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Evening Session
EVENING SESSION SHAUN GREATBATCH 5-1 PETER MANLEY  SHAUN GREATBATCH ended Peter Manley's hopes at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-1 victory on Sunday evening.The duo had both lost their opening group games, but a fine display from Greatbatch sees him meet Kevin McDine on Monday for a place in the second round. The loss means Manley cannot qualify no matter what the result of his final game against group leader Jelle Klaasen, who is now assured of his last 16 spot. Greatbatch kicked off the game by punishing uncharacteristically poor finishing from Manley, who missed four darts for the opening leg. Greatbatch took out double top to lead 1-0 and then doubled the advantage with a stunning 164 checkout - the highest of the tournament so far, putting him in line for a £3,000 bonus. Manley took out his favoured double top to get off the mark in leg three, but opening scores of 180 and 140 from Greatbatch in the next enabled him to go into the break 3-1 up. He took out double 12 to move to within a leg of the game, and then stepped in on double top to seal the win. "I didn't do myself justice against Jelle on Saturday but that's what I can do," said Greatbatch, who averaged 95. "I managed to nick the first leg and built my confidence after that, and I managed to keep on top of Peter." Match Stats
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 5-1 CHARLES LOSPER  VINCENT VAN DER VOORT kept alive his hopes of progressing to round two of the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-1 win over Charles Losper.Van der Voort bounced back from his opening day loss to Andy Hamilton with a strong display to set up a decider against Terry Jenkins on Monday night. South African Losper cannot now qualify for the last 16, but performed well against the Dutchman and could have caused an upset had he completed a 121 finish in leg three which would have seen him move 2-1 up. The opening two legs had been shared, including a neat two-dart 68 finish from Losper in the second, before he moved into command in the third. But he burst his score on 121, hitting treble 20 followed by a bullseye - when aiming for 25 to leave 16 - and then 19, allowing van der Voort to step in with a 76 finish. He never looked back after that, taking out double 16 in the next three legs and finishing the contest with a 96.85 average. "I knew it was a must-win game," said van der Voort. "Charles had a chance to go 2-1 up but as soon as I went into the break 3-1 up I managed to relax." Match Stats
PHILL NIXON 5-0 NIELS DE RUITER  NIELS DE RUITER'S hopes at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts were ended by a 5-0 whitewash from Phill Nixon on Sunday evening.The young Dutchman suffered a second successive group stage defeat, leaving him unable to qualify for the last 16 whatever the result of his final game, against James Wade on Monday. Nixon continued the form which saw him push Wade all the way, failing to drop a single leg and punishing de Ruiter. He led 2-0 before de Ruiter saw two chances to win leg three slip by, Nixon stepping in on double top to move three legs up. A 116 finish put Nixon to the brink of victory, and a 99 checkout was the icing on the cake, setting up a winner-takes-all clash with Australian Pat Orreal on Monday. "It wasn't easy but Niels is better than he has shown," said Nixon. "He's had problems with vertigo but I had to concentrate on my own game and it was important to get the win." Match Stats
GARY MAWSON 5-3 ANDY JENKINS  AMERICA'S Gary Mawson won a place in the second round of the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-3 defeat of Andy Jenkins.Mawson retained his 100 percent record thanks to a fine comeback, reeling off four straight legs after the break to storm to the win. The win means Jenkins faces John Part on Tuesday for the right to join Mawson in the last 16. Jenkins began well, taking back-to-back legs after the scores were tied at one-all to take a 3-1 lead. A 110 checkout from Mawson rocked the Englishman in leg five, and three missed doubles in the next allowed the American number one to level matters. Mawson took a third straight leg with a two-dart 74 finish to move in front for the first time, and then wrapped up the win on double ten. "I'm a very happy man," said Mawson afterwards. "It's a tough event and I did a lot of hard work just to qualify, and people didn't expect me to get through. "At the break, I went outside and saw the snow falling. I lost my Dad in May and when I saw the snow it was like him talking to me. "It fired me up and I managed to do it." Match Stats
 ROLAND SCHOLTEN 5-1 MICHAEL VAN GERWENROLAND SCHOLTEN powered into the second round of the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a brilliant 5-1 win over Michael van Gerwen. The Dutchman produced the best display of the tournament so far, averaging 110.21 in the game and hitting five out of six double attempts. Van Gerwen performed well, averaging over 95 but paying for misses in the fourth leg which allowed Scholten to move 3-1 up. The teenager took the lead, landing a 180 in a 15-dart first leg, before Scholten levelled on double 18. The 2004 UK Open winner took out a fine 136 finish to win leg three, and he then made van Gerwen pay for four missed doubles in the next to land a two-dart 76 checkout and enter the break at 3-1. Scholten kicked off the fifth with scores of 140, 180 and 105 to sit in command, and took double four to move 4-1 up. He began the next in the same fashion to leave 76 after nine darts, and this time finished in 11 darts to complete the win. "I felt good tonight," said Scholten. "I knew I needed to win this one, because if I'd lost it put more pressure on the next game so it's a relief. "Michael played really well too but he missed a couple of doubles and I was there to step in." Match Stats
 DENNIS PRIESTLEY 5-4 CHRIS MASONDENNIS PRIESTLEY edged out Chris Mason 5-4 in a thriller to throw Group A wide open at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts. The duo had both lost out on the opening day of action, and fought bravely to keep alive their place in the event in a tight battle. Priestley's deciding-leg win means that both he and Mason can still progress to the knockout phase, depending on results against Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis respectively. "It was a good game and there was no quarter given by either of us," said Priestley. "I was pleased but wish I'd been able to hit double top as well as I did today in my first game against Adrian, I could have been through. "However, I'll have to beat Raymond now and hopefully I can do that." Mason began brightly to take a 2-1 lead thanks to a double ten finish and an 89 checkout on the bullseye, before Priestley produced a 12-darter to level. The veteran then edged ahead when Mason missed two darts at double 12. Mason levelled at three-all before Priestley landed double top to edge back in front. The see-saw battle continued, with a quality leg from Mason, including a 180, seeing him send the match into a decider. However, he lost his range on the treble twenty in the final leg, and Priestley took advantage to take double top again for the win. Match Stats
GARY ANDERSON 5-1 WAYNE JONES  NUMBER THREE SEED Gary Anderson kick-started his challenge at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a superb 5-1 defeat of local hero Wayne Jones.Anderson was a surprise 5-1 loser to Kevin Painter on Saturday, but wiped out his negative leg difference to keep alive his hopes of a second round berth. He kicked off the contest with an 11-darter, and punished missed doubles from Jones to open up a 3-0 lead. A double ten finish put him into a 4-0 cushion before Jones took his chance to get off the mark in the fifth leg, after the Scot wasted four darts for victory. Anderson, though, wasted little more time in wrapped up the victory on double top. The defeat ended Jones' hopes in the tournament, while Anderson faces Barrie Bates in a winner-takes-all clash on Tuesday evening. Match Stats
 WAYNE MARDLE 5-2 RONNIE BAXTERWAYNE MARDLE set up an all-Essex battle for a place in the second round of the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-2 defeat of Ronnie Baxter in Sunday's final game. Mardle bounced back from his opening day loss to Phil Taylor in style against Baxter, who is now unable to qualify for the second round of the event. Whilst not vintage Mardle, the former World Matchplay finalist had enough in his locker to hold off Baxter's challenge at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall. The opening two legs of the game were shared before the pair traded maximums in the third, with Baxter wasting two darts to lead before Mardle landed double ten. He moved 3-1 up on double top to put daylight between the pair, and although Baxter took the fifth leg Mardle sealed the win with legs of 15 and 17 darts. "It's pleasing to win because Ronnie came back well," said Mardle. "I've given myself a chance now and I'll look forward to playing Colin. "I'm good friends with Colin and we've had some great games down the years." Match Stats
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TICKETS for the Grand Slam of Darts are still on sale, with prices ranging from £10 to £35. Click here for full details, or call 0870 320 7000. |
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