Gerwyn Price produced a stunning comeback to defeat Danny Noppert and set up a quarter-final with Raymond van Barneveld at the Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts.
The defending champion has won this event every time it's been staged at the Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton (2018, 2019, 2021) and has now won 22 of his 25 matches on this stage, with his only defeats coming in the group stages.
Price kicked off the game in style with a blockbuster 150 checkout but an unfazed Noppert bounced back to open up leads of 3-1 and 7-4 to leave in big trouble.
But the Iceman once again used his incredible mental strength to dig deep like a true champion, winning three of the next four legs before unleashing a stunning 164 checkout on the bullseye to level up at 8-8.
🤯👏 "Champions find a way" and that's what Gerwyn Price always seems to do.
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) November 16, 2022
🙌 This incredible 164 checkout when he was in big trouble paved the way for a 10-8 victory!pic.twitter.com/4z69MUoOQz
Gerwyn Price has real sympathy for Fallon Sherrock about the 'hate' she's been struggling with.
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) November 16, 2022
"I do feel really bad for the way she is and the way people treat her" pic.twitter.com/DTjCvh15Gk
That knocked the stuffing out of the UK Open champion and didn't see another dart at a double as Price roared into the quarter-finals with a fourth successive 100+ average of the tournament (100.1).
Price, who hit 10 of his 13 attempts at doubles, said: "Danny was the better player earlier on. I was fortunate to get through that game, but the 164 was massive.
“Raymond has been playing at the top level for the last 30 years, he knows how to win, so I need to improve on Friday night or Raymond is going to give me another lesson."
PRICE WINS IT!!!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 16, 2022
An absolutely incredible performance from Gerwyn Price to hold his nerve and recover from 7-4 down to beat Danny Noppert 10-8!
Is it going to be a fourth Grand Slam title for Price this year?#GSOD | L16
📺 https://t.co/iVFvdc03lj pic.twitter.com/kAfbHuyXDj
Earlier, van Barneveld rolled back the years to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2016.
The 55-year-old, who defeated Michael van Gerwen to win this trophy 10 years ago, upset the odds to top a group with Gerwyn Price, Dave Chisnall and Ted Evetts but questions marks were raised by Michael van Gerwen about his chances of coping with the longer best-of-19 legs format.
However, in a thrilling game against another veteran in 53-year-old Simon Whitlock, he averaged 94 and threw six 180s during a 10-8 victory that brought the Barney Army to their feet.
The Wizard, who won the World Cup for Australia earlier this season, averaged just over 101, threw four maximums and a pair of 100+ checkouts to push the crowd favourite hard but ultimately came up short.
🎯🙌 Raymond van Barneveld is STILL back!
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) November 16, 2022
👏 Barney rolls back the years to reach the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals for the first time since 2016!pic.twitter.com/01oheb1LUq
The five-time World Champion said: “How good was Simon tonight? All credit to him, he was fantastic, but I’m so happy with this win. I played really well. I am sure everyone watching at home would have loved it to go to a last leg, but fortunately for me that bullseye went in at the end.”
Michael Smith booked his place in the quarter-finals for the fourth year in succession with a hard-fought 10-8 victory over Rob Cross.
Bully Boy, who is still searching for his first major title, has yet to fire on all cylinders in Wolverhampton this week despite being one of the tournament favourites and found it a struggle to defuse Voltage.
Smith averaged 96 compared to his opponent's 97 and threw three fewer 180s with five but after Cross fought back from 8-5 down to level up at 8-8, the St Helens ace regained his composure to take the next two legs.
“Rob is a World Champion for a reason so I knew it was going to be tough, and I couldn’t put him away,” conceded Smith, a two-time semi-finalist in Wolverhampton.
“I’ve made the quarter-finals or better in the last four years, and that gave me belief. I’m competing against the best players in the world, so it should be fun!”
SMITH GOES THROUGH!!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 16, 2022
It was a hard-fought match but Michael Smith finally gets over the line against Rob Cross as he secures a 10-8 victory to reach the Quarter-Finals. #GSOD | L16
📺 https://t.co/iVFvdc0BaR pic.twitter.com/enVCn5VQ2y
Smith will next face Joe Cullen, who celebrated his wedding anniversary in style by thrashing an out-of-sorts Dirk van Duijvenbode 10-4.
“I felt like I needed to keep playing well because I felt like Dirk was going to kick into gear at some stage,” reflected Cullen, who averaged 95 and converted two ton-plus checkouts to advance.
“I’m looking forward to playing Michael again on Friday. It’s almost a new tournament now, and I think I’ve got as good a chance as anyone. I’m here to win.”
Joe Cullen won on his wedding anniversary tonight but he's now got a reputation for being the least romantic darts player on the circuit... pic.twitter.com/Pttff4x5wf
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) November 16, 2022
Wednesday November 16 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of 19 legs)
Thursday November 17 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of 19 legs)
Friday November 18
Evening Session (1pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)
Saturday November 19
Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)
Sunday November 20
Afternoon Session (1pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Semi-finals (Best of 31 legs)
Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Final (Best of 31 legs)