Darts results: Nathan Aspinall knocks Peter Wright out of the Grand Slam of Darts as Alan Soutar qualifies for the last 16

By Sporting Life

Darts

Wed November 16, 2022 · 2y ago

Nathan Aspinall sent Peter Wright crashing out of the Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts group stages as Alan Soutar sneaked into the last on his debut.

The world champion headed into the night as Group E leader following two wins out of two over the weekend - albeit without playing to his usual standards - but after Soutar beat Fallon Sherrock 5-2 earlier in the night, he required three legs or more to guarantee his place in the knockout stages.

Wright - without his trademark painted head as wife Jo continues to receive treatment following a recent operation - had two darts to reach his target when 2-1 up but missed them both at double 10 and Aspinall, who needed a win to qualify, made him pay by levelling the match.

Snakebite never saw another dart at a double as the Asp ran out a 5-2 winner that saw him secure top spot ahead of the unlikely Scotsman.

😩 At 2-1 up, Peter Wright missed two darts at a double to win the third leg he needed to progress to the knockout stages.

😱 He went on to lose 5-2 against Nathan Aspinall and is OUT of the Grand Slam of Darts!pic.twitter.com/LjyhmgyA9o
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) November 15, 2022

“I’m so happy to get through and I can’t believe I’ve topped the group,” admitted Aspinall, who will meet Jermaine Wattimena for a place in the quarter-finals.

“Peter is going through a tough time at the moment. I don’t think his head was in the game and I give my best wishes to Jo, but I had to go up there and do my job.”

Soutar, who had beaten Aspinall earlier in the competition and missed six match darts to do the same to Wright, produced an outrageous checkout to win a leg that Sherrock kicked off with back-to-back 180s.

The fireman was leading 3-2 when last year's quarter-finalist threatened to take the roof off the Aldersley Leisure Village with a nine-darter but he ended up pinching it in 15 when taking out 132 with a pair of bullseyes and a double 16.

“Watching that match backstage was the worst feeling I’ve ever had in darts - it was horrible!” admitted Soutar, who will now play Jonny Clayton in Thursday’s second round.

“The Grand Slam was a free-roll for me and I’m now in the world’s top 40 after less than two years on the tour, so I’m absolutely delighted.”

Fallon Sherrock was on for a nine-darter but then look at how Alan Soutar finishes the leg! 🤯pic.twitter.com/PeoXk6vCMm
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) November 15, 2022

Earlier, Ross Smith set a new 180s record in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Michael van Gerwen in Group A.

The recently-crowned European champion hit nine maximums in the nine legs to break the tournament record for a group stage encounter, while he also averaged 108 in a stunning performance.

He was averaging almost 120 after racing into a 3-0 lead but back stormed van Gerwen by taking the next four legs in succession before Smith deservedly forced a decider.

'Smudger' hit his ninth 180 at the start of the leg and went on to complete his victory in 16 darts, with MVG waiting to come back on tops.

The result didn't prevent van Gerwen, who averaged 105, finishing top of the group ahead of Smith due to a superior legs difference and the pair could well meet in the quarter-final stage.

“I wanted to show everyone what I can do against the best in the world,” said Smith, who hit a maximum in every single leg.

“Hopefully I can kick on now. I’m loving my darts and I’m so happy with life in general, so I just want to keep going."

👊 A Grand Slam of Darts record has been set in a match involving Michael van Gerwen...

🤯1⃣8⃣0⃣...Ross Smith hits NINE 180s in a 5-4 victory!pic.twitter.com/YzvJJ0BYfL
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) November 15, 2022

INCREDIBLE FROM THE EUROPEAN CHAMPION!

Ross Smith hits NINE 180s in a dream performance against Michael van Gerwen, sealing a 5-4 win with a staggering 107.92 average!

Breathtaking darts!#GSOD | R1
📺 https://t.co/iVFvdc03lj pic.twitter.com/Ygpa7mschk
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 15, 2022

In the other Group G tie, Nathen Rafferty defeated Luke Woodhouse 5-4 to get his first win but both players exited the competition on two points.

In Group H, emerging Northern Irish star Josh Rock joined Luke Humphries in the last 16 after running out a 5-3 winner in a captivating showdown between the pair.

Scott Williams posted a stunning 107 average to come through a high-quality clash against Ryan Searle in the other Group G tie, registering six 180s and two 11-darters in the process.

That result meant that Rock needed three legs to confirm his progression, yet he was forced to a survive a scare midway through the contest after Humphries squandered two darts at double for a 4-1 lead.

Rock claimed his all-important third leg with a brilliant 121 combination in leg six, and back-to-back 15-darters capped off another imperious display from the 21-year-old.

“I believe I can win this tournament,” insisted Rock, who will play three-time Grand Slam champion Van Gerwen in a huge last 16 tie on Thursday night.

“It will be a fantastic match. I’ve never played Michael before - he’s the second best player of all time in my opinion, but I’m not scared of playing him.”

Earlier in the night, Wattimena joined Clayton in advancing through Group F, punishing a profligate display from North American Champion Leonard Gates to complete an emphatic 5-1 victory.

Wattimena sealed the deal with a clinical 108 kill, and this result meant that Damon Heta needed to whitewash Clayton to keep his Grand Slam dream alive.

The Australian was unable to produce the heroic escape act, although he bowed out on a high by averaging 93 and landing three 180s to inflict Clayton’s first defeat of the campaign.

The last 16 of the Grand Slam gets underway on Wednesday night, as reigning champion Gerwyn Price plays UK Open winner Danny Noppert, while 2012 champion Raymond van Barneveld plays Australia’s World Cup hero Simon Whitlock.

Elsewhere, former World Cup of Darts partners Michael Smith and Rob Cross collide, while Masters champion Joe Cullen meets Dutch star Dirk van Duijvenbode for a place in the last eight.

Grand Slam of Darts: Group stage standings and results

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.