Grand Slam of Darts Day 2
Day 2 at the Grand Slam of Darts already becomes do or die for 16 of our players, although players have made it through afterosing twice it is not common place.
The first day produced a number of surprise results. Here we look at the 4 biggest ties of the day where favoured players could go by the wayside.
Dave Chisnall v Ted Evetts
For all his excellent form Chisnall once again finds himself on the precipice, only a win will do here. The make up of the fixtures being such that a defeat guarantees an early exit. Despite some decent scoring yesterday, the back end of legs was absolutely dismal. Both players only doubling at 20 percent and scraping 90 averages.
Evetts was taken apart by Gerwyn Price, his 94 average slightly falsified by only throwing at a double in the leg he won. However, if he scores as he did yesterday he will throw plenty at a double today and could put paid to Chizzy’s hopes.
Josh Rock v Scott Williams
Rock looked to have the job done last night before Searle raised his game and he dropped off, never having a dart to win the game. An 89 average is well off his recent pace and he will need to lift that to stand a chance against Williams.
Scott himself only averaged 88 and will need a lot more tonight, with his yellow shoes and brash attitude he is trying to be a maverick but his antics after losing last night will only secure him a letter from the DRA. He might want to look at this again as I can’t see any benefit to being caught doing what he did last night on camera, other than a lot of social media chatter. It’s hardly likely to bring sponsors flooding in.
Ross Smith v Nathan Rafferty
Ross Smith knows nothing other than a win will do here with Rafferty v Woodhouse to follow tomorrow, as the most recent major winner, Smudger will want to avoid a group exit but he certainly wouldn’t be the first to suffer this fate. Smith played a solid game yesterday but Woodhouse probably outperformed all expectation.
Rafferty did not disgrace himself at all against Michael van Gaerwen but ran into a juggernaut as MVG found some vintage darts, finishing above 80% on the night. Smith is a strong favourite but needs to avoid complacency against a man who has found 100+ averages easy pickings on the feeder tours this year.
Nathan Aspinall v Fallon Sherrock
Nathan would not have expected to be in this position, especially having fought his way back from 3-0 down against Soutar last night, however he could not have banked on the Scot finding a 12 dart decider, a clutch 145 finish sealing the deal. The fixture list means it is he who has no possible bail out on Monday.
Sherrock struggled last night, but did get opportunities against another new set of darts from Peter Wright, however 14% at the double simply isn’t going to cut it at this level. She will hope to produce better against Nathan. While another defeat wouldn’t finish her campaign immediately, the significant leg difference defecit from yesterday means that in reality a win is needed here.
Sunday November 13
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Groups A-D Second Matches
Ritchie Edhouse vs Lisa Ashton (C)
Martin Schindler vs Adam Gawlas (D)
Mensur Suljovic vs Christian Perez (B)
Dave Chisnall vs Ted Evetts (A)
Danny Noppert vs Simon Whitlock (B)
Rob Cross vs Dirk van Duijvenbode (D)
Gerwyn Price vs Raymond van Barneveld (A)
Michael Smith vs Joe Cullen (C)
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Groups E-H Second Matches
Josh Rock vs Scott Williams (H)
Damon Heta vs Leonard Gates (F)
Ross Smith vs Nathan Rafferty (G)
Nathan Aspinall vs Fallon Sherrock (E)
Jonny Clayton vs Jermaine Wattimena (F)
Michael van Gerwen vs Luke Woodhouse (G)
Peter Wright vs Alan Soutar (E)
Luke Humphries vs Ryan Searle (H)
Find out how to watch day two of the Grand Slam of Darts here