Super Searle pins the 9 and the defending champions is dumped out on a magic Monday at the Grand Slam

On Monday, Ryan Searle scored a breath-taking nine-dart finish to advance to the knockout stages of the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts, while defending champion Michael Smith went out in Wolverhampton.

Searle raised the roof at WV Active Aldersley with a magical moment in his Group D decider against Nathan Rafferty, while world number one Smith was knocked out by James Wade in Group A.

On Day Three in Wolverhampton, however, Searle’s heroics grabbed the show, as he delivered the sixth nine-darter in Grand Slam history to book his place in the knockout stage for the first time.

Searle, who came back from 4-0 down to beat Gian van Veen in his first round-robin match on Saturday, raced out to a 3-0 lead against Rafferty, only for the Northern Irishman to answer with back-to-back legs.

After restoring his two-leg lead with a 13-darter in leg six, the Somerset star held off Rafferty’s resurgence to seal a remarkable 5-3 triumph with his first televised nine-darter.

“It’s a special feeling to hit a nine-darter to win a match,” said Searle, who will now take on World Grand Prix champion Luke Humphries in a fascinating last 16 showdown.

“I think I’ve been pretty unlucky in previous Grand Slams where I’ve run into some awesome performances; last year I ran into two 107 averages!

“I’ve got my best friend Luke in the next round now. Luke has beaten me so many times on the big stage, so I do owe him one. Hopefully, I’ll get him back on Wednesday!”

Humphries won 5-1 over a struggling Dirk van Duijvenbode to take first place in Group C, achieving his third ton-plus average of the group stage to continue his torrid success.

Gary Anderson’s spot in the final 16 was also assured, after the Scot defeated Steve Lennon to maintain his incredible round-robin record.

Anderson, a two-time runner-up in Wolverhampton, averaged 102 and hit four maximums to reach the Grand Slam knockout stage for the 16th time in as many outings.

Nonetheless, world number one Smith was eliminated on an action-packed evening, falling 5-1 to three-time runner-up Wade in their crucial Group A match.

Wade punished the World Champion’s sluggish performance to win Group A, ending Smith’s historic 18-match winning streak in the group stage stretching back to 2017.

“I’m James Wade and I do what I do,” reflected last month’s European Championship runner-up, who pinned five of his nine attempts at double to continue his resurgence.

“I think I dealt with the pressure better than Michael did. I didn’t play particularly well, but I was a little bit better than somebody who was nowhere near their best tonight.

Wade will now face Chris Dobey for a spot in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, after winning his crucial Group B match against Jonny Clayton.

Dobey dominated the opening exchanges to take a 3-0 lead, but he had to hold off a late fightback from the Welshman to win 5-3 in a tense match.

“I knew it was going to be a tough battle, especially playing a good friend like Jonny,” admitted Dobey, who made the quarter-finals on his Grand Slam debut in 2016.

“I missed so many darts at double and Jonny punished me, but I’m just delighted to get through that one. The opening two games were a struggle, so I’m pleased to have put in a performance.

“I owe James [Wade] one after he thrashed me in my first appearance here, but I think the longer format suits me, and I’ll be ready for that.”

Gerwyn Price smashed a massive 112.30 average and converted three ton-plus checkouts in the evening’s opener to round off a stunning Group D campaign with a 5-1 annihilation of Gian van Veen.

Price, who was already certain of first place before Monday’s play, struck 107, 108, and 121 finishes to demolish the Dutchman with the ninth-highest Grand Slam average in history.

The Welshman, who has won a hat-trick in four visits to Aldersley, will now face Anderson in a rematch of their unforgettable 2018 final.

Meanwhile, Josh Rock completed a clean sweep in Group B with a convincing 5-1 victory over Berry van Peer, advancing to the last 16 against Group A runner-up Krzysztof Ratajski.

Ratajski easily defeated former World Youth Championship runner-up Nathan Girvan in his final Group A match, ripping off the last five legs without reply.

On Tuesday, the Grand Slam of Darts group stage concludes with the last round-robin matches in Groups E-H at WV Active Aldersley.

Michael van Gerwen, Nathan Aspinall, and American rookie Stowe Buntz have all qualified for the knockout stage, while world number two Peter Wright and Stephen Bunting are battling for a place in the final 16.

Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves will compete in straight shoot-outs for qualification in Groups G and H, respectively, against Rob Cross and Damon Heta.

2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Monday November 13

Group Stage x8 – Groups A-D Final Matches

Gerwyn Price 5-1 Gian van Veen (D)

Josh Rock 5-1 Berry van Peer (B)

Gary Anderson 5-1 Steve Lennon (C)

Luke Humphries 5-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode (C)

Ryan Searle 5-3 Nathan Rafferty (D)

Krzysztof Ratajski 5-1 Nathan Girvan (A)

James Wade 5-1 Michael Smith (A)

Chris Dobey 5-3 Jonny Clayton (B)

 

Tuesday November 14 (1900 GMT)

Group Stage x8 – Groups E-H Final Matches

Dave Chisnall v Stowe Buntz (E)

Nathan Aspinall v Ricardo Pietreczko (H)

Michael van Gerwen v Martijn Kleermaker (G)

Andrew Gilding v Haruki Muramatsu (F)

Danny Noppert v Brendan Dolan (F)

Peter Wright v Stephen Bunting (E)

Rob Cross v Fallon Sherrock (G)

Damon Heta v Beau Greaves (H)

 

Wednesday November 15 (1900-2300 GMT)

Second Round x4

Josh Rock v Krzysztof Ratajski

James Wade v Chris Dobey

Gerwyn Price v Gary Anderson

Luke Humphries v Ryan Searle

Best of 19 legs