Michael Smith recorded the third highest average in BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts history as he joined Michael van Gerwen, Dave Chisnall and Gabriel Clemens in qualifying for the knockout stages in Wolverhampton on Sunday.
Smith averaged 113.62 in a brilliant 5-1 win over Nathan Aspinall as the world number three ensured his place in the last 16. Smith continued his superb start to the event, following up Saturday's victory over Glen Durrant with a second win in as many days, meaning that the Lakeside Champion and Aspinall now face a shoot-out on Monday.
"It was a massive match and I knew I had to win, so I'm pleased to play so well," said Smith. "Nathan said I was phenomenal and I felt I owed him one for when he beat me in Las Vegas.
"It was a big game and I'm glad I did myself proud and got the win, and I'm safe. As long as I won the match that was the most important thing for me - the record average would have been nice but records don't win you tournaments.
"This event is a target for me because I'm desperate to win a TV title. That's been my aim this year." Durrant bounced back from his opening loss to Smith with a dramatic 5-4 win over Martin Schindler, the young German who now cannot qualify.
Schindler led 4-2 but paid for missing two match darts at tops as three-time Lakeside Champion Durrant produced a pair of 84 finishes to keep his hopes alive before winning their deciding leg.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Michael van Gerwen stormed back from 2-0 down against Adrian Lewis to qualify from Group A with a 5-2 victory.
"I've not been at my best but my darts didn't let me down and I found an extra gear when I had to against Adrian," said Van Gerwen. "He tried to push me, especially at the beginning, but I did the right things at the right moments.
"I'm through to the next round and I can look ahead to that, but I'll still concentrate on the last group match. Ross Smith beat me in the European Championship and of course I want to put that right."
2019 BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts
Sunday November 10th
GROUP GAMES (9)
Afternoon Session 13.00hrs Groups E-H Second Matches
Brendan Dolan 5-1 Richard Veenstra (G)
Danny Noppert 5-1 Wayne Warren (F)
Jamie Hughes 5-1 Lisa Ashton (E)
Glen Durrant 5-4 Martin Schindler (H)
Gabriel Clemens 5-4 Daryl Gurney (G)
Peter Wright 5-2 Ryan Harrington (F)
Michael Smith 5-1 Nathan Aspinall (H)
Dave Chisnall 5-3 Rob Cross (E)
Evening Session 19.00hrs Groups A-D Second Matches
Steve Lennon 5-4 Wesley Harms (B)
Darren Webster 5-2 Dave Parletti (D)
Jim Williams 5-1 Ross Smith (A)
Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-1 Mikuru Suzuki (C)
Gerwyn Price 5-4 Robert Thornton (C)
James Wade 5-4 Ian White (B)
Gary Anderson 5-3 William O'Connor (D)
Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Adrian Lewis (A)
Monday November 11th
GROUP GAMES (9)
Groups E-H Final Matches 19.00hrs
Gabriel Clemens v Richard Veenstra (G)
Michael Smith v Martin Schindler (H)
Dave Chisnall v Lisa Ashton (E)
Daryl Gurney v Brendan Dolan (G)
Peter Wright v Danny Noppert (F)
Ryan Harrington v Wayne Warren (F)
Rob Cross v Jamie Hughes (E)
Nathan Aspinall v Glen Durrant (H)
Tuesday November 12th
GROUP GAMES (9)
Groups A-D Final Matches 19.00hrs
Ian White v Wesley Harms (B)
James Wade v Steve Lennon (B)
Michael van Gerwen v Ross Smith (A)
Robert Thornton v Mikuru Suzuki (C)
Gerwyn Price v Dimitri Van den Bergh (C)
William O'Connor v Dave Parletti (D)
Gary Anderson v Darren Webster (D)
Adrian Lewis v Jim Williams (A)
Wednesday November 13th
SECOND ROUND (19) 19.00hrs
v
v
v
v
Thursday November 14th
SECOND ROUND (19) 19.00hrs
v
v
v
v
Friday November 15th
QUARTER FINALS (31) 19.00hrs
v
v
Saturday November 16th
QUARTER FINALS (31) 20.00hrs
v
v
Sunday November 17th
SEMI FINALS (31) 13.00hrs
v
v
FINAL (31) 19.00hrs
v
Full Group Results:
GROUP A
Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Jim Williams
Adrian Lewis 5-2 Ross Smith
Ross Smith 1-5 Jim Williams
Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Adrian Lewis
Michael Van Gerwen v Ross Smith
Jim Williams v Adrian Lewis
GROUP B
Ian White 5-1 Steve Lennon
James Wade 5-2 Wesley Harms
Steve Lennon 5-4 Wesley Harms
James Wade 5-4 Ian White
Ian White v Wesley Harms
Steve Lennon v James Wade
GROUP C
Gerwyn Price 5-3 Mikuru Suzuki
Dimitri Van den Bergh 4-5 Robert Thornton
Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-1 Mikuru Suzuki
Gerwyn Price 5-4 Robert Thornton
Gerwyn Price v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Mikuru Suzuki v Robert Thornton
GROUP D
Darren Webster 3-5 William O'Connor
Gary Anderson 5-1 Dave Parletti
Darren Webster 5-2 Dave Parletti
Gary Anderson 5-3 William O'Connor
Darren Webster v Gary Anderson
William O'Connor v Dave Parletti
GROUP E
Dave Chisnall 5-3 Jamie Hughes
Rob Cross 5-2 Lisa Ashton
Jamie Hughes 5-1 Lisa Ashton
Rob Cross 3-5 Dave Chisnall
Lisa Ashton v Dave Chisnall
Jamie Hughes v Rob Cross
GROUP F
Ryan Harrington 5-4 Danny Noppert
Peter Wright 5-2 Wayne Warren
Danny Noppert 5-1 Wayne Warren
Peter Wright 5-2 Ryan Harrington
Ryan Harrington v Wayne Warren
Peter Wright v Danny Noppert
GROUP G
Gabriel Clemens 5-1 Brendan Dolan
Daryl Gurney 5-0 Richard Veenstra
Brendan Dolan 5-1 Richard Veenstra
Daryl Gurney 4-5 Gabriel Clemens
Richard Veenstra v Gabriel Clemens
Brendan Dolan v Daryl Gurney
GROUP H
Nathan Aspinall 5-0 Martin Schindler
Michael Smith 5-3 Glen Durrant
Martin Schindler 4-5 Glen Durrant
Michael Smith 5-1 Nathan Aspinall
Nathan Aspinall v Glen Durrant
Martin Schindler v Michael Smith
Prize Money:
Winner: £125,000
Runner Up £65,000
Semi Finalists £40,000
Quarter Finalists £20,000
Second Round Losers £10,000
Third in Group £7,500
Fourth in Group £4,000
Group Winners Bonus £3,500
TOTAL: £550,000
The PDC will contact all qualifiers for this event and an event brief will follow, if you want to book your hotel early see below.
To Email the PDC contact Rachel Pugh rachel.pugh@pdc.tv
PDC Official Hotel:
Novotel Hotel, Union St, Wolverhampton WV1 3JN
Room Rates:
£100 per night inc breakfast
CLICK HERE for the map and directions.
For alternative Hotels in Wolverhampton go to booking.com see below
For alternative choices in Wolverhampton via booking.com please CLICK HERE
Travel to the WOLVERHAMPTON:
Venue:
Aldersley Leisure Village, Aldersley Rd, Wolverhampton WV6 9NW
Website:
Directions to the Venue CLICK HERE