Price and Smith Into Last Eight on Day Three at 2023 World Grand Prix
Price and Smith Into Last Eight on Day Three at 2023 World Grand Prix.
Last sixteen action got underway in Leicester with a World Champion featuring in every game, with the current World Champion securing in his place in the last eight of the 2023 World Grand Prix.
Tournament Favourite On The Charge
2020 World Grand Prix champion continues his charge for a second title after defeating Krzysztof Ratajski 3-0
Gerwyn Price started the game with a Shanghai finish, before Ratajski firing back with a ton plus checkout of his own. Holds of throw continued within the first set which was enough for Price to take the opener.
Price found the first break of the game in first leg of the second set, and his fantastic start to legs was to strong for the Polish Eagle early on in the second set. The Polish Eagle did win back to back legs to take us all the way, but the Welshman was too strong and it was 2-0 to The Iceman.
The Iceman won this in straight sets, however Price had to survive three set darts from Ratajski before sealing the win, and continuing his fight for a second Grand Prix title.
World Champion Into Last Eight
The Current World Champion Michael Smith progressed to Quarter Finals in World Grand Prix for the first time in his career by defeating Brendan Dolan 3-0.
Both players struggled to settle early, with the first hold coming in the fourth leg, which was enough for Michael Smith to take opener with some clutch finishing.
Them finishes continued to be key for Bully Boy finding, back to back 96 checkouts before a 17 dart leg, and his doubling was too much for Dolan hitting 6 out of 8 finishing doubles early on.
Michael Smith continued his fine form into the third set and this time it was back to back 105 checkouts from the 2023 World Champion and he will face Andrew Gilding on Thursday evening
Gilding Battles Past Anderson
Gary Anderson was shocked by 2023 UK Open champion Andrew Gilding, who fought back from 1-0, and 2-1 down to defeat Gary Anderson 3-2.
Anderson raced into a first set lead, winning all three legs in the opener, before Gilding won the second set in a decider to take us into the break
Anderson on throw looked unstoppable and raced to a lead once more winning set three 3-0. The fourth set saw Gilding break Anderson for the first time, and that was in leg two either side of a hold of throw seeing Gilding win a set 3-0.
The first two legs had a similar feel with Anderson missing four darts at double before Gilding stealing it, with roles reversing in the second leg. Anderson continued this in leg three missing more with Gilding punishing, and holding in style to book his place into the last eight.
The Wall Ousts Bunting
Martin Schindler defeats Stephen Bunting 3-2 in 2023 World Grand Prix battle.
Stephen Bunting shot out the blocks in the first set, averaging 104.86 after three legs. This continued after the first interval with an 11 dart break, but that was as good as it got in set two, with Schindler winning the next three legs to tie up the game, finishing it in style with a 112 checkout.
Martin Schindler lead the game for the first time in leg three of the third set, and it was the biggest out of the game with 160 checkout and a hold in the next leg gave the German a 2-1 lead.
Bunting did show some fine arrows in the fourth set winning in a last leg shootout, but it was the Germans night with a 3-1 decider and The Wall won it wonderful fashion, with his third ton plus checkout of the game.
2023 World Grand Prix
Wednesday October 4
Second Round Results
Andrew Gilding 3-2 Gary Anderson
Martin Schindler 3-2 Stephen Bunting
Gerwyn Price 3-0 Krzysztof Ratajski
Michael Smith v Brendan Dolan
Thursday October 5 (1900 BST)
Second Round Fixtures
Luke Humphries v Luke Woodhouse
Peter Wright v Ryan Searle
Michael van Gerwen v Chris Dobey
Ross Smith v Joe Cullen
