Sporting Life
Peter Wright (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)
Peter Wright (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

Darts: Peter Wright crashes out of Grand Slam of Darts after dramatic defeat to Devon Petersen but Gerwyn Price survives

By Chris Hammer
Darts
Fri November 20, 2020 · 4y ago

Peter Wright is out of the Boylesports Grand Slam of Darts after suffering a 5-2 defeat to Devon Petersen while Gerwyn Price survived a real scare to progress into the last 16.

  • Scroll down for group standings, results & fixtures

The world champion 'only' needed to win three legs against Group E table-topper African Warrior to seal a top-two spot in Group E after Ian White thrashed Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-1 to move level on two points but with a leg difference deficit of two.

However, Snakebite found himself in grave danger at 4-1 down and although he pulled one back, he missed one dart at double 19 for a 155 checkout that would have sneaked him through and Petersen came back to seal his third victory in a row.

Wright averaged a lowly 83 compared to his opponent's mediocre 88 while he missed 13 of his 15 darts at a double in a dreadful performance by most top players' standards.

Meanwhile, White will be amazed to have finished runner-up having started the night almost certain to be eliminated following two defeats out of two with a -5 legs difference.

With little to no pressure, Diamond produced a sparkling average of 108, hit all five of his darts at doubles and sealed the 5-1 win with a 132 checkout to leave van Duijvenbode, who beat Wright on night one, completely shell-shocked.

"I'm happy to top the group," said Petersen. "It was a tough group, we had really good players in there but against me they didn't perform as well as they would hope.

"It wasn't the Peter Wright that we expected but I'm just happy. I feel a lot more comfortable on stage and players are now looking at me as a serious player.

Two-time defending champion Gerwyn Price progressed by the skin of teeth after he came from 4-2 down and survived match darts to defeat Ryan Joyce 5-4.

The Iceman had won his opening two games but his place wasn't guaranteed after Jonny Clayton's 5-0 triumph over Mikuru Suzuki meant his clash with Joyce effectively became winner takes all.

Price had averaged below 90 against both Suzuki and his World Cup-winning team-mate earlier this week but raised his levels to a whopping 106 just at the right time to scrape through with a 100% record - as strange as that sounds.

Despite finishes of 124 and 116, Price found himself 4-2 down as Newcastle's Joyce set up the prospect of a huge upset.

However, the world number three survived one missed match dart from his opponent as he won the game's final three legs without reply to progress to the last 16.

"I was up against it but I never gave up - I dug in deep and I thought I played well today," said Price, who was 4-2 down despite hitting checkouts of 124 and 116. "I bombed a few chances but I knew I had enough in the tank and I think I deserved to win.

"I knew Ryan was going to come and play well and he punished me when I missed a few doubles but I stuck in there until the end. In the last three legs I played well to come back. I could have lost all three games but I'm a little bit more experienced now and maybe that showed."

"I'm so chuffed to get through that," said Clayton. "It wasn't easy but a 5-0 win is brilliant.

"I've been thinking about this game for two days and I wanted to get the win and go through. I've done the job and I'm happy to be in the next round."

Arguably the most miraculous qualification feat of the night was Adam Hunt, who was rock bottom of Group A with a legs difference of minus six ahead of his clash with the highly-fancied Gabriel Clemens.

Having suffered 5-0 and 5-4 defeats to Michael van Gerwen and Joe Cullen in his first two games this week, Hunt then looked almost certainly out for good when trailing 2-0 against the German. But a staggering comeback saw him reel off the next five legs in succession to give him a faint hope of going through.

For that to happen, he needed Van Gerwen to defeat Cullen 5-3 or better and the unexpected pressure certainly took it's toll in the eighth leg of the match.

The Rockstar was losing 4-2 but blasted out of the blocks to leave 93 after just nine darts, with MVG back on 244. However, he missed double 18 on the inside for an 11 darter before accidentally hitting double two when he was trying to leave himself 16 for his next visit.

It didn't look too costly when the Dutchman reduced his score to 169 but three missed darts followed at double seven, with the latter falling inside to leave him awkwardly on seven which he also fluffed and was duly punished.

"It was a different kind of pressure today - I knew I was already through and top of the table, and I was trying maybe too hard, but the most important thing is that I won the game," said Van Gerwen.

"I didn't know the situation with Joe and it was only after the game that I realised he missed. I was focused on myself and I can build on this now.

"I can look forward to the game against Gary Anderson on Saturday night now. Gary is a phenomenal player to play against and lately I've been playing quite well, I hope I can continue the good form."

The other group to be decided was relatively more routine, with Jose De Sousa thrashing Lisa Ashton 5-1 with a 100 average to leave Krzysztof Ratajski needing a victory of 5-3 or better against table-topper Michael Smith to qualify.

The Polish Eagle, however, was no match for Bully Boy's average of 107 which was achieved in spite of missing nine of his 14 darts at doubles.

"The average didn't feel as good as it was because I missed a few doubles but I'm happy," said Smith. "I'm in a decent place at the moment; my mindset is good and my form is good.

"You want to keep the momentum going into the next round and as long as my head's good and my form's good then I'm raring to go."

Smith now faces World Cup team-mate Rob Cross in the second round, and added: "The World Cup was a team game but this is a different matter - it's an individual competition and I want to win it.

"Rob's playing well and it should be a good game. The longer format is good and I feel like I'm in the tournament now. I've got a decent record in this event but I want to push for the title."

Grand Slam of Darts 2020: Group standings

Group A

  1. (1) Michael van Gerwen (Q) P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +11 Pts 6
  2. Adam Hunt (Q) P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -3 Pts 2
  3. Gabriel Clemens P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -4 Pts 2
  4. Joe Cullen P 3 W 1 L 1 LegDiff -4 Pts 2

Group B

  1. Simon Whitlock (Q) P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +7 Pts 6
  2. (8) Gary Anderson (Q) P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff 0 Pts 4
  3. Ryan Searle P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -3 Pts 2
  4. Adam Gawlas P 2 W 0 L 2 LegDiff -3 Pts 0

Group C

  1. (4) Michael Smith (Q) P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +10 Pts 6
  2. Jose De Sousa (Q) P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff +2 Pts 4
  3. Krzysztof Ratajski P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -3 Pts 2
  4. Lisa Ashton P 3 W 0 L 3 LegDiff -9 Pts 0

Group D

  1. Dave Chisnall (Q) P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +7 Pts 6
  2. (5) Rob Cross (Q) P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff +4 Pts 4
  3. Luke Humphries P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -3 Pts 2
  4. Justin Pipe P 3 W 0 L 3 LegDiff -8 Pts 0

Group E

  1. Devon Petersen (Q) P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +9 Pts 6
  2. Ian White (Q) P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -1 Pts 2
  3. (2) Peter Wright P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -2 Pts 2
  4. Dirk van Duijvenbode P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -6 Pts 2

Group F

  1. (7) James Wade (Q) P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +8 Pts 6
  2. Damon Heta (Q) P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff +2 Pts 4
  3. Jermaine Wattimena P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff +1 Pts 2
  4. Glen Durrant P 3 W 0 L 3 LegDiff -10 Pts 0

Group G

  1. (3) Gerwyn Price (Q) P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +4 Pts 6
  2. Jonny Clayton (Q) P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff +4 Pts 4
  3. Ryan Joyce P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff +2 Pts 2
  4. Mikuru Suzuki P 3 W 0 L 3 LegDiff -10 Pts 0

Group H

  1. Dimitri Van den Bergh (Q) P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +12 Pts 6
  2. (6) Nathan Aspinall P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff +5 Pts 4
  3. Ricky Evans P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -6 Pts 2
  4. Wayne Warren P 3 W 0 L 3 LegDiff -11 Pts 0

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.

Grand Slam of Darts: Daily Schedule & Results

Click for Sky Bet's darts odds

Monday November 16
Afternoon Session (1pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)

  • Rob Cross 5-1 Justin Pipe (D)
  • Dave Chisnall 5-4 Luke Humphries (D)
  • James Wade 5-2 Damon Heta (F)
  • Simon Whitlock 5-3 Ryan Searle (B)
  • Glen Durrant 1-5 Jermaine Wattimena (F)
  • Nathan Aspinall 5-0 Wayne Warren (H)
  • Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-1 Ricky Evans (H)
  • Gary Anderson 5-3 Adam Gawlas (B)

Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Group Matches A-D (Best of 9 legs)

  • Jonny Clayton 5-4 Ryan Joyce (G)
  • Joe Cullen 2-5 Gabriel Clemens (A)
  • Krzysztof Ratajski 4-5 Jose De Sousa (C)
  • Michael Smith 5-1 Lisa Ashton (C)
  • Michael van Gerwen 5-0 Adam Hunt (A)
  • Gerwyn Price 5-4 Mikuru Suzuki (G)
  • Peter Wright 4-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode (E)
  • Ian White 2-5 Devon Petersen (E)

CLICK HERE FOR DAY ONE REVIEW

Tuesday November 17
Afternoon Session (1pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)

  • Ricky Evans 5-3 Wayne Warren (H)
  • Luke Humphries 5-4 Justin Pipe (D)
  • Ryan Searle 5-4 Adam Gawlas (B)
  • Glen Durrant 1-5 Damon Heta (F)
  • Gary Anderson 1-5 Simon Whitlock (B)
  • James Wade 5-3 Jermaine Wattimena (F)
  • Rob Cross 2-5 Dave Chisnall (D)
  • Nathan Aspinall 1-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh (H)

Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)

  • Krzysztof Ratajski 5-4 Lisa Ashton (C)
  • Joe Cullen 5-4 Adam Hunt (A)
  • Ryan Joyce 5-1 Mikuru Suzuki (G)
  • Peter Wright 5-3 Ian White (E)
  • Devon Petersen 5-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode (E)
  • Michael van Gerwen 5-1 Gabriel Clemens (A)
  • Gerwyn Price 5-3 Jonny Clayton (G)
  • Michael Smith 5-2 Jose De Sousa (C)

CLICK HERE FOR DAY TWO REVIEW

Wednesday November 18 (3pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)

  • Simon Whitlock 5-4 Adam Gawlas (B)
  • Dave Chisnall 5-2 Justin Pipe (D)
  • James Wade 5-2 Glen Durrant (F)
  • Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-1 Wayne Warren (H)
  • Jermaine Wattimena 4-5 Damon Heta (F)
  • Gary Anderson 5-3 Ryan Searle (B)
  • Nathan Aspinall 5-1 Ricky Evans (H)
  • Rob Cross 5-2 Luke Humphries (D)

Thursday November 19 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Group Matches (Best of 9 legs)

  • Jose De Sousa 5-1 Lisa Ashton (C)
  • Michael Smith 5-2 Krzysztof Ratajski (C)
  • Jonny Clayton 5-0 Mikuru Suzuki (G)
  • Gerwyn Price 5-4 Ryan Joyce (G)
  • Ian White 5-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode (E)
  • Peter Wright 2-5 Devon Petersen (E)
  • Gabriel Clemens 2-5 Adam Hunt (A)
  • Michael van Gerwen 5-3 Joe Cullen (A)

Friday November 20 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of 19 legs)

  • Dimitri Van den Bergh v Jonny Clayton
  • James Wade v Ian White
  • Simon Whitlock v Adam Hunt
  • Dave Chisnall v Jose De Sousa

Saturday November 21 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of 19 legs)

  • Michael Smith v Rob Cross
  • Devon Petersen v Damon Heta
  • Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
  • Gerwyn Price v Nathan Aspinall

Sunday November 22
Afternoon Session (1pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)

  • 2x Matches

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

  • 2x Matches

Monday November 23 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Semi-finals (Best of 31 legs)

  • 2x Matches

Tuesday November 24
Afternoon Session (6pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Final (Best of 31 legs)

  • Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2

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