HANKEY COUNTS OUT WHITE AS VAN GERWEN & JENKINS PROGRESS
TED HANKEY, Terry Jenkins and Michael van Gerwen turned on the style to win through to the knockout stages of the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts on Tuesday night.
Hankey entered his clash with fellow Stoke-born ace White knowing that the winner would progress to the second round from Group B alongside Dean Winstanley.
And Hankey responded in superb fashion with a 5-3 triumph which included a 161 checkout amongst two bullseye finishes as he averaged over 100 to move into the last 16, where he will play van Gerwen on Thursday night.
"Ian^s a great player and he played well but I was delighted with my finishing, which was brilliant," said Hankey. "The 161 was sweet and the other bullseye was a big shot, and I felt great.
"I^m looking forward to playing Michael - it will be an interesting game because he^s playing very well this year."
Van Gerwen won through another elimination clash against Tony O^Shea with a 5-2 victory, which the young Dutchman sealed with a superb 144 checkout.
He topped Group A on leg difference ahead of Mark Walsh, who had won his first two matches but lost to reigning champion Scott Waites as the Yorkshireman bowed out with a 5-2 triumph for his only win of the group phase.
"This is my fourth time in Wolverhampton and it^s the first time I^ve got past the group stages so it^s a big achievement - but I don^t want to stop here," said van Gerwen. "I^m playing well and enjoying myself."
There was drama in Group D as Terry Jenkins took a 5-3 win over James Wade to join the left-hander in qualifying at the expense of Justin Pipe.
Pipe went down 5-4 to Dave Chisnall in a dramatic deciding-leg clash, with the Taunton ace missing the single one which would have left him double eight for the match to allow his opponent in for victory on double ten.
Jenkins then took to the stage against Wade knowing that he had to take victory to knock Pipe out of the event.
Wade, who was already assured of a last 16 place, led 3-1 before Jenkins took three successive legs to move ahead and he then finished 100 with two double tops for a victory which saw him not only progress but take victory in Group D.
"Dave beating Justin earlier gave me the chance to concentrate on just trying to beat James and not think about other scorelines, and that definitely helped me," said Jenkins.
"Since losing my opening game I^ve relaxed and played some good darts. The format^s longer in the secnod round and I^ll hope to do well."
Premier League Darts champion Gary Anderson and Wolverhampton^s Wayne Jones won through from Group C, with the Scot taking a 5-1 victory in their meeting to deny Nigel Heydon and Brendan Dolan.
Heydon had defeated Anderson in Saturday^s opener but lost 5-3 to Dolan in their final game to see his hopes of a spot in the last 16 ended, with Anderson now facing Wade on Thursday and Jenkins meeting Jones.
The group stage concludes on Wednesday night when Groups E-H complete their round-robin contests.
Phil Taylor enters his clash with Mervyn King on the back of two victories in Group E, with Steve Beaton facing James Hubbard in their other game.
Group F sees Wes Newton play Barrie Bates and Paul Nicholson face Magnus Caris, while John Part takes on Arron Monk and Mark Webster meets Jan Dekker in Group G.
Adrian Lewis is guaranteed qualification from Group H ahead of his clash with Vincent van der Voort, while Co Stompe and Martin Phillips are battling to join him in the last 16.
William Hill Grand Slam of Darts
Tuesday November 15
Groups A-D Final Games
Raymond van Barneveld 2-5 Dean Winstanley
Scott Waites 5-2 Mark Walsh
Brendan Dolan 5-3 Nigel Heydon
Justin Pipe 4-5 Dave Chisnall
Tony O^Shea 2-5 Michael van Gerwen
James Wade 3-5 Terry Jenkins
Ted Hankey 5-2 Ian White
Gary Anderson 5-1 Wayne Jones
Wednesday November 16 (7pm)
Groups E-H Final Games
Adrian Lewis v Vincent van der Voort
Wes Newton v Barrie Bates
Steve Beaton v James Hubbard
John Part v Arron Monk
Co Stompe v Martin Phillips
Phil Taylor v Mervyn King
Mark Webster v Jan Dekker
Paul Nicholson v Magnus Caris
Second Round
Thursday November 17 (7pm)
Dean Winstanley v Mark Walsh
Michael van Gerwen v Ted Hankey
Gary Anderson v James Wade
Terry Jenkins v Wayne Jones
Best of 19 legs
DEAN WINSTANLEY 5-2 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
DEAN WINSTANLEY secured a fabulous 5-2 victory against five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld to top Group B in the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts with three straight wins and move into the knockout phase in style.
The Dutch star, who was a semi-finalist at Wolverhampton two years ago, leaves the competition without a victory to his name in the first time he has failed to win through the group stages.
Winstanley held throw with a clinical two-dart 97 to win a nerve-settling opening leg before van Barneveld hit double 16 to take the second.
Winstanley won the third with a two-dart 100 finish, but missed four chances to take a 3-1 lead and the Dutchman stepped in to level again.
The Lakeside Championship finalist hit back-to-back maximums in a 14-darter to gain a 3-2 lead and then broke his opponent^s throw by landing double top at the first attempt after van Barneveld missed four chances at double 16.
Winstanley hit a 180 in the next leg, and after van Barneveld was off-target with two darts at double 18, he returned to land double two and seal a third successive win.
"I^m so pleased to have done so well here so far," said a delighted Winstanley, who now takes on Mark Walsh in the last 16.
"Coming to this tournament for the first time is a big thing for me and to get through like this is a dream. I^ll look forward to playing Mark now."
SCOTT WAITES 5-2 MARK WALSH
REIGNING CHAMPION Scott Waites left the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts with a morale boosting 5-2 victory over Mark Walsh in their final Group A contest.
Waites produced the kind of form which saw him collect the £100,000 first prize 12 months ago, but defeats in his opening two contests meant that he was unable to qualify for the knockout phase despite this classy effort.
"I went out and enjoyed myself tonight and I think it showed in my performance," said Waites. "I should really have won my match against Tony O^Shea on Sunday and that proved costly in the end.
"But I^ll move on from this now and come back to give it my best shot next year."
Waites posted a maximum in the opening leg but Walsh hit an 82 finish, completed on double top, to take an early lead.
The defending champion hit double ten to level the match before Walsh landed back-to-back maximums to leave the possibility of a nine-dart finish in the third.
Walsh^s seventh attempt at a treble 20 was just above the target, but the leg was won in 11 darts as he took a 2-1 lead.
The excitement continued in the fourth as Waites hit consecutive 180s to leave himself a chance of the nine-dart finish, and also hit the seventh treble 20 only to see his eighth dart, at treble 19, land low of its target.
However, the Yorkshireman won the leg in 11 darts and then broke throw for a 3-2 lead by converting a 68 finish after Walsh was unusually off-target with two darts at his trademark double top.
Both players hit maximums in the seventh leg, but it was Waites who powered home to victory with his second 11-dart finish of the match.
BRENDAN DOLAN 5-3 NIGEL HEYDON
BRENDAN DOLAN bowed out of the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts with a victory to his name after defeating Nigel Heydon 5-3 in their final Group C contest.
The defeat for Heydon and Gary Anderson^s victory over Wayne Jones later in the evening confirmed the 41-year-old^s exit from the tournament, despite his fine victory over the Scot on Saturday.
Dolan recorded his first win of the tournament, but it was not enough to threaten a place in the last 16 as he joined Heydon in exiting on his Grand Slam debut.
"I was playing for pride tonight and it was nice to leave with a win," said the World Grand Prix finalist.
"I came to Wolverhampton with high hopes after my performance in Dublin last month, but unfortunately it wasn^t to be."
Dolan, who lost his opening two group games against Jones and Anderson, won the first leg in 14 darts on double 16.
The second saw Heydon miss a dart at double top and Dolan stepped in with a 65 finish to break throw.
The third leg also fell the way of the Northern Irishman to establish a 3-0 lead but Heydon managed to take the fourth, hitting a 180 in the process.
Dolan hit an excellent 101 checkout to restore his three leg advantage but Heydon took out 69 in the next to reduce the deficit to 4-2.
Heydon then broke throw in the seventh leg with a pressure 80 finish with his opponent waiting on a two-dart checkout to win the match.
The eighth leg proved to be a tight affair but Dolan held his nerve to hit double 18 at the first attempt to claim victory.
DAVE CHISNALL 5-4 JUSTIN PIPE
DAVE CHISNALL won a final-leg thriller against Justin Pipe at the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton - a result which eventually meant both players exited the event.
Chisnall, who lost narrowly in his first two group games, was unable to qualify for the last 16 stages but took a dramatic deciding leg to leave the Wolverhampton Civic with a win.
The defeat for Pipe and Terry Jenkins^ superb victory over James Wade later in the evening confirmed that the man from Taunton also leaves the event, having blown a golden chance for victory in the ninth leg of a tight affair.
Pipe hit at two-dart 68 finish to take the first leg, with Chisnall waiting on tops, but the 2010 Lakeside Championsihp finalist levelled with an accomplished 14-darter, which included a maximum.
Pipe hit a 180 of his own to take a 2-1 lead with his second 14-dart finish of the game but Chisnall pegged back to win the fourth in the same manner.
The man from Taunton held throw for the third consecutive time to take the fifth leg, but Chisnall kept up with his opponent to take the next with a 78 checkout.
That left matters finely balanced at three-all, and in the seventh Chisnall had the opportunity to break throw for the first time in the match - only to miss six attempts at doubles.
However, Pipe was unable to accept the reprieve as he missed three darts for the leg and Chisnall landed double one to lead for the first time.
The eighth leg saw Pipe hit a maximum and, after Chisnall missed a dart at bullseye to win the match, he returned to the oche to hit double six and force a deciding leg.
The tension reached breaking point as Pipe was first to a finish when he left 17 after initially missing a 141 chance, but when attempting to hit the single one to leave double eight he managed to hit a single 20.
That allowed Chisnall the opportunity to snatch victory, which he duly did by hitting double ten with his third dart for a dramatic triumph.
"The atmosphere was incredible out there tonight and it^s a shame that this win came too late for me," admitted Chisnall. "I^ve enjoyed the tournament and the results could have worked out differently on other nights."
A disappointed Pipe said; "I knew what was at stake tonight and I desperately wanted to win tonight for all my supporters.
"If I had left myself the two darts at double eight the result could have been very different, but I^ll move on now and prepare for the Players Championship Finals and World Championship."
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN 5-2 TONY O^SHEA
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN produced an excellent display to defeat Tony O^Shea and claim top place in Group A at the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts.
The Dutch star will now take on either Ted Hankey on Thursday evening for a place in the Quarter-Finals following a second superb win of the event, following up Saturday^s defeat of Scott Waites with another fine victory.
"I^m very happy with my performance tonight, especially in such a pressure game like this," said a delighted van Gerwen, who had to defeat O^Shea to progress.
"This is my fourth time in Wolverhampton and it^s the first time I^ve managed to get through the group stages. Tonight^s win is a big achievement for me."
Van Gerwen started the superbly by breaking throw with a 13-dart finish but O^Shea immediately hit back by winning the second, taking out 64.
O^Shea then took a 2-1 lead with a two-dart 61 finish but the Dutch youngster levelled the match at two all with a 14-darter to win the fourth leg.
O^Shea missed a dart at tops to move 3-2 ahead and van Gerwen took the fifth leg by hitting a 66 finish against the darts.
He then hit double top at the first time of asking to lead 4-2 before O^Shea opened the seventh with scores of 140, 140 and 180 to leave 41 after nine darts.
But the Stockport ace missed a total of six darts at doubles to win the leg and keep the match alive and that proved costly as van Gerwen hit a fabulous 144 checkout to win the match in great style.
TERRY JENKINS 5-3 JAMES WADE
TERRY JENKINS called on his reserves to defeat James Wade 5-3 and qualify for the knockout stages of the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts with a fine display.
The 2008 runner-up had to defeat Wade to progress to the last 16 for the fifth successive year in Wolverhampton - but found himself 3-1 down to the UK Open champion and looked like going out of the competition.
But the world number ten put together a run of four successive legs to win the match and claim top place in Group D ahead of Wade - knocking out Justin Pipe in the process.
"Things have gone my way tonight, especially with Dave beating Justin in that tight game earlier," admitted Jenkins.
"That gave me the chance to concentrate on just trying to beat James and not think about scorelines which definitely helped. I^ve relaxed since losing my first game on Saturday and it showed."
Jenkins managed to hold throw by hitting double top at the first of asking to win the first leg before Wade replied by landing double ten after Jenkins missed a dart at double 16 for a 2-0 lead.
Wade won the third against the darts with a two-dart 68 finish and then took the fourth on double five with his third dart after Jenkins missed a dart at bullseye for a 161 checkout.
Jenkins stopped Wade^s run of winning legs by hitting double top at the first attempt to take the fifth and then repeated the trick to win the next and level at three legs apiece.
The seventh leg saw Wade miss double ten for a 128 checkout and Jenkins hit tops for the third leg on the spin to regain the lead at a vital time.
Both players hit maximums in the eighth leg before Wade missed a dart at bullseye, and Jenkins followed up a 180 by hitting a 100 finish courtesy of two double tops to seal the match in amazing fashion.
TED HANKEY 5-2 IAN WHITE
TED HANKEY produced a superb display to defeat Ian White 5-2 and seal a place in the second round of the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Hankey ended the match with a three-dart average of over 100 to qualify for the knockout stages for the second successive year following his winner-progresses contest with White.
"I concentrated hard tonight as Ian was firing early on and I got the job done," said Hankey, who will take on Michael van Gerwen in a mouth-watering encounter on Thursday evening.
"It^s going to be an interesting game against Michael. I beat him in a deciding leg in the group stage last year and I hope I can do it again."
Hankey, who defeated Raymond van Barneveld in his previous group match, missed three darts to take the opening leg and White took the chance to take an early lead by hitting double top.
The two-time World Champion hit back in style with a 12-darter and then landed a tricky bullseye to convert a 90 finish to lead the match for the first time.
Hankey then hit the bull for a second successive leg to complete a fantastic 161 checkout in the fourth to move two legs clear.
White won the sixth leg with the aid of a maximum to keep the match alive before Hankey hit a 180 to start the seventh.
That put the Telford man in command and he went to land double 12 to complete a 13-dart finish and confirm his spot in the last 16.
GARY ANDERSON 5-1 WAYNE JONES
GARY ANDERSON sealed for qualification for the knockout phase of the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-1 victory over local hero Wayne Jones, who also moves into the last 16.
Anderson came into the match uncertain of progressing, but made an excellent start and eased to victory to top Group D and set up an eye-catching clash against James Wade on Thursday evening.
Anderson won the opening leg of the game to by hitting double ten and he hit the same bed to take the second leg he needed to confirm qualification.
The third saw Jones miss a dart at double 16 and the Scotsman stepped in to hit double 18 and establish a 3-0 lead.
Jones managed to get on the scoreboard by hitting double nine with his third dart to win the fourth leg before Anderson restored his three-leg advantage to go one away from victory.
The Premier League Darts champion duly wrapped up the match in the sixth leg with a 15-darter to end the contest and ensure his spot in the second round.
"Wayne didn^t really turn up tonight and it gave me a fairly comfortable evening, which I wasn^t expecting," admitted Anderson.
"After my loss to Nigel in my first match on Saturday night I felt certain that I was going out of the tournament early, but I^ve managed to get through.
"I play James in the next round and I^m going to have to play better than I have so far to beat a guy of his class, but it will be a great game."