Clayton Makes it Four on the Trot
Jonny Clayton admitted he doesn’t need to “fear anyone” after making it four successive wins to book his place in the Grand Slam quarter-finals.
The Welsh wonder has already beaten Michael van Gerwen and upped his game to poleaxe Krzysztof Ratajski 10-3 in Wolverhampton.
Clayton never gave the Pole a sniff of hope with a dominating 103 average and is clearly buzzing with his excellent week of form.
He said: “I’m obviously happy at the end of the day my aim was to get out of the group and whatever comes afterwards happens.
“The last couple of months I’ve struggled on my doubles but now hopefully it’s coming together for me.
“I’m playing OK I don’t need to fear anyone now. Tonight I will just chill out now and enjoy the result before the next one. I’m loving every minute of this.”
Clayton will now face Michael van Gerwen, who he beat in Sunday’s group match, in the quarters.
Gary Anderson cruised into the last eight of the Slam after defeating Wesley Harms 10-2. The Flying Scotsman hardly broke sweat as he hit a 101 average and six 180s to leave the Dutchman reeling in Wolverhampton last night. Ando was rarely troubled by the BDO man and now faces shock merchant Michael Unterbuchner, who KO’d James Wade, in the last eight. He admitted: “There were some good scores and some rubbish. The main thing is that I needed to get through, that’s all that counts at this stage. “My doubles were pretty decent and I need to keep progressing and I’ll keep it going. We just go one match at a time.”
Michael Unterbuchner produced the biggest shock of the Slam after dumping James Wade. The BDO World No.7 ended Wade’s 13-match winning run with a comfortable 10-6 win in Wolverhampton. The unfancied German made light work of The Machine and admitted he had to cancel his flight home. He said: “I didn’t think I would make the quarter-finals so I booked my flight home on Friday. I’ve had to cancel that now so I can play. “It’s the biggest win of my career to beat James. But I don’t think I can win the Grand Slam. There’s still players like Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson in the tournament so it’s too hard for me. “But I will try my best to do well and see what happens.”
Michael van Gerwen defeated Michael Smith 10-8 in one of the best matches ever seen at the Grand Slam. Reigning champion MVG, who is bidding for a record-breaking fourth successive title, booked his place in the quarter-finals with a stunning 108.32 average as the eight players who qualified from Groups A-D returned to the stage at the Aldersley Leisure Village. Former Grand Slam semi-finalist Smith led in the opening stages of the Premier League final re-match before Van Gerwen, who landed an incredible 11 180s, took the lead for the first time at 5-4. With the World No.1 leading 9-8, Smith missed a dart at double top for a 160 finish and Van Gerwen punished to march on to the last eight where he will take on Jonny Clayton in a repeat of their high-class Group A contest. MVG said: “It was an incredible game against an incredible player who produced some great darts but I did the right things at the right moments," said Van Gerwen. “I played so well but at times I thought I wasn't going to be able to break his throw but I love playing games like this for the crowd, this is why we play darts. “I want to keep playing to this standard for the rest of the tournament and I want to win.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)
Gary Anderson cruised into the last eight of the Slam after defeating Wesley Harms 10-2. The Flying Scotsman hardly broke sweat as he hit a 101 average and six 180s to leave the Dutchman reeling in Wolverhampton last night. Ando was rarely troubled by the BDO man and now faces shock merchant Michael Unterbuchner, who KO’d James Wade, in the last eight. He admitted: “There were some good scores and some rubbish. The main thing is that I needed to get through, that’s all that counts at this stage. “My doubles were pretty decent and I need to keep progressing and I’ll keep it going. We just go one match at a time.”
Michael Unterbuchner produced the biggest shock of the Slam after dumping James Wade. The BDO World No.7 ended Wade’s 13-match winning run with a comfortable 10-6 win in Wolverhampton. The unfancied German made light work of The Machine and admitted he had to cancel his flight home. He said: “I didn’t think I would make the quarter-finals so I booked my flight home on Friday. I’ve had to cancel that now so I can play. “It’s the biggest win of my career to beat James. But I don’t think I can win the Grand Slam. There’s still players like Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson in the tournament so it’s too hard for me. “But I will try my best to do well and see what happens.”
Michael van Gerwen defeated Michael Smith 10-8 in one of the best matches ever seen at the Grand Slam. Reigning champion MVG, who is bidding for a record-breaking fourth successive title, booked his place in the quarter-finals with a stunning 108.32 average as the eight players who qualified from Groups A-D returned to the stage at the Aldersley Leisure Village. Former Grand Slam semi-finalist Smith led in the opening stages of the Premier League final re-match before Van Gerwen, who landed an incredible 11 180s, took the lead for the first time at 5-4. With the World No.1 leading 9-8, Smith missed a dart at double top for a 160 finish and Van Gerwen punished to march on to the last eight where he will take on Jonny Clayton in a repeat of their high-class Group A contest. MVG said: “It was an incredible game against an incredible player who produced some great darts but I did the right things at the right moments," said Van Gerwen. “I played so well but at times I thought I wasn't going to be able to break his throw but I love playing games like this for the crowd, this is why we play darts. “I want to keep playing to this standard for the rest of the tournament and I want to win.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)