Grand Slam of Darts results: Gary Anderson to face Michael van Gerwen in semi-finals

Few gave the Ferret a realistic chance of repeating last Sunday's heroics, when he defied MVG's average of 108 to win a best-of-nine leg group match 5-4, but again he pushed the world number one hard in a 16-12 defeat.

Clayton showed no sign of intimidation and made his intentions clear as early as the sixth leg when two maximums and an 84 finish on the bullseye completed a 12-darter to level the scores at 3-3.

The Welshman followed that up with a stunning 142 checkout to move ahead and it wasn't until the 11th leg when he fell behind.

Even at 8-5 down his head never went down as he clawed it back to 9-9 due to averaging around the 100 mark and the three-time defending champion's wasteful finishing.

The next four legs were shared, effectively making it into another best-of-nine affair but this time van Gerwen rattled off back-to-back 11 darters to create some daylight before punishing a lapse in Clayton's play in the next two legs to move 15-11 ahead.

The Dutchman, who missed three match darts against Clayton in the group stages, then bizarrely spurned eight for a semi-final spot in the 27th leg, with the Ferret just about taking advantage on double one.

MVG finally got over the line with attempt nine in the next leg to seal his semi-final spot - but only after Clayton missed five of his own to extend the match.

The Dutchman, who is aiming for a fourth successive Grand Slam of Darts title, averaged 102, hit seven 180s and fired a high finish of 124 although he'll need to brush up on his doubles against Anderson, missing 30 of them in total.

It should be some showdown. Although MVG has won 18 singles titles this year, including the Masters, Premier League and last month's World Grand Prix, he's missed out on five of the other big majors in 2018, three of which won by the Flying Scotsman at the UK Open, World Matchplay and Champions League of Darts - where the pair met in the group stages.

Earlier on Saturday night, Anderson produced yet another ruthless performance as he thrashed Michael Unterbuchner 16-6 to reach the last four at the Aldersley Leisure Village.

The Flying Scotsman lived up to his billing as hot favourite by brushing aside the sole surviving BDO player left in the tournament, despite dropping the opening two legs of the match.

Anderson, who made the headlines over 'fart-gate' following his second-round victory over Wesley Harms on Thursday night, is into his sixth Grand Slam semi-final although it's one of the few majors he's yet to add to his glittering CV.

The 47-year-old couldn't be in much better form to end that drought, however, having dropped just 12 legs in his five matches so far, which included a 5-2 group stage victory over Unterbuchner, and averaging over three figures for the tournament.

Anderson posted an averaged of 101 in his quarter-final and although he only managed three 180s (which was good news for followers of Chris Hammer's betting tips), he weighed in with three 100+ checkouts, including a best of 152.

However, his German opponent did at least manage to beat that with a stunning - albeit consolation - 160 which saw him cut Anderson's lead to 12-5.

The 47-year-old is also chasing his fifth televised title of the season and fourth major having also lifted the UK Open, World Matchplay, and Champions League trophies for the first time in his career.

He will play van Gerwen in Sunday afternoon's semi-finals, which will also feature Mensur Suljovic v Gerwyn Price. The final will be played in the evening.

Grand Slam of Darts: QF Results & Schedule

Click here for full tournament results

Friday November 16 (7pm)
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)

• Dimitri Van den Bergh 9-16 Mensur Suljovic
• Gerwyn Price 16-15 Simon Whitlock

Saturday November 17 (7pm)
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)

• Gary Anderson 16-6 Michael Unterbuchner
• Jonny Clayton 12-6 Michael van Gerwen

Sunday November 17
Afternoon Session (1pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Semi-finals (Best of 31 legs)

• Mensur Suljovic v Gerwyn Price
• Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson

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

• Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2

Grand Slam of Darts: Final Group standings

• Click for Sky Bet's darts odds
• PDC players unless stated
• Click here for full tournament results

Group A

1. Jonny Clayton P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +6 Pts 6
2. (1) Michael van Gerwen P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff +7 Pts 4
3. Gary Robson (BDO) P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -5 Pts 2
4. Joe Murnan P 3 W 0 L 3 LegDiff -8 Pts 0

Group B

1. (8) Michael Smith P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +8 Pts 6
2. Krzysztof Ratajski P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff +5 Pts 4
3. Raymond van Barneveld P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -6 Pts 2
4. Adam Smith-Neale (BDO) P 3 W 0 L 3 LegDiff -7 Pts 0

Group C

1. (5) James Wade P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +11 Pts 6
2. Wesley Harms (BDO) P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff -2 Pts 4
3. Keegan Brown P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -2 Pts 2
4. Mark Webster P 3 W 0 L 3 LegDiff -7 Pts 0

Group D

1. (4) Gary Anderson P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +11 Pts 6
2. Michael Unterbuchner (BDO) P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff +2 Pts 4
3. Ian White P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -2 Pts 2
4. Steve Hine P 3 W 0 L 3 LegDiff -11 Pts 0

Group E

1. (2) Peter Wright P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +5 Pts 6
2. Josh Payne P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff 0 Pts 2
3. Max Hopp P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -2 Pts 2
4. Jim Williams (BDO) P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -3 Pts 2

Group F

1. Gerwyn Price P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff +3 Pts 4
2. (7) Simon Whitlock P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff 0 Pts 4
3. Glen Durrant (BDO) P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff +2 Pts 2
4. Andrew Gilding P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -5 Pts 2

Group G

1. Stephen Bunting P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +8 Pts 6
2. (6) Mensur Suljovic P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff 0 Pts 2
3. Scott Mitchell (BDO) P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -3 Pts 2
4. Martin Schindler P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -5 Pts 2

Group H

1. (3) Rob Cross P 3 W 3 L 0 LegDiff +7 Pts 6
2. Dimitri Van den Bergh P 3 W 2 L 1 LegDiff +5 Pts 4
3. Mark McGeeney (BDO) P 3 W 1 L 2 LegDiff -5 Pts 2
4. Ryan Searle P 3 W 0 L 3 LegDiff -7 Pts 0

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