Man City 3-1 Newcastle: Man City won the battle of the unbeaten sides to stay five points ahead at the top of the table. The deadlock was broken four minutes before half-time when Ryan Taylor conceded a penalty for handball, Mario Balotelli calmly put the penalty away. It was 2-0 just before the interval when Micah Richards took full advantage of sloppy defending. It was wrapped up 72 after minutes when Hatem Ben Arfa barged Richards over in the box and this time Sergio Aguero converted the penalty. Newcastle scored the consolation after Dan Gosling slid a rebound home for his first Newcastle goal in the final minute.
Wigan 3-3 Blackburn: No-one would have predicted a six goal thriller between two struggling Premiership sides. Yakubu put Blackburn ahead after poor defending allowed the striker a clear path with just two minutes played. Jordi Gomez equalised five minutes later with a shot that bamboozled Paul Robinson. Stephen Caldwell then gave Wigan the lead with a free header from a corner just after the half hour mark. Blackburn's task got worse when David Dunn was sent off for a second bookable offence but that didn't stop Blackburn and they were level in dubious circumstances, Morten Gamst Pedersen took a corner to himself and Junior Hoillet turned his low cross in on the hour mark. Wigan then retook the lead through Albert Crusat two minutes from time, but anyone who thought that would win the game was wrong. Paul Robinson was kicked in the head in Wigan's box to earn a penalty, Yakubu converted it in the 98th minute to earn the draw.
Swansea 0-1 Man United: United end Swansea's unbeaten start at home this season to keep tabs with City. The only goal of the game came via poor defending, Angel Rangel easily dispossessed by Ryan Giggs on the edge of the box, Giggs then played ball across to Javier Hernandez to tap home after eleven. Swansea's best chance of an equaliser came minutes later when Scott Sinclair just needed to tap it home but instead it went through his legs.
Norwich 1-2 Arsenal: Arsenal were almost on the end of another shock defeat when Steve Morison capitalised on a Per Mertesacker slip to deliver a sucker punch after sixteen minutes. But Arsenal recuperated and wouldn't you know it, Robin Van Persie equalised by tapping a Walcott cross home after 26 minutes. Then Mr.Arsenal secured all three points with his 31st goal of 2011 just before the hour mark.
Stoke 2-3 QPR: Stoke's recent slump continued with a shock home defeat to QPR. Jon Walters broke the deadlock for the home side after just eight minutes but it was ruled out by Heidar Helguson after 22 minutes. QPR then took the lead through Luke Young for his first Rangers goal just before half-time. Helguson made it 3-1 with his second four minutes after the restart. Ryan Shawcross made it 3-2 after 64 minutes but QPR were able to hold on for the crucial win.
Everton 2-1 Wolves: Wolves opened the scoring via Stephen Hunt penalty after 37 minutes when Jamie O'Hara was brought down. Everton equalised when Phil Jagielka powered a header past Wayne Hennessey just before half-time.Everton were then awarded a penalty themselves when Louis Saha was impeded by Stephen Ward, Leighton Baines converted it seven minutes before the end.
West Brom 2-1 Bolton: The international break came at the wrong time for Bolton after the 5-0 win over Stoke. Jerome Thomas put the hosts ahead despite calls for offside after sixteen minutes. Bolton were then awarded a penalty when Muamba was bound over by Thomas, Ivan Klasnic converted after 21 minutes. West Brom won the game with a Shane Long header nine minutes into the second half.
Sunderland 0-0 Fulham: Both teams move onto eleven points after the poor goalless draw between the two surprisingly struggling clubs.
Saturday, 19 November 2011
2011 Grand Slam Darts: Quarter Finals
As the Grand Slam reaches its second weekend, the tournament hits the quarter final stage with the matches now best of 31 legs. The first quarter-final saw Grand Slam débutante Mark Walsh take on BDO veteran Ted Hankey. Walsh secured an early break of throw to lead 2-1 before leading 3-2 going into the first interval. The second session continued in the same vain until Walsh secured a second break of throw on his way to leading 7-3 at the next intermission. Walsh then extended his lead in the third session to 10-5 before going to within three legs of the semi-finals, leading 13-7. Hankey fought back a little bit and kept himself alive with the match at 15-9 but the necessity of winning six consecutive legs seemed to be too much to ask. However Hankey was able to make it 15-14 and both players missed doubles in the following leg before Walsh finally put himself into the semi-finals.
The other quarter-final saw Gary Anderson battle Terry Jenkins. The first session saw Anderson take a 3-1 lead before Jenkins made it 3-2 just before the break. The game see-sawed throughout the second session at the pair left the stage at 5-5 for the second interval. The game then went to 6-6 before Anderson stormed into a 13-7 victory. Jenkins' resilience made the scoreline 15-12 before Anderson stumbled over the line.
The third quarter-final saw World Champion Adrian Lewis take on Mark Webster. The game started off quite close with Lewis edging it 5-3. But after that Lewis kicked up a gear to power into a 13-4 lead before managing to ease into the semi-finals 16-5.
The final match saw Phil Taylor take on Paul Nicholson in a game that didn't produce what many had hoped. There were little fireworks as Taylor converted a 3-0 lead into 8-1. That lead became 12-4 as Nicholson tried to close the canyon and Taylor took the match 16-7 to prove why he his still favourite for the title.
The other quarter-final saw Gary Anderson battle Terry Jenkins. The first session saw Anderson take a 3-1 lead before Jenkins made it 3-2 just before the break. The game see-sawed throughout the second session at the pair left the stage at 5-5 for the second interval. The game then went to 6-6 before Anderson stormed into a 13-7 victory. Jenkins' resilience made the scoreline 15-12 before Anderson stumbled over the line.
The third quarter-final saw World Champion Adrian Lewis take on Mark Webster. The game started off quite close with Lewis edging it 5-3. But after that Lewis kicked up a gear to power into a 13-4 lead before managing to ease into the semi-finals 16-5.
The final match saw Phil Taylor take on Paul Nicholson in a game that didn't produce what many had hoped. There were little fireworks as Taylor converted a 3-0 lead into 8-1. That lead became 12-4 as Nicholson tried to close the canyon and Taylor took the match 16-7 to prove why he his still favourite for the title.
The Return of Power Snooker
The break neck speed of Power Snooker returns this weekend. The wayward sister of normal snooker allows a darting atmosphere with matches that will only last half an hour and players battle a twenty second shot clock.. In case you didn't watch it last year, there are nine reds instead of fifteen, the middle red looks like an eleven ball in American pool and is known as the Power Ball. When that is potted, there is a two minute Power Play where everything counts for double points. The baulk zone used to be the haven of safety, but now it is the Power Zone, anything potted from in there also counts double. So if you pot a black during a Power Play whilst in the Power Zone, it will earn a massive 28 points! Get your seatbelts on and enjoy the ride as the top sixteen players battle for the power.
The first match of the tournament saw Mark Selby take on Matt Stevens. Stevens took full advantage of the the Power Zone, making two reds and scoring four points. He took an 18-1 lead and that was soon extended after Selby fouled during a Power Play, which Stevens started, the score then stood at 47-1 at the end of the Power Play with 22 minutes remaining. The clock was stopped with eighteen minutes to go as Selby had brought it back to 47-41 and had potted the remaining balls. This meant a re-rack and the game continued to play out the remaining time. Stevens broke and made the mandatory two reds onto the cushion to continue but could only extend his lead to 55-41. Selby potted the second Power Ball and took full advantage of the Power Play, taking a massive 108-55 lead with fourteen minutes left at the end of the second Power Play. Stevens was able to come back to 109-90 at the end of the second frame, so they entered a third frame with 12:45 to play. Selby then potted the third Power Ball and took full advantage, leading 198-101 at the end of the Power Play with six minutes left. A foul from Stevens allowed Selby to pot the green and brown in the Power Zone, racking up a further fourteen points. The 'Jester From Leicester' then wrapped the third frame up with a 234-101 lead with a further 5:05 left on the clock. But Stevens wasn't done and after a decent break in the fourth frame, he potted the Power Ball but missed a red with over a minute remaining in the Power Play with score at 234-169. Selby couldn't convert anything and Stevens potted the first quadruple colour of the tournament before then missing another red. 234-195 at the end of the fourth Power Play going into the final minute of the match, the final score 243-196.
The second match of the first round saw newcomer, Scotland's John Higgins take on Northern Ireland's Mark Allen. Allen kicked it off and potted straight off the break, earning two points due to the cue ball being in the Power Zone. Allen took a 42-0 lead and forced Higgins into a foul and gave a free ball in the Power Zone which Allen potted green for six points. Allen again played defensive and forced another foul from Higgins, this time on the black and it happened again when he was forced to re-hit it. But Higgins then fluked a red on the third time of asking before then snookering Allen, Allen didn't foul however. Allen then went onto pot the Power Ball but gave away the final minute of the Power Play to Higgins. Higgins made it 85-45 to Allen at the end of the first frame with moments of the Power Play still remaining. Higgins then fouled from the break, gifting fourteen points to Allen. Higgins came back and potted the second Power Ball to initiate the second Power Play.This time Higgins gave away a minute of the Power Play and Allen was able to pot before playing safe. Allen then found a double just before the end of the Power Play and the score was 116-95 with just under sixteen minutes to play. Allen then fouled by potting the cue ball after potting the pink but Higgins couldn't instantly capitalise. The score at the end of the second frame: 128-122 to Allen with 13:02 left. Allen then potted the cue ball from the break to give Higgins the lead but Higgins left a red for Allen start another break. Allen swiftly potted the Power Ball and the third Power Play began, he used the full two minutes before missing with the score now 192-130 in his favour. The match looked to have been wrapped up when Allen secured another fourteen Power Zone points on his way to leading 219-151 at the end of the fourth frame with 3:47 left. Higgins made a legal break this time and was able to start potting until he missed a crucial black. Higgins came back though and potted the Power Ball along with a second red. The match ticked down and the result was confirmed when Higgins fouled by potting the cue ball and Allen scored a quadruple blue. The final score 255-177 to see Allen play Selby in tomorrow's quarter finals.
The penultimate first round match of the session saw Judd Trump take on Martin Gould.Gould potted the first Power Ball of the match before surrendering the final fifteen seconds of the Power Play, allowing Trump to put points on the board. The score after the first frame 72-52 to Trump with 24:14 left but Gould potted two reds off the break and went onto pot the Power Ball. The match was now closed to 108-106 at the end of the second Power Play before Gould extended his lead to 143-106 going into the third frame. Gould again potted the Power Ball and took his score to 204 before Trump reduced the arrears to 204-154 before the start of the fourth frame. Trump couldn't get himself back into it with numerous fouls and shots not going the way he'd have liked. Gould took a lead of 305-173 with 4:41 remaining and a fifth frame about to start. Trump unfortunately left it too little too late and the final score was 332-229 to Martin Gould.
The final match of the session saw Shaun Murphy battle it out against Stuart Bingham. The Power Play was initiated within the first couple of minutes. It remained extremely close with Murphy leading 39-36 as Bingham tried potting the colours up until the brown. Bingham was able to take a 64-54 at the end of the first frame with 19:58 to go. Bingham then extended his lead during the second Power Play, leading 117-56 and forced Murphy to pot the brown illegally, conceding eight points. Bingham then made it 171-56 at the end of the second frame with 14:02 remaining. Bingham continued to dominate in the third frame, keeping Murphy from scoring and Bingham then converted the Power Ball. Bingham forced another foul during the Power Play and made Murphy retake the shot with the same outcome before conceding a further twenty points for three consecutive fouls. With the win now all but secured, Bingham started to play defensive to keep his over 200 point lead intact. The score at the end of the third frame, 319-61 with 6:17 minutes to play. Murphy started the fourth frame convincingly but conceded the Power Play to Bingham and the débutante stretched his lead to nearly 300 points. The final score 376-112.
Friday, 18 November 2011
2011 Grand Slam Darts: Last 16 Part 2
The remaining four matches of the last sixteen took place tonight with the quarter finals line-up now full completed. Up first was Paul Nicholson against Steve Beaton, it was level at 2-2 after Beaton had taken a 2-0 but the 'Bronze Adonis' was able to take a 3-2 lead going into the first interval. It did become 3-3 shortly after the break but then Beaton stretched into a 6-3 lead. Nicholson secured a crucial leg just before the second advert break to make it 6-4 and maybe steal the momentum. And the momentum was stolen as Beaton started to become a little shaky and Nicholson was able to restore parity at 6-6 before then taking the lead for the first time in the match. Nicholson then continued his surge and made it 9-6 with an impressive 121 checkout. But Steve Beaton's walk-on music is 'Staying Alive' and that's exactly what he did to bring it back to 9-8 before Nicholson finally finished the job to make it into the quarter-finals.
The second match of the night was an all Welsh affair as PDC's Mark Webster took on BDO's Martin Phillips. It was Phillips who came storming out, swiftly taking a 3-0 lead but Webster pulled it back to 3-2 just before the break. Webster then equalised before Phillips re-extended his lead to 5-3 but Webster came back to make it 5-5 going into the second break. Phillips then found another lead, this time 8-5 but yet again Webster fought back to win the next five legs on the trot to take the match 10-8 and dumps the BDO man out.
The penultimate match of the night didn't turn out to be the match we thought it might. Phil Taylor took on Wes Newton but unfortunately Newton was completely outclassed by a 112.37 average from Taylor. Newton managed to get on the board after the fifth leg before then finding himself 7-3. Taylor took the final three legs to seal his place against Nicholson in what should be a tantalising quarter final.
The final match of the night saw World Champion Adrian Lewis take on three time World Champion John Part. Lewis also took a 3-0 lead before Part pulled a leg back with a 104 checkout, but Lewis had the 4-1 lead going into the first advert break. Lewis continued his dominance and led 9-3 before Part started to reduce the arrears. Then the unthinkable happened, Part brought it to 9-8 but just couldn't force a deciding leg as Lewis just managed to squeeze over the line.
The second match of the night was an all Welsh affair as PDC's Mark Webster took on BDO's Martin Phillips. It was Phillips who came storming out, swiftly taking a 3-0 lead but Webster pulled it back to 3-2 just before the break. Webster then equalised before Phillips re-extended his lead to 5-3 but Webster came back to make it 5-5 going into the second break. Phillips then found another lead, this time 8-5 but yet again Webster fought back to win the next five legs on the trot to take the match 10-8 and dumps the BDO man out.
The penultimate match of the night didn't turn out to be the match we thought it might. Phil Taylor took on Wes Newton but unfortunately Newton was completely outclassed by a 112.37 average from Taylor. Newton managed to get on the board after the fifth leg before then finding himself 7-3. Taylor took the final three legs to seal his place against Nicholson in what should be a tantalising quarter final.
The final match of the night saw World Champion Adrian Lewis take on three time World Champion John Part. Lewis also took a 3-0 lead before Part pulled a leg back with a 104 checkout, but Lewis had the 4-1 lead going into the first advert break. Lewis continued his dominance and led 9-3 before Part started to reduce the arrears. Then the unthinkable happened, Part brought it to 9-8 but just couldn't force a deciding leg as Lewis just managed to squeeze over the line.
Thursday, 17 November 2011
2011 Grand Slam Darts: Last 16 Part 1
The 2011 Grand Slam of Darts has reached the second round after all the groups were finalised yesterday. But the drama intensified as the matches were extended to best of nineteen. The night started with a final leg shoot-out between Mark Walsh and Dean Winstanley in a PDC vs BDO match. Winstanley has probably been the unknown star of the tournament so far and looked set to continue that name by taking a 3-1 lead. 'Special Brew' Walsh fought back however and turned the tables, taking a 6-3 lead. Walsh took the match to 8-5 before Winstanley found a fight back of his own and was first to hill, leading 9-8. Walsh then forced the decider after Winstanley missed two match-winning darts and it would ultimately cost him as Walsh then won the decider to progress to the quarter-finals.
The drama continued into the second match as there was another deciding leg between PDC's Michael Van Gerwen and BDO's Ted Hankey. The game see-sawed as Van Gerwen struggled to adapt to Hankey's obtrusive playing style. The Dutchman did take a 2-0 lead and then lead 7-5 later on in the game. But Hankey continued to fight back and eventually took the lead at 9-8 before the Van Gerwen forced the decider. It was a close final leg but Hankey managed to take it to make it into the quarter finals.
The third game of the night was billed as the biggest but it had a lot to live up to after the previous two games. James Wade took on Gary Anderson and immediately started firing with a 122 check-out in the opening leg on his way to taking a 2-0 lead. But Anderson regained his composure and broke back straight away before taking the lead himself at 3-2 going into the break. After the interval, Anderson continued his rampage making it seven legs on the trot before Wade made it 7-3 going into the second intermission. But the break may have come at the wrong time for him as Anderson came back fully refreshed. The Scot won the next three legs in comfortable fashion to dump last year's runner-up out of the tournament 10-3.
The final match of the night saw Terry Jenkins take on the home town hero Wayne Jones. Jones was looking set to please the crowd by storming into a 3-0 lead which included a 122 check-out. But Jenkins managed to make it 3-2 before the break. Jenkins continued his form after the adverts and it went to 4-4 before Jones regained his form and took a 6-4 lead before the second interval. Jenkins tried to push Jones but every time Jenkins pulled a leg back, Jones instantly got away again. That was until Jenkins finally managed to restore parity at 8-8. From there Jones couldn't find his way and Jenkins was able to complete the comeback and win the match 10-8 to face Anderson in the quarter-finals.
The drama continued into the second match as there was another deciding leg between PDC's Michael Van Gerwen and BDO's Ted Hankey. The game see-sawed as Van Gerwen struggled to adapt to Hankey's obtrusive playing style. The Dutchman did take a 2-0 lead and then lead 7-5 later on in the game. But Hankey continued to fight back and eventually took the lead at 9-8 before the Van Gerwen forced the decider. It was a close final leg but Hankey managed to take it to make it into the quarter finals.
The third game of the night was billed as the biggest but it had a lot to live up to after the previous two games. James Wade took on Gary Anderson and immediately started firing with a 122 check-out in the opening leg on his way to taking a 2-0 lead. But Anderson regained his composure and broke back straight away before taking the lead himself at 3-2 going into the break. After the interval, Anderson continued his rampage making it seven legs on the trot before Wade made it 7-3 going into the second intermission. But the break may have come at the wrong time for him as Anderson came back fully refreshed. The Scot won the next three legs in comfortable fashion to dump last year's runner-up out of the tournament 10-3.
The final match of the night saw Terry Jenkins take on the home town hero Wayne Jones. Jones was looking set to please the crowd by storming into a 3-0 lead which included a 122 check-out. But Jenkins managed to make it 3-2 before the break. Jenkins continued his form after the adverts and it went to 4-4 before Jones regained his form and took a 6-4 lead before the second interval. Jenkins tried to push Jones but every time Jenkins pulled a leg back, Jones instantly got away again. That was until Jenkins finally managed to restore parity at 8-8. From there Jones couldn't find his way and Jenkins was able to complete the comeback and win the match 10-8 to face Anderson in the quarter-finals.
2011 Grand Slam Darts: Groups E-H Final Game
Group E: Steve Beaton did what he had to do to push Mervyn King in the battle for progression. James Hubbard was 2-0 down before Beaton extended his lead 4-2. Unfortunately the nineteen year old couldn't fight any more and last semi-finalist went one step closer to the knock-out phase.
The win meant that Mervyn King would have to beat Phil Taylor by at least three legs to make things interesting between the three of them. King did take a 2-1 lead but the game went to 3-3 to put Mervyn King out of contention. Taylor then took the match 5-3 to secure a 100% group stage record. Table:
Taylor 6 +8
Beaton 4 +3
King 2 -2
Hubbard 0 -9
Group F: Wes Newton put himself into the knock-out with a 5-1 victory over Barrie Bates. Bates' tournament has been one he'd like to forget and Newton ended it on a real low. The match was level a 1-1 before Newton stormed into the knock-out round with a superior leg difference to Magnus Caris.
Despite Caris' fate already sealed, he still pushed Paul Nicholson all the way to the deciding leg. Nicholson did take an early 2-0 lead before Caris came back to 3-3. Caris then took a 4-3 lead but Nicholson fought back with a comeback of his own to seal his 100% record in the group stage. Table:
Nicholson 6 +7
Newton 4 +6
Caris 2 0
Bates 0 -13
Group G: John Part kept his hopes of progression alive with a win over Aaron Monk. It didn't all go the Canadian's way though as he found himself 2-1 down. Part then did make it 4-2 and was forced into the eighth leg to seal victory.
This meant that any win by Jan Dekker over Mark Webster would put Part out, except a whitewash scoreline. Webster's doubles were a problem at the start of the match and he found himself 3-2 down. But Part was to get the news he'd been waiting for as Webster recovered his doubles to take the next three legs to put Part through. Table:
Webster 6 +7
Part 4 +1
Dekker 2 -1
Monk 0 -7
Group H: Adrian Lewis also confirmed his 100% group stage record with a comprehensive win over Vicent Van Der Voort. Despite being level at 1-1, Lewis soon found himself 3-1 ahead of the Dutchman. It was then 4-2 before Lewis ended Van Der Voort's disappointing tournament.
Co Stompe took on Martin Phillips in a winner takes all match. Whoever won would join Lewis in the next phase and the contest was over before it started. Phillips quickly took a 4-1 lead before securing his place with a 5-2 win over the deflated Dutchman. Table:
Lewis 6 +8
Phillips 4 +5
Stompe 2 -5
Van Der Voort 0 -8
The win meant that Mervyn King would have to beat Phil Taylor by at least three legs to make things interesting between the three of them. King did take a 2-1 lead but the game went to 3-3 to put Mervyn King out of contention. Taylor then took the match 5-3 to secure a 100% group stage record. Table:
Taylor 6 +8
Beaton 4 +3
King 2 -2
Hubbard 0 -9
Group F: Wes Newton put himself into the knock-out with a 5-1 victory over Barrie Bates. Bates' tournament has been one he'd like to forget and Newton ended it on a real low. The match was level a 1-1 before Newton stormed into the knock-out round with a superior leg difference to Magnus Caris.
Despite Caris' fate already sealed, he still pushed Paul Nicholson all the way to the deciding leg. Nicholson did take an early 2-0 lead before Caris came back to 3-3. Caris then took a 4-3 lead but Nicholson fought back with a comeback of his own to seal his 100% record in the group stage. Table:
Nicholson 6 +7
Newton 4 +6
Caris 2 0
Bates 0 -13
Group G: John Part kept his hopes of progression alive with a win over Aaron Monk. It didn't all go the Canadian's way though as he found himself 2-1 down. Part then did make it 4-2 and was forced into the eighth leg to seal victory.
This meant that any win by Jan Dekker over Mark Webster would put Part out, except a whitewash scoreline. Webster's doubles were a problem at the start of the match and he found himself 3-2 down. But Part was to get the news he'd been waiting for as Webster recovered his doubles to take the next three legs to put Part through. Table:
Webster 6 +7
Part 4 +1
Dekker 2 -1
Monk 0 -7
Group H: Adrian Lewis also confirmed his 100% group stage record with a comprehensive win over Vicent Van Der Voort. Despite being level at 1-1, Lewis soon found himself 3-1 ahead of the Dutchman. It was then 4-2 before Lewis ended Van Der Voort's disappointing tournament.
Co Stompe took on Martin Phillips in a winner takes all match. Whoever won would join Lewis in the next phase and the contest was over before it started. Phillips quickly took a 4-1 lead before securing his place with a 5-2 win over the deflated Dutchman. Table:
Lewis 6 +8
Phillips 4 +5
Stompe 2 -5
Van Der Voort 0 -8
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
2011 Grand Slam Darts: Groups A-D Final Game
Group A: Defending Champion Scott Waites ended his 2001 campaign on a high by beating Mark Walsh who was already through. Waites was 1-0 down but two eleven dart legs helped him take a 3-2 lead. From there Waites never looked back and took the match 5-2.
Tony O'Shea met Michael Van Gerwen in a winner takes all match. The Dutchman took the first leg before O'Shea went 2-1 ahead. O'Shea then missed the chance to 3-2 ahead and it would cost him dear as Van Gerwen romped home to a 5-2 victory. Table:
Van Gerwen 4 +3
Walsh 4 +2
Waites 2 0
O'Shea 2 -5
Group B: Dean Winstanley added to Raymond Van Barneveld's pain as he goes through with a 100% rate. After being locked at 1-1, Winstanley took a 3-1 lead. Barney did pull a leg back before Winstanley went onto win 5-2, leaving Barneveld without a win to his name in this tournament.
Ian White took on Ted Hankey with the winner joining Winstanley into the knock-out phase. White took the first leg against the throw but Hankey went into fifth gear and powered into a 4-1 lead. White pulled a leg back before Hankey completed the win to progress. Table:
Winstanley 6 +9
Hankey 4 +1
White 2 -3
Van Barneveld 0 -7
Group C: Brendan Dolan ended his campaign with a win that almost secured Nigel Heydon's exit as well. Dolan took a 3-0 lead before Heydon reduced the arrears to 4-3. Dolan secured the eighth leg to take the win and the only way Heydon could qualify is if Gary Anderson lost 5-1 or worse to Wayne Jones.
The match between Anderson and Jones did finish 5-1, but not the way Heydon would have liked it to have been. It wasn't in doubt for Anderson who quickly secured his place in the next round by taking a 3-0 lead. Jones did win a leg before Anderson finished the match off 5-1. Table:
Anderson 4 +6
Jones 4 +1
Heydon 2 -2
Dolan 2 -5
Group D: Dave Chisnall also recorded his first and last victory in this year's Grand Slam against Justin Pipe. The match was neck and throughout with neither player getting more than a leg ahead. But Dave Chisnall, who hadn't led at any point, took the final leg to win 5-4.
The equation was simple, if Terry Jenkins beat James Wade then he would go through. If Wade won then Pipe would go through. It was looking good for Pipe when Wade took a 3-1 lead. But Jenkins fought back and won the match 5-3 with two double tops to secure his place in the knock-out rounds. Table:
Wade 4 0
Jenkins 4 0
Pipe 2 +2
Chisnall 2 -2
Tony O'Shea met Michael Van Gerwen in a winner takes all match. The Dutchman took the first leg before O'Shea went 2-1 ahead. O'Shea then missed the chance to 3-2 ahead and it would cost him dear as Van Gerwen romped home to a 5-2 victory. Table:
Van Gerwen 4 +3
Walsh 4 +2
Waites 2 0
O'Shea 2 -5
Group B: Dean Winstanley added to Raymond Van Barneveld's pain as he goes through with a 100% rate. After being locked at 1-1, Winstanley took a 3-1 lead. Barney did pull a leg back before Winstanley went onto win 5-2, leaving Barneveld without a win to his name in this tournament.
Ian White took on Ted Hankey with the winner joining Winstanley into the knock-out phase. White took the first leg against the throw but Hankey went into fifth gear and powered into a 4-1 lead. White pulled a leg back before Hankey completed the win to progress. Table:
Winstanley 6 +9
Hankey 4 +1
White 2 -3
Van Barneveld 0 -7
Group C: Brendan Dolan ended his campaign with a win that almost secured Nigel Heydon's exit as well. Dolan took a 3-0 lead before Heydon reduced the arrears to 4-3. Dolan secured the eighth leg to take the win and the only way Heydon could qualify is if Gary Anderson lost 5-1 or worse to Wayne Jones.
The match between Anderson and Jones did finish 5-1, but not the way Heydon would have liked it to have been. It wasn't in doubt for Anderson who quickly secured his place in the next round by taking a 3-0 lead. Jones did win a leg before Anderson finished the match off 5-1. Table:
Anderson 4 +6
Jones 4 +1
Heydon 2 -2
Dolan 2 -5
Group D: Dave Chisnall also recorded his first and last victory in this year's Grand Slam against Justin Pipe. The match was neck and throughout with neither player getting more than a leg ahead. But Dave Chisnall, who hadn't led at any point, took the final leg to win 5-4.
The equation was simple, if Terry Jenkins beat James Wade then he would go through. If Wade won then Pipe would go through. It was looking good for Pipe when Wade took a 3-1 lead. But Jenkins fought back and won the match 5-3 with two double tops to secure his place in the knock-out rounds. Table:
Wade 4 0
Jenkins 4 0
Pipe 2 +2
Chisnall 2 -2
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