Rob Cross surges to the last eight after Cameron Menzies stuns Wade in a thrilling match – 2024 Grand Slam of Darts Day 5

Magical Mansell prevails to the Last 8

Mickey Mansell grabbed control of the match after giving up the first two games. He then went on to win six straight legs, with the pair hitting a total of seven maximums. Before Noppert again reduced the deficit to one.

Following another reduction in the deficit, the veteran increased his advantage to three legs after hitting his second ton plus checkout of the evening at 117. In leg 3, he had previously took out a 121.

Following a leg-for-leg exchange with the previous UK Open Champion, Mansell would win 10–7 and pin another ton plus in the last leg, this time 120.

With a 66.67% success record on the outer rings and only five missed attempts at double, the Northern Irishman put on a merciless display.

 

Menzies squeezes through the quarter-finals of the 2024 Grand Slam of Prix

In a game that was all 180s, with tons of checkout and darting drama, it was perhaps the battle of the evening. After James Wade and Cameron Menzies were unable to remain apart the entire time, the game ultimately went the distance. The score after the first half showed that Cammy was only up by one leg, 3-2.

But the Machine jumped out to a 6-4 lead over the 35-year-old going into the next half. The Scotsman took advantage of the crowd’s continuing singing of “Scotland get battered everywhere they go” rather than feeling sorry for himself, and he took the lead again after leg 15.

Cameron Menzies was in a strong position to win again after taking an 8–7 lead, but as previously said, the two would continue to battle tightly until the very last leg.

After a 12-dart leg, the three-time runner-up leveled the score with an inch-perfect 124 finish. In the next leg, Menzies pinned 113 after answering with one of his own ton plus checkouts. Menzies had the throw in the last leg, which he definitely utilised. Following three missed match darts, he ultimately ended the game with his reliable D20, with Wade waiting on tops as well.

 

Lukeman smashes through to the Quarters

In the early stages between Ross Smith and Martin Lukeman it was even battle.  After the first interval, though, Lukeman gradually started to set up his marker and build a lead, which at one point was three legs (6-3).

The pair combined for a total of 11 during the match, with maximums raining throughout. Smudger recorded his last leg of the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts in leg 12. Surprisingly, the game’s highest checkout at this point was a conventional 70.

After hitting a 121, which was made up of 20, T17, and BULL, Smash would post the match’s highest checkout and the only ton plus checkout in the next leg. Lukeman would win the last two legs and exit as a 10-5 winner after Smith missed additional darts at double (a total of 17).

Routine for Rob Cross

In addition to having three of his four legs by the first interval, Rob Cross also gave us the night’s highest checkout when Voltage pinned an incredible 164 (T20, T18, BULL).

Cross put on an unrelenting display, missing just two attempts at double the entire game. In contrast, the European Champion missed eleven in all. Cross gained charge of the match by the penultimate break, and Edhouse recorded his final double of the Grand Slam of Darts this year (6-4 to Rob Cross).

On his road to triumph, Cross won five straight legs and pinned two more tons (160 and 110). Even though he pinned an incredible five 180s fewer than Edhouse (8 – Edhouse, 3 – Cross), the 2023 runner-up put on a vicious show, averaging 98.68 throughout the match.

 

Day 5 Results – 2024 Grand Slam of Darts

Danny Noppert 7-10 Mickey Mansell

Cameron Menzies 10-9 James Wade

Martin Lukeman 10-5 Ross Smith

Ritchie Edhouse 4-10 Rob Cross