Grand Slam of Darts - Report Day 5

BIG GUNS PROGRESS IN GRAND SLAM AS PART, HAMILTON & VAN BARNEVELD REACH LAST 16
John Part, Raymond van Barneveld and Andy Hamilton were amongst the winners on a dramatic final night of the group stage at the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts - but Paul Nicholson, Terry Jenkins and Mark Walsh joined Adrian Lewis in exiting the event.

Three-time World Champion Part joined Gary Anderson in progressing from Group E in the tournament when he took victory his winner-takes-all battle with Tony O'Shea 5-4 in dramatic circumstances on Wednesday. O'Shea missed three darts to progress to the last 16 in a thrilling game, including one at the bullseye in the deciding leg, before Part finished 72 to edge into the second round. Part actually went on to top Group E, with Anderson's 5-4 defeat to Lewis in their game earlier in the evening meaning that the Scot finishes second.
"I came into tonight not knowing whether I'd finish anywhere from first or last in the group so I was just concerned about getting through," said Canadian legend Part. "I've been quite fortunate to have had a few missed doubles against me. I've seen Tony hit plenty of bullseyes in other situations, and tonight I took out the 72 on double six, which I love. "There's a longer format on Friday night and I'll start off better I think because you're less worried about getting off to a bad start - it's a whole different tournament now."

Anderson had already qualified ahead of his clash with Lewis after winning his opening two games, but the Stoke ace - a semi-finalist 12 months ago - bowed out in style with a showpiece 147 checkout of treble 19, double top and bullseye as he edged out the Scot.
"I had my chances in my other games and it's my own fault for missing two darts to beat Tony on Sunday," admitted Lewis. "I wanted to show Gary and everyone what I could do, and it's a big positive for me to win tonight. "There's plenty to work on and I'll go back on the practice board now - the likes of Simon Whitlock have also gone out and we'll all be working hard now towards the World Championship."

Anderson will now play Group F winner Andy Hamilton in the second round, with the World Championship finalist having defeating Paul Nicholson 5-4 in their decisive clash, taking out 104 in the deciding leg.
"Paul played well but I finished well and I thought the best player won," said Hamilton. "I don't give anything up easily and I'll battle right to the end, and I cleaned the game up well. "Gary's a great scorer but he'll miss a couple of doubles and it's up to me to play a solid game and take the chances when he gives me them. I can score like Gary and hopefully the best player will win."

Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan was the other qualifier from Group F as he set up a clash with Part by defating Barrie Bates 5-0, although he was left with a nervous wait before his place in the last 16 was confirmed by Nicholson's defeat.
"It was the perfect result and when I got up there I tried to focus on my own game," said Dolan. "Barrie's struggling with his hands and I was feeling for him because he's up there doing his best and he knows he's a lot better than that."

Three Dutch stars qualified from Groups G and H, with Raymond van Barneveld topping the latter pool thanks to a fine 5-2 win over Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones in their final clash. Jones led 2-0 before van Barneveld took out a key 91 finish to win the third leg, and he took the next four for a second win of the group stage.
Lakeside Champion Christian Kist's subsequent 5-4 loss to Mark Walsh saw five-time World Champion van Barneveld head the group to set up an all-Dutch second round clash with Wesley Harms.
"The third leg was really important and with my last dart I hit double ten - if I didn't hit that I'd have gone 3-0 down and he would have had the throw in the fourth," admitted van Barneveld. "I finished well after then and I'm happy with that. "I know I can do a lot better but maybe I'm focusing too much - I just want to prove that I'm still there and I know I'm capable of reaching the final, but I put myself under pressure in every single match. "If I hit my doubles I've got no problems. Sometimes they let me down, but I hope they'll help me go forward now."

Walsh, a semi-finalist last year, ultimately paid the price for his whitewash to van Barneveld earlier in the event as he lost out on leg difference despite Wednesday's win.
"It's disappointing to go out with two wins, but the game against Barney where I lost 5-0 killed me," admitted Walsh. "I love this tournament and hopefully I'll do better next year, but a win like this is good for me ahead of the World Championship next month."

Harms defeated Welshman Martin Phillips 5-2 in their final game to qualify second in Group G on his Grand Slam debut, and he is looking forward to playing van Barneveld for the first time on Friday.
"If you want to win this tournament then you have to beat the best, but it's a bit unlucky that a Dutch player has to go out on Friday and I hope it isn't me," said Harms. "I'm delighted to get through and I think getting my first win against Terry Jenkins was important, and I deserved to go through."

Jenkins was eliminated with his 5-2 defeat to Wes Newton, who averaged 102 and took out two ton-plus finishes as he completed the group stage with three victories to set up a clash with Kist on Friday.
"Two years ago I won my first two games and then went out on leg difference and that really hurt, so I was determined not to make the same mistake again," said Newton. "I got off to a really good start and kept it up, so I'm really happy. I'm going up there knowing that I'm playing well, and I've never topped my group before so it's another stride forward for me."







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