William Hill Grand Slam - Sunday Afternoon

CHRISTIAN KIST made a superb debut in the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-1 win over home favourite Wayne Jones on Sunday afternoon - but rival World Champion Adrian Lewis suffered defeat to Tony O'Shea in Wolverhampton.

Dutch star Kist, who won the Lakeside Championship in January by defeating O'Shea, took only 11 minutes to see off Jones in their opening group game at the £400,000 event.

The victory sets up his first-ever clash on Monday night with Holland's five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld - who whitewashed Mark Walsh earlier on Sunday in a similarly impressive performance at the Wolves Civic.

"It was a great moment for me and it's fantastic to win," said Kist. "I was a little nervous for this game but I controlled it well.

"I'm confident and I feel good, and I hope I'll win my second game. It should be a great game - it will be the first time I've played Raymond and I'm looking forward to it."

Van Barneveld hit a 141 finish as he saw off last year's semi-finalist Walsh with a strong display, as he bids to erase the memory of a group stage exit 12 months ago.

"The 141 in checkout in the opening leg was a real confidence boost for me and I kicked on from there," said van Barneveld. "That was a really good win today and I'm looking forward to playing against Christian.

"I'd never even met him before today and I'm curious about playing him. There's so much talent in Holland and he's doing well."

PDC World Champion Adrian Lewis, meanwhile, was edged out 5-4 in his Group E opener against Tony O'Shea, who took victory with a superb 12-dart finish in the deciding leg, hitting his fifth 180 of the match before taking out 86 on the bull.

"It's a great start," said O'Shea. "The last leg showed how important it is to win the bullseye before the game, and I had the throw and threw a 12-darter, which takes some beating.

"I'm still the underdog but every game's a tough game and that's why this is probably my favourite tournament, because you get three games against great players, and over those games you get to show how you can play."

Lewis now face a key three-time World Champion John Part on Monday night as he bids to follow up last year's run to the semi-finals with further success in Wolverhampton - and he insists he can still go on to top Group E.

"I was pretty patchy and it's my own fault really because I missed two darts at double four to win it [in the penultimate leg] - but at the end of the day it's not the end of the tournament," said Lewis.

"I'll come back fighting, and if I play my best I'll win my group. I wasn't at my best today and Tony took his chances, but I've got to improve on that."

Part was also a 5-4 loser as he was edged out in a deciding leg by last year's runner-up Gary Anderson, who was sporting a garish new shirt but also averaged over 95 in a strong performance as he punished the Canadian for missing two match darts.

"I enjoy coming here and I've got good memories after my run to the final last year," said Anderson. "I'm a bit fortunate that John missed those two darts at double six and I had a few iffy doubles in the middle of the match, but it's a good win."

Dutch debutant Wesley Harms, a Lakeside Championship semi-finalist in January, impressed on his first Grand Slam appearance with a 102 average in defeating former finalist Terry Jenkins 5-2.

"I played good darts today and think I can improve in my next two matches," said Harms. "I didn't feel nervous, I'm enjoying my darts and playing well."

Harms will now meet Wes Newton on Monday night, after the European Championship finalist opened up with a 5-2 victory over Welsh left-hander Martin Phillips.

"I started well to go 2-0 up but Martin came back well to level - I didn't realise how quick a thrower he was and I had to step back and slow myself down," said Newton. "I didn't let it put me off though and it's a good start."

Brendan Dolan and Andy Hamilton both picked up 5-2 wins in their Group F openers, with Northern Ireland's Dolan seeing off Paul Nicholson and 2007 runner-up Hamilton overcoming Barrie Bates.

"I was a bit nervous as it's my first time back here for a couple of years, so I'm pleased to win my first game," admitted Hamilton. "I'm a former finalist so I know I can do well in this competition and it's good to get the win."

Sunday's evening session sees Groups A-D play their second games, including reigning champion Phil Taylor in action against Mark Webster, Michael van Gerwen playing Robert Thornton and Simon Whitlock up against Kevin Painter.

William Hill Grand Slam of Darts
Sunday November 11
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Groups E-H First Games
Paul Nicholson 2-5 Brendan Dolan (F)
Andy Hamilton 5-2 Barrie Bates (F)
Terry Jenkins 2-5 Wesley Harms (G)
Raymond van Barneveld 5-0 Mark Walsh (H)
Adrian Lewis 4-5 Tony O'Shea (E)
Gary Anderson 5-4 John Part (E)
Christian Kist 5-1 Wayne Jones (H)
Wes Newton 5-2 Martin Phillips (G)

Evening Session - 7pm-11pm
Groups A-D Second Games
Scott Waites v Co Stompe
Ted Hankey v Steve Beaton
James Wade v Jan Dekker
Dean Winstanley v James Hubbard
Mervyn King v Arron Monk
Phil Taylor v Mark Webster
Simon Whitlock v Kevin Painter
Michael van Gerwen v Robert Thornton

Match Information
Afternoon Session
Paul Nicholson v Brendan Dolan
0-1 - Dolan starts superbly with scores of 177 and 180. The nine-darter is not to be and five darts at doubles go begging before landing double three to win the leg against the darts.
0-2 - Nicholson misses two darts at double 16 to break-back and Dolan hits double eight to increase his lead.
0-3 - Dolan lands double one with his third dart after Nicholson misses a chance at tops to get a leg on the board.
1-3 - Nicholson manages to get his first leg on the board by hitting double eight.
1-4 - Nicholson is off-target on double 16 for a 106 finish and the Northern Irishman steps in to hit double 10 and move a leg away from victory.
2-4 - Nicholson takes out 71 by hitting tops to keep the match alive.
2-5 - Dolan leaves 64 after 12-darts thrown and duly takes that out by landing double 16 to complete a fine win.
Brendan Dolan: "Today's win against Paul is a great start for me. The experience of having played in this tournament last year has done me the world of good."

Match Stats

Andy Hamilton v Barrie Bates
1-0 - Hamilton holds throw to win the first leg with the aid of a 78 finish.
1-1 - The Welshman holds throw comfortably to level the contest.
2-1 - Hamilton lands double eight to regain the lead.
3-1 - Hamilton takes out a 72 finish completed on double top to win the leg against the darts.
4-1 - The Stoke ace hits double two his third dart after Bates was off-target with two darts at double top.
4-2 - Hamilton lets four chances for the match go begging and Bates hits double top with his third dart to keep his hopes alive.
5-2 - Hamilton leaves 40 after 12-darts thrown and goes on to hit double ten to make winning start to Group F.
Andy Hamilton: "I'm pleased to win my first game of the group. I was a bit nervous as it's my first time back here for a couple of years. I'm a former finalist in the Grand Slam of Darts so I know that I can do well in this competition."

Match Stats

Terry Jenkins v Wesley Harms
1-0 - Jenkins starts confidently and secures a break of throw by hitting double eight at the first attempt.
1-1 - Harms hits an impressive 14-darter completed on double nine to level the game.
1-2 - The Dutchman hits a 180 only for Jenkins to hit a 177 to leave 24. But Harms takes out a 76 finish to lead for the first time.
2-2 - Jenkins hits double two with a pressure third dart to square the game at two apiece.
2-3 - Jenkins kicks-off the leg with a 180 but Harms produces the more consistent scoring and hits double eight to regain the lead.
2-4 - Both players trade 180s before Jenkins is off-target with a dart at tops and Harms makes his opponent pay by converting an 80 finish on double five.
2-5 - Harms wraps up the game in superb fashion as he hits double to complete a 13-darter and end the match with a 101.79 average.
Wesley Harms: "I played good darts today and I think I can improve in my next two group matches. I didn't feel nervous and just played my game. I'm enjoying my darts at the moment and I'm performing well."

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld v Mark Walsh
1-0 - Walsh hits a 180 but van Barneveld records a superb 141 checkout to claim the opening leg.
2-0 - van Barneveld doubles his lead after Walsh is guilty of missing two chances at tops.
3-0 - The Dutch superstar hits double 18 at the first of asking to establish complete command of the game.
4-0 - van Barneveld continues to throw impressive darts and wins the fourth leg comfortably to move a leg away from victory.
5-0 - The Dutchman completes an excellent whitewash victory by converting a 68 finish completed on double 16.
Raymond van Barneveld: "That's was really good win today. Mark was a semi-finalist here last year so I know how well he has done. The 141 checkout in the opening leg was a real confidence boost for me and I kicked on from there."

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis v Tony O'Shea
1-0 - Lewis starts the game confidently with a 13-dart-finish.
2-0 - The World Champion breaks O'Shea throw by hitting double top at the first time of asking.
2-1 - O'Shea immediately breaks back by landing double 12 to get of the mark.
2-2 - O'Shea levels the game with an excellent 13-dart-finish which includes his second 180 of the contest.
2-3 - O'Shea continues the good form by taking out 100 in two-darts to lead the match for the first time.
3-3 - Both players trade 180s before Lewis misses two chances to win the leg. However, O'Shea misses a dart at tops and Lewis returns to hit double ten.
4-3 - O'Shea is guilty of missing three darts at doubles to lead 4-3 and Lewis makes his opponent pay by converting a 66 finish.
4-4 - Lewis agonisingly misses two darts at double four for the match and O'Shea accepts the reprieve by hitting double 16 to force a deciding-leg.
4-5 - O'Shea hits his fifth maximum of the game and follows that with an 86 finish on the bullseye to win the match in style.
Tony O'Shea: "To win on the big stage against a World Champion is brilliant. The 12-darter in the deciding-leg was a great way to finish off. I'm the underdog in the group and I have nothing to lose this week."

Match Stats

Gary Anderson v John Part
1-0 - Anderson fires in a 180 with his first three darts and wins leg in just 11-darts to make a fast start.
1-1 - Part hits double six to level after Anderson missed one chance at tops to double his lead.
1-2 - The three-time World Champion breaks throw courtesy of an accurate attempt at double 19.
2-2 - Anderson breaks back immediately with an excellent 12-dart-finish completed with a 100 checkout.
2-3 - Part hits a 153 score to leave 32 which he duly takes out at the first time of asking to regain the lead.
3-3 - Anderson hits his third 180 of the match and lands double top at the first attempt to leave matters finely balanced.
3-4 - The Scotsman leaves 64 after 12-darts thrown but misses eight darts at doubles and Part steals the leg on double 16.
4-4 - Part misses two darts at double six to win the match and Anderson forces a deciding-leg by landing double top.
5-4 - Anderson holds the advantage of throwing first and he makes that count by reaching a finish first by hitting double 10.
Gary Anderson: "I did mess up on my doubles in the middle of the match and I feel a fortunate as John missed those two darts at double six. I enjoy coming here and I have good memories after my run to the final last year."

Match Stats

Christian Kist v Wayne Jones
1-0 - Kist wins the first leg on double nine after Jones missed two chances to break throw.
2-0 - The Dutchman fires in a maximum in the process of breaking his opponent's throw.
2-1 - The local man hits-back to win the third leg against the darts with the aid of a 180.
3-1 - The Lakeside Champion restores his two-leg advantage to leave Jones with an uphill battle.
4-1 - Kist lands double 12 to move one leg away from victory.
5-1 - Kist ends the match in impressive fashion as he takes out 72 to record an impressive Grand Slam of Darts debut.
Christian Kist: "I did feel a bit nervous coming into today's game so to get the win in the way I did is fantastic. I play Raymond van Barneveld in my next group game. It should be interesting and I hope to win."

Match Stats

Wes Newton v Martin Phillips
1-0 - Newton holds throw to win the opening leg on double 16.
2-0 - Phillips leaves 32 after 12-darts but misses three opportunities at doubles and Newton converts a 71 finish to break throw.
2-1 - Phillips hits double top to get off the mark with Newton waiting on 36.
2-2 - The Welshman fires in a 180 and lands double eight to level the game.
3-2 - Newton holds throw to regain the lead for the second time.
4-2 - Newton kicks-off the leg with a maximum and wins the leg on double 10 after Phillips was off-target on double 16 for a 149 finish.
5-2 - The Fleetwood man wastes opportunities to close out the game but Phillips is in no position to capitalise and Newton returns to hit the winning double and close out the game.
Wes Newton: "It was a quickfire game and it surprised me how quick Martin actually is. I started well and wanted to kick-on but Martin came back well to level. I didn't let it put me of though and I'm pleased with the way I kept going."

Match Stats