Grand Slam of Darts - Match Reports Semifinals and Final
Semifinals - Afternoon
Scott Waites won through to a second successive Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts final, seeing off Steve
Beaton 16-9 in their semi-final at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Waites, who was defeated by Phil Taylor in last year's decider, will now challenge for the £100,000 title on Sunday night after knocking out the reigning champion's conqueror.
Beaton had edged past Taylor 16-14 in the quarter-finals, but failed to reproduce the clinical finishing in the last four as his challenge came to an end.
Waites made his customary quick start to race out of the blocks with a pair of 14-dart finishes to establish a 2-0 lead, and missed three darts to take the third as Beaton hit back on double 16. Waites, though, took the next two to move 4-1 up, only for Beaton to mirror Saturday's display by winning the next three to level, including an 11-darter to break throw.
The next four went with the throw before Beaton missed his chance to break in the 13th leg, seeing two darts at double ten go begging as Waites followed up a 170 score with double four. Waites then broke in 13 darts and took out 75 with Beaton waiting on a double to move 9-6 up.
Although Beaton, the 1996 Lakeside Champion, took the next with a 70 finish, Waites produced a fine run to take the next four legs with a pair of 14-dart finishes and two 15-dart legs in taking command at 13-7, hitting a crucial bullseye finish for 94 in the process.
Beaton landed a 180 and a 68 finish to cut the gap to 13-8, only to then see five darts to win the next miss their intended target as double two gave Waites a 14th leg. He then posted double 18 to move a leg away from victory, with a 99 finish from Beaton bettered by a 100 checkout as the Yorkshireman sealed his place in the decider.
"I'm as proud as punch to be in the final again," said Waites. "I came here intending to do better than I did last year and hopefully I can do that and take the trophy tonight."
Beaton admitted: "I was pretty drained after beating Phil last night and Scott was outstanding. His finishing was great and every time I missed doubles he hammered me. Every time I tried to get back at him he pulled away and he deserved to win."
James Wade ended home hopes at the Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts, defeating Wayne Jones 16:6 to book his
place against Scott Waites in Sunday night's final.
Wolverhampton's Jones had won through to the semis with some fine performances in front of his home crowd, but suffered a nightmare with his doubles as Wade made him pay.
The left-hander will now compete in a second successive televised final as he bids to follow up last month's Bodog.com World Grand Prix triumph with victory against Waites to take the £100,000 title.
Wade performed superbly from the start, denying Jones a dart at a double in the opening five legs and averaging 109 during the opening session. Three of the legs were won on double ten, while he also took out 129 on the bull and double top with Jones waiting on a finish but never getting a look-in.
Jones produced a superb 13-dart finish to get off the mark in the sixth, but paid the price in the next when he opened with scores of 180, 140 and 165 to leave 16 after nine darts, only to then miss eight darts at a double before Wade capitalised on double ten.
He then took out back-to-back 13-dart finishes and a 106 finish to move 9-1 up at the second break. The world number two briefly lost his range on the doubles when he missed two darts for the 11th leg, as Jones followed up an earlier maximum on double eight. After Wade hit another 13-dart finish, Jones won three of the next four to reduce the gap to 11-5 and raise hopes of a comeback.
Wade, though, replied with a 14-dart leg and, after Jones posted double 16, punished two misses from the local hero at the same bed to move 13-6 up. He then took out 95 and 80 to win the next two legs, before checking out 100 with two double tops to secure his place in the final.
"The first 11 legs of the game were key and I hit the right finishes at the right times," said Wade. "I'm delighted to be into the final but the job's not done yet - I have to go on and win it now."
Jones admitted: "I could have win six or seven legs that I lost but my finishing was poor and it's disappointing. The first ten legs were a great standard from both of us but I just couldn't hit my doubles. If I'd finished better then it could have been a lot closer. I've enjoyed a great week but unfortunately I didn't perform as I can in the semis."
Final - Evening
SCOTT WAITES defeated James Wade 16-12 to win an incredible Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts final, coming
from 8-0 down in claiming the £100,000 title at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Waites made up for his defeat to Phil Taylor in last year's final with a thrilling fightback to claim the biggest win of his career.
The joiner from Halifax will return to his day job at 8am on Monday, having left Wolverhampton £100,000 richer following a brilliant week at the Grand Slam of Darts.
He had overcome Steve Beaton 16-9 in Sunday afternoon's semi-finals, and produced one of the sport's finest comebacks to claim the prestigious trophy. "It's absolutely incredible," said Waites. "When I went 8:0 down I just wanted to get back into the game and make the scoreline respectable. But when I got closer to James I started to believe I could win it - but it's not sunk in yet and probably won't for some time. It feels so good to be called the Grand Slam of Darts champion."
Despite Waites opening the match with a 180, the first of three in as many legs, it was Wade who made the early running, hitting double top to break in the first leg, a 107 finish in the third and a 110 checkout in leg five. A pair of double tops moved Wade 7-0 up in a stunning start, with Waites twice punished for missed doubles as the left-hander took complete control. He also won the eighth on double ten to extend the lead further before Waites finally got off the mark on double 12.
Waites hit a 180 and double 18 to break in the tenth, before taking the next three to pull back to 8-5. Wade slowed the fightback with a 90 finish, only for Waites to hit double top in the next and a 13-darter before checking out 68 to incredibly reduce the gap to just one leg. The world number two landed a 180 and double ten to take the 18th leg, and after Waites missed the bull in the next a 97 finish saw him edge away again at 11:8.
Wade, though, missed three darts at double 12 in the next as Waites began a run of six successive legs which saw him grasp control, following up finishes of double 18 and double 16 with a superb 121 checkout to level. Wade missed two darts to steal the next as Waites recovered from twice wasting his chance to land double four and move 12-11 up, before landing double nine in the next and a 180 in moving three legs clear.
Wade finished 70 to stem the tide, but a ninth 180 of the game in the next from Waites left him double
eight, and he would then follow another maximum by hitting the same bed to complete a remarkable triumph.
"James' finishing was phenomenal from the start - I hit three 180s and was 3-0 down!" Waites added. "When I won a leg and then another and five on the bounce I thought 'I can get back in this game'. I had to keep plodding away and I didn't change my style. I started to hit my doubles straight away and the next thing I knew I was level. Then I got in front and just wanted to stay in front, and then I wanted to hold my throw and get to the winning double. To do a comeback like that in front of a live audience and on TV is unbelievable - I still can't believe it."
Scott Waites 16:9 Steve Beaton
Scott Waites won through to a second successive Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts final, seeing off Steve
Beaton 16-9 in their semi-final at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Waites, who was defeated by Phil Taylor in last year's decider, will now challenge for the £100,000 title on Sunday night after knocking out the reigning champion's conqueror.
Beaton had edged past Taylor 16-14 in the quarter-finals, but failed to reproduce the clinical finishing in the last four as his challenge came to an end.
Waites made his customary quick start to race out of the blocks with a pair of 14-dart finishes to establish a 2-0 lead, and missed three darts to take the third as Beaton hit back on double 16. Waites, though, took the next two to move 4-1 up, only for Beaton to mirror Saturday's display by winning the next three to level, including an 11-darter to break throw.
The next four went with the throw before Beaton missed his chance to break in the 13th leg, seeing two darts at double ten go begging as Waites followed up a 170 score with double four. Waites then broke in 13 darts and took out 75 with Beaton waiting on a double to move 9-6 up.
Although Beaton, the 1996 Lakeside Champion, took the next with a 70 finish, Waites produced a fine run to take the next four legs with a pair of 14-dart finishes and two 15-dart legs in taking command at 13-7, hitting a crucial bullseye finish for 94 in the process.
Beaton landed a 180 and a 68 finish to cut the gap to 13-8, only to then see five darts to win the next miss their intended target as double two gave Waites a 14th leg. He then posted double 18 to move a leg away from victory, with a 99 finish from Beaton bettered by a 100 checkout as the Yorkshireman sealed his place in the decider.
"I'm as proud as punch to be in the final again," said Waites. "I came here intending to do better than I did last year and hopefully I can do that and take the trophy tonight."
Beaton admitted: "I was pretty drained after beating Phil last night and Scott was outstanding. His finishing was great and every time I missed doubles he hammered me. Every time I tried to get back at him he pulled away and he deserved to win."
James Wade 16:6 Wayne Jones
James Wade ended home hopes at the Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts, defeating Wayne Jones 16:6 to book his
place against Scott Waites in Sunday night's final.
Wolverhampton's Jones had won through to the semis with some fine performances in front of his home crowd, but suffered a nightmare with his doubles as Wade made him pay.
The left-hander will now compete in a second successive televised final as he bids to follow up last month's Bodog.com World Grand Prix triumph with victory against Waites to take the £100,000 title.
Wade performed superbly from the start, denying Jones a dart at a double in the opening five legs and averaging 109 during the opening session. Three of the legs were won on double ten, while he also took out 129 on the bull and double top with Jones waiting on a finish but never getting a look-in.
Jones produced a superb 13-dart finish to get off the mark in the sixth, but paid the price in the next when he opened with scores of 180, 140 and 165 to leave 16 after nine darts, only to then miss eight darts at a double before Wade capitalised on double ten.
He then took out back-to-back 13-dart finishes and a 106 finish to move 9-1 up at the second break. The world number two briefly lost his range on the doubles when he missed two darts for the 11th leg, as Jones followed up an earlier maximum on double eight. After Wade hit another 13-dart finish, Jones won three of the next four to reduce the gap to 11-5 and raise hopes of a comeback.
Wade, though, replied with a 14-dart leg and, after Jones posted double 16, punished two misses from the local hero at the same bed to move 13-6 up. He then took out 95 and 80 to win the next two legs, before checking out 100 with two double tops to secure his place in the final.
"The first 11 legs of the game were key and I hit the right finishes at the right times," said Wade. "I'm delighted to be into the final but the job's not done yet - I have to go on and win it now."
Jones admitted: "I could have win six or seven legs that I lost but my finishing was poor and it's disappointing. The first ten legs were a great standard from both of us but I just couldn't hit my doubles. If I'd finished better then it could have been a lot closer. I've enjoyed a great week but unfortunately I didn't perform as I can in the semis."
Final - Evening
Scott Waites 16:12 James Wade
SCOTT WAITES defeated James Wade 16-12 to win an incredible Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts final, coming
from 8-0 down in claiming the £100,000 title at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Waites made up for his defeat to Phil Taylor in last year's final with a thrilling fightback to claim the biggest win of his career.
The joiner from Halifax will return to his day job at 8am on Monday, having left Wolverhampton £100,000 richer following a brilliant week at the Grand Slam of Darts.
He had overcome Steve Beaton 16-9 in Sunday afternoon's semi-finals, and produced one of the sport's finest comebacks to claim the prestigious trophy. "It's absolutely incredible," said Waites. "When I went 8:0 down I just wanted to get back into the game and make the scoreline respectable. But when I got closer to James I started to believe I could win it - but it's not sunk in yet and probably won't for some time. It feels so good to be called the Grand Slam of Darts champion."
Despite Waites opening the match with a 180, the first of three in as many legs, it was Wade who made the early running, hitting double top to break in the first leg, a 107 finish in the third and a 110 checkout in leg five. A pair of double tops moved Wade 7-0 up in a stunning start, with Waites twice punished for missed doubles as the left-hander took complete control. He also won the eighth on double ten to extend the lead further before Waites finally got off the mark on double 12.
Waites hit a 180 and double 18 to break in the tenth, before taking the next three to pull back to 8-5. Wade slowed the fightback with a 90 finish, only for Waites to hit double top in the next and a 13-darter before checking out 68 to incredibly reduce the gap to just one leg. The world number two landed a 180 and double ten to take the 18th leg, and after Waites missed the bull in the next a 97 finish saw him edge away again at 11:8.
Wade, though, missed three darts at double 12 in the next as Waites began a run of six successive legs which saw him grasp control, following up finishes of double 18 and double 16 with a superb 121 checkout to level. Wade missed two darts to steal the next as Waites recovered from twice wasting his chance to land double four and move 12-11 up, before landing double nine in the next and a 180 in moving three legs clear.
Wade finished 70 to stem the tide, but a ninth 180 of the game in the next from Waites left him double
eight, and he would then follow another maximum by hitting the same bed to complete a remarkable triumph.
"James' finishing was phenomenal from the start - I hit three 180s and was 3-0 down!" Waites added. "When I won a leg and then another and five on the bounce I thought 'I can get back in this game'. I had to keep plodding away and I didn't change my style. I started to hit my doubles straight away and the next thing I knew I was level. Then I got in front and just wanted to stay in front, and then I wanted to hold my throw and get to the winning double. To do a comeback like that in front of a live audience and on TV is unbelievable - I still can't believe it."