts results: MVG beats Michael Smith in epic as James Wade's winning streak is ended by BDO star

By Chris Hammer

Darts

Fri November 16, 2018 · 6y ago

Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith produced one of the finest matches in Grand Slam of Darts history but it was the world number one who reached the quarter-finals in Wolverhampton.

Van Gerwen averaged 108 and hit 11 180s in a stunning display at the Aldersley Leisure Village but Bully Boy pushed him almost to the wire, with his effort on tops for a dramatic 160 checkout at 9-8 down just missing low.

Smith also averaged three figures and weighed in with six maximums while he produced two ton+ checkouts of 121 and 112.

MVG is aiming to win his fourth big TV event of the season having previously triumphed in the Masters, Premier League Darts and World Grand Prix although his disappointments at the UK Open, World Matchplay, Champions League of Darts, European Championship and World Series of Darts Finals led many to question if his dominance was on the wane.

However, although he found Smith hard to shake off and was never more than two legs ahead until going 9-7 up - when his pressurising 180 was followed by double three - it looked like the 'old' MVG was back and remains hot favourite to win the Grand Slam of Darts for the fourth year in a row.

"It was an incredible game against an incredible player who produced some great darts but I did the right things at the right moments," van Gerwen told www.pdc.tv. "I played so well but at times I thought I wasn't going to be able to break his throw but I love playing games like this for the crowd, this is why we play darts.

"I want to keep playing to this standard for the rest of the tournament and I want to win."

He will next meet Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals after the Welshman made it four straight wins in the tournament with a 10-3 trouncing of dark horse Krzysztof Ratajski.

Despite that stunning victory over MVG in his 100% Group A campaign, the Ferret went into this clash as marginal outsider to defeat the impressive and in-form Pole, but he was by far the better player on the night.

Clayton averaged 104, hit five 180s and converted 10 of his 17 attempts at doubles in an imperious display which also included a pair of 100 checkouts.

Ratajski, who was runner-up in Group B ahead of Raymond van Barneveld, didn't play too badly with an average of 94 but he only managed to have five shots at doubles.

"This is massive for me, I'm loving every minute of my time spent in this tournament," said Clayton. "Anything beyond the group stage is a bonus for me, I just wanted to make sure I kept straight and thankfully I managed to play really well again so I'm delighted with that."

Earlier, James Wade's 13-game winning streak was ended as BDO star Michael Unterbuchner caused a huge shock.

The Machine was 1/7 favourite to march on and keep alive his target of winning a third straight TV title having already claimed the European Championship and World Series of Darts Finals over the past few weeks, but his German opponent caused a 9/2 upset that few saw coming.

Unterbuchner is just the 10th BDO player in Grand Slam of Darts history to reach the quarter-finals of this event, which features eight hopefuls from his organisation and 24 from the PDC, and now needs to rebook his flight home having not expected to get this far.

The 30-year-old raced out of the blocks to go 4-1 up and although Wade did win the next two legs, he remained unfazed as he continued to lead from the front, with a superb 95 checkout taking him 8-4 clear and a 15-darter taking him one away from victory.

Wade rallied to win back-to-back legs but it was simply too little too late as Unterbuchner, who averaged 94 compared to Wade's 93, hit most 180s with three and hit 38% of his doubles, got the job done in the next.

"It's unbelievable to beat James Wade, such a fantastic player on this amazing stage," said Unterbuchner. "I booked my flights home for tomorrow morning because I didn't think I would win but I don't mind staying longer, hopefully until Monday!"

Up next for Unterbuchner is the daunting challenge of Gary Anderson, who was in no mood to be tested by BDO underdog Wesley Harms as he raced away to an emphatic 10-2 triumph.

The Flying Scotsman, who came through the group stages with a 100% record, is hungry to win this tournament for the first time in his career and on this evidence will take some beating.

He averaged 101, hit six 180s, made 10 of his 16 attempts at doubles and also landed a stunning sheckout of 136 which put him 7-2 up.

Anderson has enjoyed a glorious season which saw him pick up his maiden UK Open, World Matchplay (making a nine-darter along the way!) and Champions League titles.