Darts results: Simon Whitlock kills a fly as Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson reach World Grand Prix quarter-finals

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Simon Whitlock edged out Mervyn King 3-2 in a compelling World Grand Prix clash that will also be remembered for the Wizard's bizarre execution of a distracting fly.

Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle was in hysterics as Whitlock squashed the insect into the single five bed with his finger after a visit of 100 left him 72 - but then decided to leave it on the board.

King was clearly not distracted by the dead fly as he delivered his sixth 180 of the match only for Whitlock to come back and complete his 15-darter that sent the match into a deciding set.

The 51-year-old, who was a late entry into the double-start tournament after Adrian Lewis tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, then produced a stunning 120 checkout to level it at 1-1 before breaking King's throw with a further finish from 92.

However, Whitlock needed eight darts to double-in when throwing for the match and the 2012 runner-up just about capitalised by pinning double six for a 20-darter as his opponent waited on tops.

This meant every set went the distance and this concluding 25th leg fittingly went right to the wire too as the Aussie kept his cool to take out 56 for a 14-darter and deny King the chance to finish 32.

Both players averaged 85 but Whitlock hit two more 180s with eight and was also more clinical on his finishing doubles, pinning 13 of his 28 compared to King crucially missing 31 of his 43.

The 2017 runner-up, who also hit checkouts of 134 and 115, moves into his second major quarter-final in a row having also done so at the World Matchplay while it's the fourth time he's been this far in this tournament.

"I'm very happy. I'm very relaxed, I'm on a freeroll and we all know what I can do. Hopefully I can go one further than a couple of years ago," Whitlock told www.pdc.tv.

"I enjoyed the game tonight and it had some good moments - and I never gave up. I kept fighting and it was a crazy match - Mervyn is a tough competitor and we always have good games. There were good points and bad points and at times we struggled to hit our starting doubles, but to go to the last leg it's a great match. I'm excited, I'm enjoying playing darts and loving life."

Whereas Whitlock and King played every leg possible, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson claimed 3-0 victories.

Five-time champion MVG, who is aiming to win this title for a third year in a row, came up against man of the moment Devon Petersen in an eagerly-anticipated clash that could have been much closer.

The South African recently became his continent's first PDC champion at the German Darts Championship and also beat the world number one 6-0 in the Autumn Series.

He unleashed a barrage of eight 180s compared to MVG's one but his doubling at the end of legs cost him dearly as he missed 20 of his 25 attempts to finish, including two that would have won the opening set win the first set and five during the deciding leg of the second.

Van Gerwen cruised through the third 3-1 - although Petersen did spurn an attempt at double 16 to take that the distance too - and ended up with an impressive average of 96 compared to his opponent's 91.48.

"I enjoyed this game. I did the damage at the right moments but Devon played a good game as well," said Van Gerwen. "It was close but it doesn't matter how you win as long as you win. I think I was the better player during the game.

"Devon is probably in the form of his life and he's playing with a lot of confidence, and I'm happy with my performance. He's a good guy and a good player, but he needs to know who the boss is!"

Gary Anderson's 3-0 triumph over Danny Noppert was also tighter than the scoreline makes it seem.

The 2016 runner-up, who is striving to add this title to his glittering CV, was always in control of this clash from off as he took the opening set 3-0 with a couple of 70 checkouts.

Anderson moved 2-0 up in the second thanks to superb 13 and 11 darters and although Noppert finally got on the board with back-to-back legs, it was the Flying Scotsman who snatched the decider after his opponent spurned two darts at a double.

It was a similar story in the third set as Noppie missed a dart at tops to take the decider after Anderson landed a timely fourth 180 of the match to leave himself 57 and pile on the pressure.

The 49-year-old averaged 92.72 compared to Noppert's 82, hit two more maximums and was also superior on his finishing with nine hit from 23 as his opponent missed eight of his 12.

"The first set was great but I dipped off during the second, and I got over the winning line eventually," said Anderson.

"Danny didn't start the way he did in his first round game and I wanted to step in on his mistakes. We both threw a few legs away but I got the job done."

Dirk van Duijvenbode's dream World Grand Prix debut continued as he followed up his surprise win over Mensur Suljovic by shocking Dimitri Van den Bergh 3-1.

The Dutchman only averaged in the low 70s in a scrappy affair with Suljovic but this was a much improved display against the World Matchplay champion as he reached his first televised quarter-final.

Van Duijvenbode snatched the opening set 3-2 after Van den Bergh spurned one attempt at double 16 while he made the Belgian star pay for a missed set dart at two 18s in the second thanks to a superb 86 checkout.

Van den Bergh pinched the third set 3-2 only for Van Duijvenbode to deny him at 2-2 in the fourth with a 13-darter.

"I'm happy that I win. I felt like I had to put something right after the last game because I didn't play as well as I wanted to and I think I played okay today," said Van Duijvenbode.

"I wanted to show people that I deserve to be here and hopefully I will play well again in the next round."

World Grand Prix: Thursday results and Friday schedule

Thursday October 8 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of five sets)

• Dimitri Van den Bergh 1-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode
• Mervyn King 2-3 Simon Whitlock
• Gary Anderson 3-0 Danny Noppert
• Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Devon Petersen

Friday October 9 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of five sets)

• Gabriel Clemens v Jeffrey de Zwaan
• Joe Cullen v Jonny Clayton
• Ryan Joyce v Dave Chisnall
• Gerwyn Price v Kim Huybrechts

Click here for full 2020 World Grand Prix draw and schedule

Related links

• 2020 World Grand Prix draw and schedule
• 2020 Premier League fixtures & results
• 2020 PDC event calendar & results
• 2020 World Darts Championship results
• 2019 PDC event results
• Sky Bet's darts odds

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