Darts results: Gerwyn Price survives huge scare to beat Dave Chisnall and reach Grand Slam of Darts knockout stages

By Sporting Life

Darts

Tue November 15, 2022 · 2y ago

Gerwyn Price booked his place in the last 16 of the Grand Slam of Darts after surviving two match darts in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Dave Chisnall in Wolverhampton.

Scroll down for standings and full results

The defending champion, who is bidding to win this title for the fourth time in five years, came into the night knowing he had to beat Chizzy in a winner-takes-all game to progress as Group A runner-up but despite winning the opening leg with an 11-dart break of throw, he was never ahead again until he pinned double 18 in the deciding leg.

Both players averaged well over 100 in an absorbing contest featuring seven 180s and it looked like Chisnall would pinch it in leg eight when his fourth maximum left him 57 and Price failed to take out 128.

But Chizzy spurned missed two match darts and was made to pay by the Iceman, who then broke his opponent's throw and heart in the deciding leg with a brilliant 12-darter featuring visits of 140 (x2), 134 and an 87 checkout.

The only time Price hasn't lifted the Grand Slam trophy since the tournament moved to the Aldersley Leisure Village was in 2020, when it was staged behind closed doors in Milton Keynes, and he's now won 21 of his 24 matches at the venue.

😅 Price. Finds. A. Way

😲 Defending champion Gerwyn Price survived these two match darts against Dave Chisnall to force a deciding leg, which he won to reach the last 16 of the Grand Slam of Darts.pic.twitter.com/rWKEv9jlnA
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) November 14, 2022

“Raymond and Dave have both played brilliant games against me, so I’m just glad to get over the winning line,” reflected Price, who posted ton-plus averages in all three of his Group A ties.

“I never felt dead and buried. There is a target on my back, but I’m just fortunate I’ve got a little more in the tank that I can pull out."

PRICE WINS A THRILLER TO PROGRESS!

Ice cold stuff from Gerwyn Price as he keeps his nerve to break Chisnall in a thriller, secure a 5-4 victory and reach the Last 16. 🧊

What a game, and what bottle from Price!#GSOD | R1
📺 https://t.co/iVFvdc03lj pic.twitter.com/L6Q148y5v0
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 14, 2022

Earlier in the night, Group A winner Raymond van Barneveld maintained his renaissance in Wolverhampton with a 5-0 victory over the already-eliminated Ted Evetts.

The Dutchman, who stunned both Price and Chisnall in his previous two matches, averaged 91 compared to his opponent's lowly 82 and produced a high checkout of 126.

“I played well. I’m feeling relaxed and I have a wonderful life at the moment,” reflected Van Barneveld, who is through to the last 16 in Wolverhampton for the first time since 2017.

“The hard work is paying off. I’ve got massive support, I’m the group winner and I’m amazingly proud of myself.”

In Group B, Danny Noppert and Simon Whitlock came through hard-fought contests to progress to the knockout stages.

Whitlock threw six 180s and averaged 99 in another highly-impressive performance but Christian Perez hung in there at 3-3 before the Wizard finally clinched a 5-3 victory that put him onto the brink of qualification.

He could still have missed out if Mensur Suljovic had beaten Danny Noppert by a 5-2 scoreline - while the Dutchman knew he needed three legs to guarantee his progress.

At 4-4, Suljovic's chances of sneaking through had therefore gone before Noppie edged the deciding leg to go through with maximum points and set up a last-16 meeting with Price.

There was almost high drama in Group C when Lisa Ashton gave Joe Cullen an alrighty scare before bowing out with a 5-3 defeat.

The Lancashire Rose, who had lost all 11 of her previous matches in this competition, still had an outside chance of reaching the knockout stages with a wide-margin victory over the Rockstar.

Ashton moved into a 3-1 lead and should really have taken the next leg, but she missed four darts at a double before Cullen stayed alive with his last dart in hand on double one.

Cullen rubbed more salt into Ashton's wounds with a stunning 158 checkout in the next leg before going on to wrap up the crucial win.

“It was really tough. Lisa was fantastic, particularly early doors, but I’m just relieved I got the job done,” admitted Cullen.

158 FROM CULLEN!

What a finish from Joe Cullen to hold on in this tie and level at 3-3!#GSOD | R1
📺 https://t.co/iVFvdbIrWJ pic.twitter.com/baipiZcLy1
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 14, 2022

Ritchie Edhouse needed to thrash Michael Smith to leapfrog Cullen into second place but that was never looked likely as Bully Boy raced to a 5-1 victory with an average of 102.2 to top the group with maximum points.

“It was about keeping my winning streak going in the groups. I want to win every game and that’s the mentality I’ve got,” insisted Smith, who averaged 102 to win a 16th straight game in the round-robin phase.

In the evening’s finale, Rob Cross moved through to the last 16 at the Grand Slam for the sixth straight year, recovering from 3-0 and 4-2 down to deny Martin Schindler in a dramatic Group D tie.

Schindler was unable to complete the job despite his blistering start to proceedings, and Cross capitalised in the latter stages, surviving three match darts in leg seven to preserve his title hopes.

“I feel for Martin, because he was the better player tonight and he should be going through,” conceded Cross, who now faces Smith for a place in the last eight on Wednesday.

“I have struggled to settle so far but I’m expecting a better performance in the longer format, and I’m still enjoying my darts.”

Dirk van Duijvenbode had secured top spot in Group D in the evening's opener, defying five 180s from Adam Gawlas to maintain his 100% record in this year’s Group Stage.

Van Duijvenbode averaged 98, landed three 180s and converted 56% of his attempts at double to continue his fine form and set up a tasty tie against Cullen.

The £650,000 tournament continues on Tuesday, where players in Groups E-H will return for their final round of group matches, including a crunch clash between World Champion Peter Wright and World Grand Prix runner-up Nathan Aspinall.