William Hill Grand Slam Day Four

LEWIS, ANDERSON & NICHOLSON HOLD THEIR NERVE TO PROGRESS
 

ADRIAN LEWIS, Gary Anderson and Paul Nicholson won through to the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts knockout stage on Tuesday night, as Belgian brothers Kim and Ronny
Huybrechts set up a second round meeting at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

The final night of group matches proved another dramatic affair as the remaining five places alongside the already-qualified Phil Taylor, James Wade and Ronny Huybrechts in the last 16 were decided.

Lewis held off a fightback from Dutchman Christian Kist to prevail 5-3 in their Group C decider as he joined Ronny Huybrechts in moving through to the last 16, where he now plays Premier League Darts champion Michael van Gerwen.

"I managed to get the job done in the end but I made it hard work for myself," admitted Lewis. "I moved 4-0 up and felt comfortable but then I just took my foot of the gas which was disappointing, but my scoring was excellent.

"I'm looking to playing Michael in the next round. I've had the better of him a few times this year and I want to keep that run going. I'm going to go into the game with a lot of confidence."

Anderson produced a performance of the highest quality as he swept past Peter Wright 5-1 with a 111.80 average, sealing victory with successive checkouts of 121 and 144 as he powered through from Group B alongside Wade.

"It's been a while since I beat Peter so I went up on stage to relax and enjoy myself and I'm really happy to get through," said Anderson, who now faces Phil Taylor in a repeat of the 2011 final.

"I've been inconsistent so far this week. I played lovely like that on Saturday and then on Sunday it was atrocious, so hopefully I can keep this up - and I'll have to against Phil because he's been brilliant in the last few months."

Nicholson, meanwhile, was a 5-2 winner against Stuart Kellett in their decisive Group A clash, hitting five doubles from seven attempts in a strong performance to move through to a clash with Wade.

"I did a good job tonight and it means a huge amount to me to qualify," said Nicholson, a former quarter-finalist at the Wolves Civic.

"I've done the right things over the last two or three months, I've focused on my darts and on my life away from the game. I think I've found a place now where I feel settled and I want to keep improving on that to achieve what I believe I can do.

"James and I always have good games and I've got that little ghost in my closet about the game with James in my first World Championship because it was one of my worst games on TV. I've got to learn to beat the likes of James Wade, every game's different and I've got to try and stop him."

Four-time Grand Slam of Darts champion Taylor topped Group A with a third successive victory as he whitewashed Kevin Painter 5-0 with another brilliant display - averaging over 104 and denying his opponent a dart at a double during a ten-minute triumph.

"I'm delighted to have come through the group with three wins," said Taylor. "Kevin played well and deserved more than he got but I didn't give him a chance. I was ruthless.

"It was a tough group, so to lose just one leg is a really good feeling going towards the knockout stages. I can get better despite the brilliant year I've had and I'll working hard to improve my standards."

Wade, the 2010 runner-up at the Wolves Civic, completed a third successive Group B win as he swept aside Dutchman Wesley Harms 5-2, hitting a 127 finish in another strong performance.

Belgian debutant Ronny Huybrechts was the other player on the night to pick up a third straight victory, hitting five doubles from six attempts in a 5-3 win over young prospect Richie George.

Huybrechts' wait to find out his second round opponent was eventually over when younger brother Kim saw van Gerwen come from 4-1 down to win 5-4 in their Group D clash - meaning that the siblings now face off on Thursday.

"I'm really happy and I didn't expect to win all three games, and to finish top in a group which includes two World Champions is very nice," said Ronny, a 47-year-old who only turned professional in January.

"It was hard to concentrate for the last game because I already knew I was through. My scoring wasn't that good but I was really happy with my finishing, because Richie is a good young player and he was good on his own legs.

"To play Kim is a game that I didn't want, but at the same time I want to win it and obviously I believe I can win it.

"It's very special, and when I think that I've only been a professional this year, to achieve what I have is a dream and it's very special to travel around the world with my brother and share these wonderful experiences."

Kim, who partnered his brother to the final of the PDC World Cup of Darts for Belgium in February, finished second in Group D ahead of Dean Winstanley, who lost 5-3 to Vincent van der Voort in their final group game as the Dutchman gained a consolation victory following two earlier losses.

"I was very down after I lost my first group match with Dean Winstanley, but I picked myself up and I'm delighted to get through," said Kim, who turns 28 on Saturday.

"I wasn't thinking about whether I would play Ronny when I was up on stage against Michael, I was just focusing on getting the one leg I needed to qualify, and after that I relaxed and played some good darts.

"Now I've got my worst possible opponent! I love my brother to bits and he's my best friend, and I'd do anything for him - but when we get up on stage he will be my biggest enemy!

"One of us will be in the quarter-finals, so it will be a proud night for the Huybrechts family."

The knockout phase of the £400,000 tournament begins on Wednesday with the first four games from the second round, including 2010 Grand Slam of Darts champion Scott Waites meeting Mark Webster in a clash of the current and former Lakeside Champions.

Former Wolverhampton finalist Andy Hamilton plays Tony O'Shea, Robert Thornton takes on Mervyn King and Australian star Simon Whitlock faces resugent Ted Hankey, the two-time Lakeside Champion who has returned to top form this week.

Tickets for Wednesday and Thursday's second round games at the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts are still available, either on the door on the night or through the Wolves Civic Box Office on 0870 320 7000.

Watch Live
The William Hill Grand Slam of Darts is live on Sky Sports HD.
Coverage is also live through RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, OSN across the Middle East, Fox Sports Australia and Sky New Zealand.
LIVEPDC.TV International Pass subscribers can also watch live at www.LIVEPDC.TV, with highlights available 24 hours after the relevant session.

Get Involved
Join in the fun online with the PDC's social media channels:
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Merchandise
PDC Merchandise is available from the PDC Merchandise Stand inside the main foyer of the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, or online through www.burghleydarts.com.

Tickets
Tickets for some sessions are still available - for latest availability call the Wolves Civic Box Office on 0870 320 7000 or visit www.wolvescivic.co.uk.

William Hill Grand Slam of Darts
Tuesday November 12
Evening Session
Groups A-D Final Games
Ronny Huybrechts 5-3 Richie George (C) - Ronny & Kim Huybrechts Video
Phil Taylor 5-0 Kevin Painter (A)
James Wade 5-2 Wesley Harms (B)
Dean Winstanley 3-5 Vincent van der Voort (D)
Paul Nicholson 5-2 Stuart Kellett (A) - Paul Nicholson Video
Michael van Gerwen 5-4 Kim Huybrechts (D) - Kim & Ronny Huybrechts Video
Adrian Lewis 5-3 Christian Kist (C) - Adrian Lewis Video
Gary Anderson 5-1 Peter Wright (B) - Gary Anderson Video
Best of nine legs

Wednesday November 13 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Scott Waites v Mark Webster
Tony O'Shea v Andy Hamilton
Robert Thornton v Mervyn King
Simon Whitlock v Ted Hankey
Best of 19 legs

Thursday November 14 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
James Wade v Paul Nicholson
Ronny Huybrechts v Kim Huybrechts
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen v Adrian Lewis
Best of 19 legs

League Tables
Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Match Information
Ronny Huybrechts v Richie George
1-0 - The Belgian starts the way he finished against Adrian Lewis as he lands double 16 to break George's throw in just 13-darts.
2-0 - Huybrechts lands double 16 for a second leg runnning to move two legs clear.
2-1 - George misses tops for a 114 finish but returns to the oche to hit double ten to reduce the deficit.
3-1 - Strong leg from Huybrechts sees him leave 24 after 12-darts and he hits double 12 at the first attempt to restore two leg advatange.
3-2 - The Lakeside semi-finalist lands double 12 to keep in the hunt.
4-2 - Huybrechts takes out a 108 finish on tops with his opponent waiting on a two-darter.
4-3 - Huybrechts is off-target with a dart at bullseye for the match and George lands double ten to keep the match alive.
5-3 - The Belgian hits a 180 and lands double 16 to conclude the match and claim his third win of out of three from Group C.

Match Stats

Phil Taylor v Kevin Painter
1-0 - Taylor wins the first leg on tops for a 14-darter with Painter waiting on a two-darter.
2-0 - The world number one hits treble 20, treble 17 and double 18 for 147 checkout with his opponent waiting on double 16.
3-0 - Taylor pulls further clear as he lands double top at the first time of asking.
4-0 - Taylor records the first 180 of the game and takes out 82 on tops with Painter once again waiting on a two-darter.
5-0 - The 15-time World Champion completes a supreme display as he takes double seven for an 88 finish and a 104.38 average.

Match Stats

James Wade v Wesley Harms
1-0 - Both players struggle to find the winning double as Wade misses three darts only for Harms to miss five before Wade takes it on double one.
1-1 - Harms kicks-off with a 180 and wins the leg on 96 to level.
2-1 - Wade takes out an excellent 127 finish to regain the lead.
3-1 - Wade wins the fourth leg on double 12 for a 13-dart-finish.
4-1 - The world number six takes out a clinical two-dart 72 finish after Harms wastes four opportunties to win the leg.
4-2 - Wade is off-target with three chances to win the match and Harms lands tops for a 74 finish to keep the match alive.
5-2 - Wade kicks-off the leg with two 140 scores but three missed darts at doubles gives Harms hope but a missed dart at bullseye allows Wade to return and hit double two to seal a third group win.

Match Stats

Dean Winstanley v Vincent van der Voort
0-1 - van der Voort starts well as he wins the opening leg against the darts on double six for a 14-darter.
1-1 - Winstanley hits back straight away as he hits double top at the first attempt for a 13-dart-finish.
1-2 - The Dutchman regains the lead thanks to a 12-dart-finish which featured a maximum.
1-3 - Tension mounts as van der Voort misses seven chances to win the leg only for Winstanley to miss four darts at doubles to level. The Dutchman hits double one to move legs clear.
2-3 - van der Voort wastes two chances to go further ahead and Winstanley hits double six to keep up the fight.
2-4 - van der Voort converts an 80 finish on tops to move a leg away from triumph.
3-4 - Winstanley kicks-off with a 180 and shows great nerve as he lands the bullseye for a 91 finish with his opponent waiting on 32 for the match.
3-5 - van der Voort hits double eight with his third dart and leaves Winstanley's hopes of qualifcation hanging by a thread.

Match Stats

Paul Nicholson v Stuart Kellett
1-0 - Nicholson starts confidently with scores of 140 and 180 and goes on to hit double eight for a 14-darter.
2-0 - Kellett misses two chances to level and Nicholson capitalises by hitting tops to increase his lead.
2-1 - The Manchester thrower wins a scrappy leg double 19 to reduce the deficit.
3-1 - Nicholson puts together scores of 134, 100 and 180 before taking out 87 in two-darts for a brilliant 11-dart-finish.
3-2 - Kellett takes out a clinical two-dart 78 finish with his opponent waiting on a two-darter.
4-2 - Nicholson takes out 52 to move a leg away from a vital victory.
5-2 - Nicholson takes out 81 on double six to confirm qualification and a second round tie against James Wade.

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen v Kim Huybrechts
0-1 - Huybrechts hits a 180 with his first three darts of the game and adds another before landing double 16 to confirm his place in the knockout stages. 
0-2 - The Belgian doubles his lead by taking out 60 after van Gerwen misses a dart at double 18.
1-2 - van Gerwen hits back to win the third leg with an excellent 13-dart-finish.
1-3 - The world number is off-target on double seven for a 134 checkout and Huybrebchts takes out 97 to restore two leg lead.
1-4 - Both players fire in maximums but Huybrechts wins the leg in great style as he takes out 100 with two double tops!
2-4 - Huybrechts lets two chances to win the match slip away and van Gerwen keeps the match alive by hitting tops.
3-4 - The Belgian hits a fifth 180 but a third missed dart for the match proves costly as van Gerwen nicks another leg on double top.
4-4 - Huybrechts misses one more opportunity to win the match and van Gerwen of the previous two legs to force a deciding leg.
5-4 - van Gerwen claims a brilliant win by converting a fantastic 135 checkout to top Group D with three wins out of three.

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis v Christian Kist
1-0 - Kist records a 180 but three missed darts at double 13 prove expensive as Lewis nicks it on double 16.
2-0 - Lewis hits double eight to increase his lead and apply more pressure on his opponent.
3-0 - Lewis hits a maximum but Kist is in command of the leg until six missed darts at doubles allows Lewis to take out 57.
4-0 - The two-time World Champion hits his third 180 of the game and goes on to land double ten for a 14-dart-finish. 
4-1 - Kist takes out 67 in two-darts to get a leg on the board.
4-2 - The Dutchman hits a second maximum and hits double ten for a 15-darter to keep his hopes alive.
4-3 - Kist defies a 180 from his opponent by taking out a 61 finish to win a third leg in a row.
5-3 - The Stoke star eases the pressure on himself as he hits scores of 180 and 140 to command before winning the leg in 13-darts to confirm his place in the last 16. 

Match Stats

Gary Anderson v Peter Wright
1-0 - Anderson hits double 18 to win the leg in just 13-darts.
2-0 - The Scotsman continues his flying start to the contest as he hits double top for another 13-darter.
3-0 - Anderson leaves 81 after just nine-darts and hits double eight to pull further clear of Wright.
3-1 - Wright stops Anderson's winning run taking out a 96 finish.
4-1 - Anderson hits a 180 before landing double 14 for an excellent 121 checkout.
5-1 - The former Premier League Champion lands another 180 before completing a fantastic display with a 144 checkout ending the match with a 111.80 average.

Match Stats